Red grouper occur in the Western Atlantic, ranging as far north as Massachusetts to southeastern Brazil, including the eastern Gulf of Mexico.
Generally occurs over flat rock perforated with solution holes.
Commonly found in the caverns and crevices of limestone reef in the Gulf of Mexico.
It also occurs over rocky reef bottoms.
The species is uncommon around coral reefs.
Depth
Adult red grouper are sedentary fish that are usually found at depths of 5-300 m (16-984 ft).
Fishermen off North Carolina commonly catch red grouper at depths of 27-76 m (88-249 ft) for an average of 34 m (111 ft).
Fishermen off southeastern Florida also catch red grouper in depths ranging from 27-76 m (88-249 ft) with an average depth of 45 m (148 ft).
Juveniles live in shallow water nearshore reefs until they are 40.0 cm (16 in) and 5 years of age, when they become sexually mature and move offshore.
Reproduction
Spawning occurs during February through June, with a peak in April.
In the eastern Gulf of Mexico, ripe females are found December through June, with a peak during April and May.
Based on the presence of ripe adults and larval red grouper, spawning probably occurs offshore.
Groups of spawning red grouper have been found at depths between 21-110 m (70-360 feet).
Red grouper do not appear to form spawning aggregation or spawn at specific sites.
They are reported to spawn in depths of 30-90 m (98-295 ft) off the Southeast Atlantic coast.
Protogynous
Red grouper are protogynous, changing sex from female to male with increased size and age.
Off North Carolina, red grouper first become males at 50.9 cm (20.1 in) total length (TL) and males dominate size classes greater than 70.0 cm (27.8 in) TL.
Most females transform to males between ages 7 and 14.
It has been reported that 50% of the females caught off North Carolina are undergoing sexual transition at age 8.
Life History
Maximum age reported was 25 years.
Red grouper live for at least 20 years in the Southeast Atlantic.
A maximum age of 26 years has been reported for red grouper in the Gulf of Mexico.
Natural mortality rate is estimated to be 0.20.
Maximum reported size is 125.0 cm (49.2 in) TL (male) and 23.0 kg (51.1 lb).
For fish collected off North Carolina during the late 1990s, age at 50% maturity of females is 2.4 years and size at 50% maturity is 48.7 cm (19.3 in) TL.
Off southeastern Florida, age at 50% maturity was 2.1 years and size at 50% maturity was 52.9 cm (21.0 in) TL.
Diet
Red Grouper eat a wide variety:
Fish
Octopus
Crustaceans (including shrimp, lobsters, and stomatopods)
Sources: NOAA Fisheries Service (2005) Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation Report for the Snapper Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic
Gulf of Mexico Regulations
Commercial:
Size Limit: 20" total length
Closed Season: February 15 through March 15
Quota: 5.31 million pound (mp) quota (included in the 8.80 mp shallow water grouper quota)
Recreational:
Size Limit: 20" total length
Closed Season: February 15 through March 15
Daily Bag Limit: 5 per person in aggregate of all groupers except goliath grouper and Nassau grouper. No more than 1 red grouper per person (counts as part of the 5 grouper aggregate bag limit).
South Atlantic Regulations
Commercial:
Size Limit: 20" total length
Trip Limit: None
Recreational:
Size Limit: 20" total length
Daily Bag Limit: Included in 5 grouper per person limit
Please Note: This summary is intended to provide appropriate information to fishers about regulations and the sustainable use of marine fishery resources. This summary is for general information purposes. Fishery Regulations are subject to changes. For more information on fishery regulations consult the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 50 CFR 622 or the NOAA Fisheries Service Southeast Regional Office Fishery Regulation website.
