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Name/Relations || Range/Sizes || Habitat & Habits ||  Notes

Common Name:Black Grouper
Other Common Names:   grouper, gag
Scientific name: Mycteroperca bonaci
Family:  Serranidae (Sea Basses)
Related Species:  Gag Grouper, Red Grouper, Yellowmouth Grouper

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Range:  Atlantic Ocean from New England  to Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico, but uncommon north of the Carolinas.  Less common in the Northern Gulf of Mexico than around the Florida Keys.

Sizes:   Due to confusion w/Gag Grouper, maximum sizes are uncertain, but belived to be over 120lbs, far more common 5lbs-35lbs.

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Habitat:   Smaller grouper live inshore over shallow reefs and in estruaries, in particular around jetties, wrecks, piers, and bridges.  As they mature they move offshore to deeper wrecks and reefs, from 60 feet to 300 feet+ . Some BlackGrouper, however, remain inshore for their entire lives.

Spawning Habits:  Spawns offshore in reefs and wrecks from 30 feet to 200 feet in depth, especially around the sea mounts off of western Florida in early spring. The eggs hatch and young hang near the surface and around vegitation, eventually taking residence inshore (see above).

Feeding Habits:  If it moves and fits in its mouth, it is dinner.  An occational cruiser, but primarily an ambush predator, that lurks in or near structure.  When a food item (mostly fishes) approaches, the grouper darts out and engulfs it, then retreats to its den.  Will also eat freshly dead fishes if they are presented near its lair.

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Notes:  The grouper, like other groupers, can be extremely long lived, and very large specimens (over 40 lbs) can be over 30 years old.  Once a very large grouper is taken, it will be a while before nature can replace it.  This grouper is a very popular target among bottom anglers, often taken while deep trolling large plugs slowly, or by droping large live baits such as blue runners, vermillion snappers, bonito, and mullet on very heavy bottom  finder or egg weight rigs in deep water directly on top of reefs.  This fish can also change colors, adding to confusion when identifying it, but the best dead giveaways are the large spotchy markings along its flanks, differing from the kiss marks from its cousin the Gag.  Excellent table fare if between 10 lbs -20 lbs. More common insore around the Florida Keys than in any other part of Florida.

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