BIACK GROUPER - Mycteroperca botiaci

Faimily Serranidae, SEA BASSES AND GROUPER

Description: olive or gray body coloration with black blotches and brassy spots; gently rounded preopercie; (see gag, next page) Similar fish: gag, M. microlepis; yellowfin grouper, M. venenosa.

Where found: OFFSHORE species; adults associated with rocky bottoms, reefs, and dropoff walls in water over 60 feet deep; young may occur INSHORE in shallow water.

Size: common to 40 pounds, may attain weights exceeding 100 pounds; no Florida record because of identity confusion with gag, which are mistakenly called "black grouper."

Remarks: spawns between May and August; protogynous hermaphrodites, young predominately female, transforming into males as they grow larger; larger individuals generally in greater depths; feeds on fish and squid.

Amberjack | Black Drum | Bluefish | Bonito | Cobia | Dolphin | Flounder | Grouper | King Mackerel | Marlin | Pompano | Redfish | Red Snapper | Sailfish | Sheepshead | Spanish Mackerel | Spotted Sea Trout | Tarpon | Triggerfish | Tuna | Vermilion Snapper | Wahoo | Weakfish |