Science Name: | Mycteroperca microlepis |
Other Names: | gag, charcoal belly |
World Record: | 80 lbs. 6 ounces, Fl. |
Environment: | bottom fishing med tackle |
Techniques: | bottom fishing, medium tackle |
Habitat
Young groupers stay in grassy, shallow waters and move deeper as they age.
Offshore, they live in the typical grouper environs: rocky ledges, reefs, etc.
Feeding Habits
Gag grouper will feed on crabs, shrimp, and squid but prefer small fish such as
porgies, grunts and snapper.
Spawning
Forms spawning aggregations in water no shallower than 120 feet in Middle
Grounds area, January through March; current research to identify similar
aggregations off the Atlantic coast is ongoing. Young gags are predominantly
female, transforming into males as they grow larger; feeds on fish and squid.