Red grouper can be recognized by the slow sloping, straight line of the spined first half of the dorsal fin. The fin has a long second spine whereas, most groupers have a third spine longer than the second. The coloration of this grouper pictured above is that of a juvenile, which is different than that of adult red snapper.
Red grouper occur from North Carolina to Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. They are most abundant along Florida's east and west coasts, and throughout the Gulf of Mexico.
Red Grouper prefer ledges, crevices, and caverns of rocky limestone reefs as well as live bottom areas in shallow waters.
The red grouper is a protogynous hermaphrodite, and females are capable of reproducing at 4 years of age. Spawning takes place from March to July. Females usually release an average of 1.5 million pelagic eggs that remain at the surface for 30-40 days before settling to the bottom. Red grouper reaching a size of up to 25 pounds. Red groupers usually prey on crabs, shrimp, lobster, octopus, squid and fish that live close to reefs.