Red Grouper (Epinephelus morio)
Description
Red grouper is a brownish-red fish with scattered pale blotches, black dots around the eyes, and dark-tipped dorsal, anal, and tailfins. The membrane between the dorsal spines is not notched, and the tail fin is squared off.
Size
They may grow to 3 feet in length and average 10 pounds, though some reach as much as 40 pounds.
Habitat
Red grouper are bottom dwellers. They stay near sea grass, muddy bottoms, limestone reefs, and rocky areas. Young grouper will stay in shallow waters and move deeper as they age. Throughout their lifespan, red groupers will range from 6 to 400 feet of water.
Range
Red grouper are found in the subtropical waters of the western Atlantic Ocean. This area runs generally from North Carolina to Brazil and includes the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea and Bermuda. However, red grouper are seen in fewer numbers in the Caribbean and around Florida and the Bahamas due to extensive fishing. Red grouper are most common in the Gulf of Mexico.