Grouper, goliath Epinephelus itajara

Lichtenstein, 1822

SERRANIDAE FAMILY
Also called spotted jewfish, southern jewfish, junefish, Florida jewfish, jewfish

Known to occur in the western Atlantic Ocean from Florida to Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and the West Indies. It is also known in the eastern Pacific from Costa Rica to Peru. This species is usually found inside of the 12 fathom bottom contour, though it may occur in deeper waters. It favors areas near rocky shores and islands, reefs, ledges, dock and bridge pilings, and wrecks, where caves and holes offer refuge.

The goliath grouper is the largest of the grouper in the western Atlantic, possibly reaching 8 ft (2.5 m) and a weight of 1000 lb (455 kg). The body, including the head and fins, is mottled with dark brown blotches and blackish spots. As the fish grows older, the body becomes darker and the spots and blotches become more numerous and less distinct

It can be easily distinguished from the giant sea bass, Stereolepis gigas, because it has more soft rays (15 16) than spines (11) in the dorsal fin. The giant sea bass also has 11 spines, but only 10 soft rays. The goliath grouper can also be distinguished from the giant sea bass by its rounded tail fin, large, rounded pectoral fins, and different color pattern.

Goliath grouper feed primarily on crustaceans, but also on fishes and even an occasional turtle, which is inhaled into the goliath grouper’s enormous mouth. It is a very sluggish fish and an opportunistic feeder. Some very large specimens show an extraordinary degree of curiosity and will leave their caves to swim up to a diver. There are reliable reports of goliath grouper or giant sea bass interfering with diving operations and occasionally even attempting to swallow divers.

Despite poor fighting ability, its great size and weight and its habit of swimming into a hole or between rocks when hooked, make it difficult to land. They can be taken on live or dead bait fished on the bottom from boats, bridges, or shore. Slow trolling also works on occasion. Baits include crabs, spiny lobster, fishes and cut bait.

The goliath grouper is an excellent food fish at any size. But, it is now totally protected from harvest in Florida waters

Grouper, gag Mycteroperca microlepis

Goode, Bean 1879

SERRANIDAE FAMILY
Also called black grouper, charcoal belly, cuna aguají, badèche baillou, badejo-da-areia

The distribution of gag grouper extends in the western Atlantic from North Carolina, USA (with juveniles occurring as far north as Massachusetts) to the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico; it is rare in Bermuda and absent from the Caribbean and Bahamas. Gags are the most common grouper on rocky ledges in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Juvenile gags reside in estuaries and seagrass beds while adults are usually found offshore on hard substrate in water 60 – 250 feet deep (rarely to 152 m) and occasionally inshore on rocky or grassy bottom. Adults are either solitary or found in groups of 5 to 50 individuals.

The coloration is extremely variable but generally brownish gray overall with a pattern of dark, worm-like or kiss-shaped markings along the sides. Gags can be distinguished from black grouper, Mycteroperca bonaci, that often occur in the same habitat by the distinctive color pattern and the shape of the preopercle. The gag has a noticeably notched preopercle (the middle bone of the gill cover) with a distinct lobed appearance while black grouper have an evenly rounded preopercle with no definite lobe below.

Bottom fishing is the most effective method of catching gag. Anglers commonly use depth recorders to locate rocky outcrops and irregular bottom where gags congregate, anchoring when a likely area is located. Wrecks and oil rigs in shallow shelf waters of the Gulf also attract many gags. They are an excellent light-tackle target for those fishing relatively shallow waters and the white flaky flesh of gags makes it excellent eating.

Spawning aggregations of gags in the Middle Grounds of the Gulf of Mexico from January through March. Young gags are predominantly female, transforming into males, as they grow larger

Grouper, red Epinephelus morio

Valenciennes, 1828

SERRANIDAE FAMILY
Also called garoupa-de-São Tomé, cherna Americana, cherna de vivero, mero paracamo, mero

This fish occurs in the western Atlantic from North Carolina to southern Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean and Bermuda with strays occurring as far north as Massachusetts. Juveniles may be found in shallow water, but adults are mainly found resting in potholes on, or edges close to rocky, flat bottoms in depths up to 1000 ft (305 m). Red grouper rarely occur around coral reefs.

