Texas Gulf Coast Fishing

Warsaw Grouper

WARSAW GROUPER - Epinephelus nigritus Family Serranidae, SEA BASSES AND GROUPER

Description: uniformly dark brown, with no distinctive markings; dorsal fin with 10 spines; second spine very long (much longer than third); caudal fin squared-off; rear nostril larger than front nostril. Young: caudal fin yellow; dark saddle on caudal peduncle; some whitish spots on body.
Size: to 1.8 m (6 ft.) and 263 kg (580 lbs.).
Habitat: deep rocky ledges and sea mounts, in 90-300 m (300-1000 ft.); young are sometimes caught in nearshore waters.