Author: (Bloch, 1792)
FBname: Nassau grouper
Comments: Occurs from the shoreline to at least 90 m depth.  Usually close to caves (Ref. 9710).  Juveniles are common in seagrass beds.  Diet comprises mainly of fishes (54%) and crabs (23%) and lesser amounts of other crustaceans and mollusks.  It is solitary and mainly diurnal; but may sometimes form schools.  Spawns near the new moon with up to 30,000 aggregating at certain spawning sites (Ref. 9710).  The least wary and most friendly of all the groupers (Ref. 5226).  Heavily fished and vulnerable to overfishing, particularly when migrating or aggregating to spawn (Ref. 9710).  The most important commercial grouper in the West Indies.  Marketed fresh, mostly between 2 to 10 kg (Ref. 3708).