Author: (Bloch, 1790)
FBname: Giant grouper
Comments: The largest bony fish found in coral reefs (Ref. 9710).  Individuals more than a meter long have been caught from shore and in harbors.  Common in shallow waters.  Found in caves or wrecks; also in estuaries. Juveniles secretive in reefs and rarely seen (Ref. 48635).  Benthopelagic and benthic (Ref. 58302).  Feed on spiny lobsters, fishes, including small sharks and batoids, and juvenile sea turtles and crustaceans.  In South African estuaries, the main prey item is the mud crab, <i>Scylla serrata</i>.  Unconfirmed reports of fatal attacks on humans.  Nearly wiped out in heavily fished areas (Ref. 9710).   Large individuals may be ciguatoxic (Ref. 37816). In the Hong Kong live fish markets (Ref. 27253).  It is not common enough to be of commercial importance; rare in some places due to spearfishing; also caught with hook-and-line and spear (Ref. 39231).