Color is variable and can change, however the head and body are generally dark brown with a reddish cast, shading to pink or reddish below, with pale poorly defined pale areas and small black spots around the eye. The lining of the mouth varies from scarlet to orange. The soft dorsal, caudal and anal fins are dark with narrow white edges. This species is distinguished from Nassau grouper by its lack of a black saddle spot on the top of the tail just behind the dorsal fin and its straight first dorsal fin.

Like other grouper, the red is usually caught while bottom fishing with cut or live bait. Unlike other grouper that are associated with reefs, reds can be taken on relatively light tackle. Red grouper is one of the most important species of fish caught off the coast of Florida, the Campeche Bank and Yucatan Peninsula.

While not as highly rated in food value as some others groupers, the red grouper is still considered fine table fare

Grouper, black Mycteroperca bonaci

Poey, 1860

SERRANIDAE FAMILY
Also called black rockfish, marbled rockfish

Black grouper are perhaps the largest species of Mycteroperca in the Atlantic. They can be found on offshore wrecks and reefs in Bermuda, Florida, the southern Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, down to southern Brazil in the south Atlantic. Coloration in black grouper can vary, but their sides typically exhibit a rectangular pattern of dark grey blotches. The edges of the second dorsal, caudal, and anal fins are also dark black. Juveniles feed mainly on crustaceans, while adult fish prefer fish.

Like other grouper, when hooked black grouper are dogged opponents that must be turned quickly before they retreat to cover. They will take a variety of natural and artificial baits, and are considered outstanding table fare

Bass, kelp (calico) Paralabrax clathratus

Girard, 1854

SERRANIDAE FAMILY
Also called calico bass, California kelp bass, rock bass, sand bass, bull bass, kelp salmon, cabrilla

The kelp bass is common along the central and southern California coast and northeastern Baja, and ranges from the Columbia River, Washington to Magdalena Bay, Baja California. It is usually found in or near kelp beds, over reefs, around rock jetties and breakwaters or structures in shallow water and to about 150 ft. (46 m). While it is found throughout the water column, larger specimens usually occur in deeper waters.

The kelp bass, a member of a large group of seabasses, which inhabit the eastern Pacific, is a robust fish with a typical, well known bass shape. Most anglers in its territory readily recognize the kelp bass as it is one of the most important targets among southern California's light tackle anglers.

The color of is brown to olive green with pale blotches on the back, becoming lighter below. They are easily be distinguished from the sand basses by the fact that the third, fourth and fifth dorsal spines are about the same length, whereas the third dorsal spine of the sand basses is much longer than the fourth and fifth.

Because it is considered to be among the best eating fish and a powerful fighter, it is highly sought by sport fishermen. An omnivorous feeder, it will take most of the local live baits as well as a variety of artificial lures. A favorite rig is a metal jig and whole squid. The best fishing is summer to fall although it can be fished year round in some areas.

Kelp bass are slow growing, taking 5 to 6 years before reaching the minimum legal size limit of 12 inches, at which time nearly all are capable of spawning. Since they do not migrate and tend to be territorial, they are susceptible to fishing pressure and can be depleted by over fishing in an area

Grouper, broomtail Mycteroperca xenarcha

Jordan, 1888

SERRANIDAE FAMILY


Broomtail grouper can be distinguished from other eastern Pacific grouper by the exserted ray on the tail, giving the fish its namesake broomtail appearance. Broomtail have a broad distribution stretch from southern California south to Peru. Juveniles may be found inshore around mangrove estuaries, while adults are typically found offshore to depths of 60 meters. They are savage ambush predators that must be quickly turned once hooked before they can retreat into structure.