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A massive, deep-bodied grouper with a marbled brown pattern and a dark saddle on the tail base, a key spawning-aggregation species on Red Sea reefs. It is slow-growing and highly vulnerable to overfishing at its predictable breeding sites.
Coral and rocky reefs, lagoons and channels with caves and overhangs
Reef caves and ledges in moderate current, often near spawning aggregation sites
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Heavy outfit, short strong and a locked — lift it off the bottom fast or it reefs you.
A live baitfish or a whole squid fished hard on the in low light is the classic grouper bait.
Eating & safety
Large specimens may carry ciguatera and should be released to protect breeding stock.
Stung or poisoned? First-aid steps →Best conditions: Reef caves and ledges in moderate current, often near spawning aggregation sites
It forms large seasonal spawning aggregations that have been heavily targeted and depleted across its range.