Nassau Grouper

Nassau Grouper

Nassau groupers were at one time the most important grouper for commercial fishery; however, due to over fishing, they are now endangered and illegal to fish in the Cayman Islands.

Nassau groupers are one of the larger fish found on the reefs. Really big Nassau groupers can weigh as much as 20 kilograms (about 45 lbs) and be almost 1 metre long (about 3 feet). They are usually some shade of brown and pink, and they are covered with distinctive stripes.

Nassau groupers are active during the day, and they can often be found nearby the reefs hunting for food. They are carnivorous fish, feeding mostly on other fish and crabs; you wouldn’t want to be a smaller fish when they is a Nassau grouper nearby! These fish are solitary and tend not to hangout together.

One interesting subject is the reproduction of the Nassau grouper. These groupers can live for up to 20 years, and will always spawn in the same spot. Another interesting fact is that they always spawn around the same time as a full moon in the winter.