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Red hind

Epinephelus guttatus Linnaeus, 1758
Epinephelus Guttatus (Epinephelus guttatus)
Epinephelus Guttatus (Epinephelus guttatus)
Max Length
76 cm
Max Weight
25.0 kg
Lifespan
22 yrs
Trophic Level
3.8
Depth
1–100 m
Climate
Tropical
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
52.00/100
Typical Length
40 cm
Depth Zone
reef

📖 Overview

Found in shallow reefs and rocky bottoms, occurring down to depths of at least 100 meters . Usually solitary and territorial. Feed mainly on crabs (Calapa and Mithrax) and other crustaceans (alpheid shrimps and scyllarid lobsters), fishes (labrids and haemulids), and octopus. Some undergo sexual inversion at 28 cm TL; most fish larger than 40 cm are males. Important in terms of numbers caught and total weight of landings in the Caribbean. Easily approached by divers . Hermaphrodite species. Excellent food fish . Readily caught on hook and line and easily speared .

Scientific Name
Epinephelus guttatus
Authority
Linnaeus, 1758
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Tropical
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
76 cm
Max Weight
25 kg
Lifespan
22 years
Depth Range
1–100 m
Trophic Level
3.8
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
52.00/100
Migration
Oceanodromous
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15 - 16; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8. Scales cycloid except for a ctenoid patch of variable size in the pectoral region. Greenish gray to light brown on the back grading to white ventrally, with numerous well-spaced dull orange-red to brown spots on the head, body and fins. Five faint diagonal bars formed by darker spots on the sides. No saddle-shaped blotch on caudal peduncle or along base of dorsal fin ; further characterized by having body depth contained 2.7-3.1 times in standard length; head length 2.3-2.4 times in standard length; evenly serrate preopercle, without salient angle; posterior nostril larger than anterior nostril .: fusiform / normal; Cross section: oval.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Red hind is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

aquatic invertebrates
small fish
algae
detritus

🥚 Reproduction

Size at Maturity
25cm TL

Females rest on or close to the bottom, while males patrol around an area that consists of 1 to 5 females and defend this territory from other males. Form aggregation and reproduce almost exclusively within the aggregation period .

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; reef-associated; oceanodromous ; depth range 1 - 100 m . Tropical; 36°N - 8°N, 98°W - 58°W North Carolina, USA to Paraíba, Brazil (Ref.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine 🪸 Reef Associated
Migration
Oceanodromous
Trophic Level
3.8±0.3
🧍 Solitary
Food Items

crabs (Calapa and Mithrax) and other crustaceans (alpheid shrimps and scyllarid lobsters), fishes (l

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.01148 × L3.04 (TL)
Max TL
76cm
Max Weight
25,000g
Dorsal Spines
11
Dorsal Rays
16
Anal Spines
3
Anal Rays
8

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2016

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Medium
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
52.00/100
Moderate-High vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.8
Predator
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
Climate Zone
Tropical
Described By
Linnaeus, 1758

🎣 Angling Guide

Difficulty
Beginner
Fight Rating
strong pulls with head-shakes
Best Seasons
spring,summer,fall
Best Time
incoming tide, dawn and dusk
Line Weight
15-30
Rod Type
medium-heavy spinning
Hook Size
2/0-5/0
Catch & Release
✓ Recommended
Best Months
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Techniques
bottom fishing popping cork soft plastics live bait
Bait & Lures
live shrimp cut mullet soft plastic paddle-tails popping corks
Recommended Tackle
  • medium-heavy 7ft spinning rod
  • 30-50 lb braid
  • fluorocarbon leader
Where to Find Them
  • grass flats
  • oyster bars
  • marsh drains
  • deeper channel edges
Tips & Tricks
Popping cork technique attracts fish from distance. Fish moving tides.
Catch & Release Tips

Use barbless hooks, minimise air exposure, and revive fish head-first in current before release.

Regulations Summary

⚠️ Slot limits protect breeding-size fish. Verify daily bag limits.

📊 Population Dynamics

Year Region Index Notes
- - -

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Language Common Names
🇬🇧English Deady · Gatu Corá · Gatu Pretu · Hind · Koon · Lucky Grouper · Red hind · Rockhind
🌍CES kanic rudoskvrnný
🇩🇰Danish Rødplettet havaborre
🇫🇷French Grand Forte · Grand Gele · Merou · Merou Couronne · Vieille rouge
🇳🇱Dutch Rode katvis
🇵🇹Portuguese Garoupa-palhaço
🇷🇺Russian Чернопёрый групер
🇪🇸Spanish Arigua · cabrilla · cabrilla colorada · Cabrilla roja · Carbrilla · Mero · Mero cabrilla · Mero Colorado · Parra · Payaso · Sofia · Tofia
🇨🇳Chinese 紅點石斑魚

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 54 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

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