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South Florida Gamefish Species
Black Drum
Black Drum
The Black Drum (Pogonias cromis) is a saltwater fish similar to its
cousin, the Red Drum. It is the only species in the genus Pogonias.
Though most specimens are generally found in the 5-30lb (2-14kg)
range, the black drum is well known as the largest of all the drum family
with some specimens reaching excesses of 90lbs (40kg). They are often
black and/or gray in color with juvenile fish having distinctive dark stripes
over a gray body. The world record black drum was just over 113lbs
(51kg).
cousin, the Red Drum. It is the only species in the genus Pogonias.
Though most specimens are generally found in the 5-30lb (2-14kg)
range, the black drum is well known as the largest of all the drum family
with some specimens reaching excesses of 90lbs (40kg). They are often
black and/or gray in color with juvenile fish having distinctive dark stripes
over a gray body. The world record black drum was just over 113lbs
(51kg).
It is recommended that those caught by fishermen which are over 15lbs pounds (7kg) should be released,
as the flesh is very coarse and tough. Black drums are capable of producing tones between 100 Hz and 500
Hz when performing mating calls.
Their teeth are rounded and they have powerful jaws capable of crushing oysters and other shellfish.
as the flesh is very coarse and tough. Black drums are capable of producing tones between 100 Hz and 500
Hz when performing mating calls.
Their teeth are rounded and they have powerful jaws capable of crushing oysters and other shellfish.
Goliath Grouper
Goliath Grouper (Jewfish)
The Atlantic goliath grouper or itajara (Epinephelus itajara) is a large
saltwater fish of the grouper family. It was formerly known as the jewfish;
however, in 2001 the American Fisheries Society made the decision to
change the name to the more considerate "goliath grouper". It is a
cousin of the Pacific Goliath grouper.
The Atlantic goliath grouper or itajara (Epinephelus itajara) is a large
saltwater fish of the grouper family. It was formerly known as the jewfish;
however, in 2001 the American Fisheries Society made the decision to
change the name to the more considerate "goliath grouper". It is a
cousin of the Pacific Goliath grouper.
The goliath grouper is found primarily in shallow tropical waters among coral and artificial reefs at depths of
up to 165 feet (50 m). Their range includes the Florida Keys, the Bahamas, most of the Caribbean, and
practically all of the Brazilian coast, where they are known as mero. On some occasions it is caught in New
England off Maine and Massachusetts but it is not that common. In the eastern Atlantic Ocean, it occurs from
Congo to Senegal.
Young grouper may live in brackish estuaries, canals and mangrove swamps, unusual behavior among
grouper.
Atlantic Goliath grouper
They may reach extremely large sizes, growing to lengths of 8.2 feet (2.5 m) and can weigh as much as 800
pounds (363 kg). In Florida, the largest hook and line captured specimen weighed 680 pounds (309 kg). They
are usually around 400 lb when mature. Considered of fine food quality, the goliath grouper were a highly
sought after quarry for fishermen of all types. The goliath grouper's inquisitive and generally fearless nature
make it a relatively easy prey for spear fishermen. They also tend to spawn in large aggregations returning like
clockwork to the same locations making them particularly vulnerable to mass harvesting. Until a harvest ban
was placed on the species, the species was in rapid decline. The goliath grouper is totally protected from
harvest and is recognized as a critically endangered species by the World Conservation Union (IUCN). The
U.S. began protection in 1990 and the Caribbean in 1993. The species' population has been recovering since
the ban, however with the fish's slow growth rate it will take some time for populations to return to their
previous levels.
Goliath grouper eat crustaceans, other fish, octopuses and young sea turtles. Grouper are preyed upon by
large fish such as barracuda, moray eels and large sharks.
Goliath grouper are believed to be protogynous hermaphrodites, with individuals first maturing as females
and only some large adults becoming males. Most grouper follow this pattern, but it has not yet been verified
for the Goliath. In fact, Bullock et al. found that males could be sexually mature at smaller sizes (~1150mm)
and younger ages (4-6 years) than females (~1225mm and ~6-8 years).
up to 165 feet (50 m). Their range includes the Florida Keys, the Bahamas, most of the Caribbean, and
practically all of the Brazilian coast, where they are known as mero. On some occasions it is caught in New
England off Maine and Massachusetts but it is not that common. In the eastern Atlantic Ocean, it occurs from
Congo to Senegal.
Young grouper may live in brackish estuaries, canals and mangrove swamps, unusual behavior among
grouper.
Atlantic Goliath grouper
They may reach extremely large sizes, growing to lengths of 8.2 feet (2.5 m) and can weigh as much as 800
pounds (363 kg). In Florida, the largest hook and line captured specimen weighed 680 pounds (309 kg). They
are usually around 400 lb when mature. Considered of fine food quality, the goliath grouper were a highly
sought after quarry for fishermen of all types. The goliath grouper's inquisitive and generally fearless nature
make it a relatively easy prey for spear fishermen. They also tend to spawn in large aggregations returning like
clockwork to the same locations making them particularly vulnerable to mass harvesting. Until a harvest ban
was placed on the species, the species was in rapid decline. The goliath grouper is totally protected from
harvest and is recognized as a critically endangered species by the World Conservation Union (IUCN). The
U.S. began protection in 1990 and the Caribbean in 1993. The species' population has been recovering since
the ban, however with the fish's slow growth rate it will take some time for populations to return to their
previous levels.
