Black Grouper 

Other Names :True Black GrouperRange & Habitat :While this fish may be found in other areas of the Gulf of Mexico, it is most common in southern Florida. It prefers reefs in 30 to 100 feet of water.Identification & Biology :The body is a brownish-gray with darker horizontal spots shaped in box-like patterns. The fins are darker and may have blue edges. It is very often confused with the gag grouper, but is darker in color. Also, the outer edge of the tail fin is more concave than the gag’s. Gag also have much lighter-colored fins. Unlike many groupers, which are ambush predators, the black grouper actively prowls reef areas in search of its favorite food — other fishes. Larger fish are found in deeper waters.Size :Often over 50 pounds and will grow larger than 100 pounds.Food Value :Excellent

  Gag Grouper

Other Names :Black Grouper, Gray Grouper, Gag GrouperRange & Habitat :Gulfwide. Adults are found from 60 to 250 feet deep and occasionally to over 500 feet. Gag tend to orient themselves around some sort of bottom relief, rocks, reefs, shipwrecks, or offshore oil and gas platforms. Size is related to water depth, with average size increasing as the water becomes deeper. Young fish can be found in nearshore waters and even bays and other estuarine waters.Identification & Biology :Gag are most identifiable by their lack of distinguishing features. Their body color is an overall mottled gray. The darker body marking may be arranged in “kiss-shaped” patterns, slightly resembling the box-shaped patterns on the true black grouper. They lack the streamer-points on the tail fin that scamp and yellowmouth grouper have and lack the yellow color in and near their mouths. They most closely resemble the black grouper, but are lighter in color, especially on the fins.

Gag are a fairly well researched grouper. They spawn from December to May, with peaks on the full moons between February and early April. After hatching, the tiny baby grouper are carried into nearshore and inshore waters by currents. Many young gag spend their first summer on oyster reefs feeding on small shrimp and other creatures. After 4 months, the survivors have grown to 5 inches and switched to a fish diet, which is their preferred food for the rest of their lives.

With the cooler temperatures of fall, the small gag move to deeper channels for migration offshore. By October, they are 12 inches long and all are females. After moving offshore, gag grouper stake out a territory that they seldom leave until old enough to spawn. Gag grouper grow rapidly until they are 10 years old and an average size of over 40 inches. After that, growth rates are very slow. Either alone or in small groups, gag will travel to specific areas to form spawning groups. After spawning, the largest fish will turn into males. Gag under 32 inches and 5 years old are all females. By 42 inches and 11 years of age, the sex ratio is about even. Larger fish are mostly males. Female fish outnumber males.

In recent years, this imbalance in sex ratios has become more pronounced, causing some fisheries managers to become concerned. The larger male fish are aggressive feeders and once located, they are easy to catch. The increased efficiency of fishermen is allowing them to target specific gag habitat.Size :Ten to 20 pound fish are common, and they can grow to over 50 pounds.Food Value :Excellent