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🌊 Marine Near Threatened 🍽️ Edible 🎣 Game Fish 🌡️ Tropical

Warsaw grouper

Hyporthodus nigritus Holbrook, 1855
Max Length
230 cm
Max Weight
198.1 kg
Lifespan
91 yrs
Trophic Level
4
Depth
55–525 m
Climate
Tropical
Resilience
Low
Vulnerability
85.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
demersal

📖 Overview

A solitary species usually found on rocky bottoms; juveniles are occasionally seen on jetties and shallow reefs . Adults feed on a variety of crabs, shrimps, lobsters, and fishes. Marketed fresh.

Scientific Name
Hyporthodus nigritus
Authority
Holbrook, 1855
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Tropical
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
IUCN Status
NT
Max Length
230 cm
Max Weight
198.1 kg
Lifespan
91 years
Depth Range
55–525 m
Latitude
34°S – 43°N
Trophic Level
4
Resilience
Low
Vulnerability
85.00/100
Migration
Oceanodromous
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 15; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 9. Distinguished by the following characteristics: dark reddish brown or brownish grey to almost black dorsally, dull reddish grey below; depth of body contained 2.4-2.6 times in SL; head length 2.1-2.5 times in SL; distinctly convex interorbital area; angular preopercle, rounded angle, with slightly enlarged serrae and with 1-2 small spines on lower edge just in front of angle; smooth interopercle and subopercle; subequal nostrils, posterior nostrils slightly larger; maxilla reaches well past eye; 4-5 rows of small teeth on midside part of lower jaw in adults and juveniles with 2-3 rows .: fusiform / normal.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Warsaw grouper is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

small fish
crustaceans
cephalopods

🥚 Reproduction

🐣 Oviparous 📦 Batch Spawner
Spawning Season
spring-summer
Spawn Location
Pelagic
Fertilization
External

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; demersal; oceanodromous ; depth range 55 - 525 m . Tropical; 43°N - 34°S, 98°W - 35°W West Indies (Cuba, Haiti, and Trinidad).

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine ⬇️ Benthic
Migration
Oceanodromous
Trophic Level
4±0.61
🧍 Solitary
Food Items

a variety of crabs, shrimps, lobsters, and fishes

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.01288 × L3.05 (TL)
Max TL
230cm
Max Weight
198,100g
Dorsal Spines
10
Dorsal Rays
14
Anal Spines
3
Anal Rays
9

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Near Threatened
Assessment Date
2016

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Low
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
85.00/100
Very High vulnerability
Trophic Level
4
Apex / Top predator
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
Climate Zone
Tropical
Latitude Range
43°N – 34°S
Described By
Holbrook, 1855

🎣 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.

🍽️ Edibility & Flavour

"Warsaw grouper is an edible species."

✗ Not for Raw
✓ Fresh Indicators
  • Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
  • Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
  • Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
  • Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
  • Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
✗ Avoid If
  • Cloudy or sunken eyes
  • Strong fishy or ammonia odour
  • Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
  • Discoloured or dry flesh
Best Cooking Methods
Baking Grilling Pan-frying

⚡ Nutrition

Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central

Nutrient Amount
Protein 18.1 g
Omega-3 (total) 233 mg

🔬 Mercury Safety

Mercury data for Warsaw grouper has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.

🌿 Sustainability

Best Choice
Healthy stocks, low impact
Good Alternative
Well-managed, minor concerns
Use Caution
Check sourcing and season
Avoid
Overfished or high impact

🔬 Full Nutritional Profile

Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)

Proximate Composition
Energy125 kcal
Moisture75 %
Protein20 %
Total Fat4 %
Ash1.3 %
Fatty Acids (g)
Saturated Fat1 g
Monounsaturated Fat1.2 g
Polyunsaturated Fat1.5 g
Omega-3 Total1 g
EPA0.3 g
DHA0.5 g
Omega-6 Total0.3 g
Key Minerals & Vitamins
Calcium20 mg
Iron0.7 mg
Magnesium30 mg
Phosphorus220 mg
Potassium380 mg
Sodium55 mg
Zinc0.5 mg
Selenium32 µg
Vitamin B122 µg

📊 Population Dynamics

Year Region Index Notes
- - -

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 27 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

Aquareap Community Observations
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