Black grouper –

Features – This reddish brown to black fish bears rectangular blotches on body. Its tail has a black margin with a white edge. They inhabit reefs, and are occasionally found in open water.

Features – This relatively smaller grouper species has reddish spots over a whitish background. Its tails and rear fins have a black margin edged in white. They inhabit inshore patch reefs to deep banks. The Red Hind is also known as the strawberry grouper, speckled hind or hamlet.

Features – This is the largest of the reef fish. They are yellowish-brown to olive green with oblique bars that can pale or darken. Goliath grouper are also known as Jewfish. This species has been protected from harvesting in Florida since 1990.

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Features – This grouper is a favourite food fish and has distinctive markings. Its body has five irregular, olive-brown bars over a lighter background. A diagonal bar runs from the snout across the eye to the dorsal fin. It bears a black saddle (saddle shaped marking) on the base of the tail (caudal peduncle). They Inhabit coral reefs up to a depth of 90 ft. This species has been protected from harvesting in Florida since 1990. In the Bahamas it is illegal to catch Nassau grouper during the closed season which occurs during the winter months. The last  closed season ran from December 1, 2006 to February 28, 2007.

Features – The tiger grouper is striped as its name implies. It has nine brown-black diagonal bars on its body over a light background. They can dramatically change colour and may be bright red at cleaning stations. They inhabit reefs and walls.

Features – This fish has reddish to dark dots on its body and fins. It may have 1-4 dark blotches along its back. Rock hinds can pale in color dramatically.

Features – These fish have black, gray, olive green or red blotches over a light background. The outer third of the pectoral fin is yellow, hence its name. The tail has a thin dark, irregular margin. Yellow fin grouper Inhabits reef tops and walls.