Read the article with FishingTheSpot: the black grouper
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See the fishing tripsThe Black Grouper
From June to December
56 cm
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The Black Grouper belongs to the Serranidae family. The black grouper is a large marine fish that can reach lengths of up to 150 cm and weigh 100 kg. The black grouper has a lifespan of about 40 years. Fish spawn between May and August. The black grouper fishing season is open from June to December.
The black grouper is a large, marine fish with a prominent lower jaw. It has an oblong body shape and rounded edges on the dorsal and anal fins. The caudal fin is square and the dorsal fin has 11 spines and 15-17 rays. The preopercule is rounded without a notch, which distinguishes it from the gag grouper (Mycteroperca microlepis). The black grouper has an olive or grey body color, dark rectangular spots and small hexagonal bronze spots on the head and underside. The edges of the dorsal, anal and caudal fin are black or bluish; there is sometimes an orange border along the pectoral fins. The front teeth of the black grouper are well developed canines. Groupers have several sets of strong, thin teeth that play the role of a rasp. These teeth are not used to tear the flesh like barracudas and sharks, but rather to prevent small fish from escaping.
The black grouper lifestyle
Adult black groupers feed mainly on other smaller reef fish, including grunts, snappers and herring. They also feed on crustaceans. Young black groupers only feed on crustaceans.
Black groupers are protogynous hermaphrodites. This means that all fish are born as females. Later in life, some of the fish will change from male to female so that the population can reproduce. Black groupers that go through this process do so when they reach about 99.0 - 121.5 cm.
The black grouper habitat
Many grouper species consider the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico as their home, and the black grouper is no exception. These guys tend to frequent wrecks, ledges, reefs and other offshore structures. If you are looking for larger fish, you will want to move to areas not frequented by other fishermen, which will leave the fish without pressure with a chance to grow.
They can be found up to 100 meters deep, or as shallow as 10 meters. They tend to prefer deeper waters during the warmer summer months, but can be found relatively shallow in winter and spring.
The Black grouper angling
Blue runners, cigar minnows or any other small growl make good choices of live bait.