Goliath grouper eat crustaceans, other fish, octopuses and young sea turtles. Grouper are preyed upon by
large fish such as barracuda, moray eels and large sharks.
Goliath grouper are believed to be protogynous hermaphrodites, with individuals first maturing as females
and only some large adults becoming males. Most grouper follow this pattern, but it has not yet been verified
for the Goliath. In fact, Bullock et al. found that males could be sexually mature at smaller sizes (~1150mm)
and younger ages (4-6 years) than females (~1225mm and ~6-8 years).
Black Grouper
The black grouper (Mycteroperca bonaci) is one of the best known of the
large group of Perciform fish called groupers.
The black grouper is a large marine fish, growing up to 150 centimetres in
length and 100 kilograms in weight. It has an olive or gray body, with black
blotches and brassy spots.
large group of Perciform fish called groupers.
The black grouper is a large marine fish, growing up to 150 centimetres in
length and 100 kilograms in weight. It has an olive or gray body, with black
blotches and brassy spots.
Thepreopercle is gently rounded. It is associated with rocky or coral reefs but is not dependent on them; it is
found in the Western Atlantic Ocean, from Massachusetts, USA, in the north to southern Brazil, but is
particularly associated with the southern Gulf of Mexico, the Florida Keys, the Bahamas and the Caribbean.
Adults are not found at the northern extremes of its range. It lives mostly near the surface, at depths ranging
from 6 to 33 meters.
The black grouper is quite tasty and an important food fish, is fished for sale but also for sea-angling. While
not currently considered endangered, it is vulnerable to increases in exploitation because it is a relatively slow
breeder.
The black grouper is a solitary fish. Adults feed mainly on other fish and squid, though the younger fish feed on
crustaceans especially shrimp.
The fish spawns between May and August. It is a protogynous hermaphrodite, i.e. the young are predominantly
female but transform into males as they grow larger.
There are other fish that are sometimes called "black groupers". These include the similar gag grouper,
Mycteroperca microlepis, the misty grouper Epinephelus mystacinus, and the critically endangered Warsaw
grouper Epinephelus nigritus.
found in the Western Atlantic Ocean, from Massachusetts, USA, in the north to southern Brazil, but is
particularly associated with the southern Gulf of Mexico, the Florida Keys, the Bahamas and the Caribbean.
Adults are not found at the northern extremes of its range. It lives mostly near the surface, at depths ranging
from 6 to 33 meters.
The black grouper is quite tasty and an important food fish, is fished for sale but also for sea-angling. While
not currently considered endangered, it is vulnerable to increases in exploitation because it is a relatively slow
breeder.
The black grouper is a solitary fish. Adults feed mainly on other fish and squid, though the younger fish feed on
crustaceans especially shrimp.
The fish spawns between May and August. It is a protogynous hermaphrodite, i.e. the young are predominantly
female but transform into males as they grow larger.
There are other fish that are sometimes called "black groupers". These include the similar gag grouper,
Mycteroperca microlepis, the misty grouper Epinephelus mystacinus, and the critically endangered Warsaw
grouper Epinephelus nigritus.
Gag Grouper
The gag grouper (Mycteroperca microlepis) is a drab, mottled gray fish
lacking the distinguishing features of other groupers. It has a pattern of
markings which resemble the box-shaped spots of the black grouper. It
lacks the streamer-points on the tail fin that scamp (Mycteroperca phenax)
and yellowmouth grouper (M. interstitialis) have and lacks yellow
coloration around the mouth.
lacking the distinguishing features of other groupers. It has a pattern of
markings which resemble the box-shaped spots of the black grouper. It
lacks the streamer-points on the tail fin that scamp (Mycteroperca phenax)
and yellowmouth grouper (M. interstitialis) have and lacks yellow
coloration around the mouth.
Ten- to twenty-pound (5 to 10 kg) fish are common. The world record is 80 lb 6 oz (36.45 kg). The gag grouper
is a bottomfeeder and is often caught by fishermen seeking bottom-dwelling species such as snappers. It has
flaky white meat that is considered quite delicious.
Members of this species are known to be protogynous hermaphrodites, schooling in harems with the most
aggressive and largest females shifting sex to male, probably as a result of behavioral triggers, when there is
no male available. Commercial and sport fishing have created tremendous selective pressures against the
largest animals, typically male, restricting the reproductive capacity of the entire breeding population.
Recently, a small closure in the Gulf of Mexico was established to provide this and other species a refuge from
commercial fishing pressure, however, this data is highly in dispute and is currently being challenged for
inaccuracies. They are found in hard bottom with an uneven bottom. Things they like are ledges,rocks,coral
reefs,etc. They also like structure. Like wrecks,artificial reefs, and sunken barges.
is a bottomfeeder and is often caught by fishermen seeking bottom-dwelling species such as snappers. It has
flaky white meat that is considered quite delicious.
Members of this species are known to be protogynous hermaphrodites, schooling in harems with the most
aggressive and largest females shifting sex to male, probably as a result of behavioral triggers, when there is
no male available. Commercial and sport fishing have created tremendous selective pressures against the
largest animals, typically male, restricting the reproductive capacity of the entire breeding population.
Recently, a small closure in the Gulf of Mexico was established to provide this and other species a refuge from
commercial fishing pressure, however, this data is highly in dispute and is currently being challenged for
inaccuracies. They are found in hard bottom with an uneven bottom. Things they like are ledges,rocks,coral
reefs,etc. They also like structure. Like wrecks,artificial reefs, and sunken barges.
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