The Nassau Grouper: Epinephelus striatus Groupers are large, heavybodied, sedentary fishes, sometimes called rockfish. Most groupers are members of the genera Epinephelus and Mycteroperca of the family Serranidae and inhabit temperate and, especially, tropical waters. They vary in size from the large Australian grouper, E. lanceolatus, which measures 11 ft, to species measuring less than 10 cm. A typical and well known example, the Nassau grouper of the Caribbean is about 3 feet long. It takes positions near coral reefs and makes dashes for crabs, cuttlefish, and other prey, which it crushes with its powerful jaws. Groupers have 9 to 11 prominent spines on the front part of their dorsal fins. This is a Nassau Grouper, photographed in Grand Cayman at Bob Soto's Resort, which always seemed to be very curious and sociable with divers.

Print Number - TF011
Limited Edition signed color photography for sale by Stephen Brunson

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Nassau Grouper Statistics:

Many species of grouper undergo sex reversal, from male to female, producing sperm when young and eggs later on. Sometimes they produce both, but whether they can self-fertilize is not known.

Groupers are highly valued food fishes. Besides the Nassau Grouper, species commonly fished in the West Indies and the United States, include the red grouper, the rock hind, and the warsaw grouper. The well-known jewfish, or spotted grouper, found from Florida to Brazil, is among the largest, reaching about 700 lbs. Species common to the Pacific coast of California and Mexico are the spotted cabrilla, the gulf grouper, and the broomtail grouper.

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