Fauna
Fish

Gag Grouper

Mycteroperca microlepis

Also known as Velvet Rockfish, Gag, Charcoal Belly

Gag groupers are protogynous hermaphrodites, beginning life as females before transitioning to territorial breeding males late in maturity. Juveniles mature in shallow coastal seagrass beds and mangrove creeks, migrating out to deep offshore rocky ledges and coral drop-offs as adults. These robust apex predators rely on camouflage and sudden explosive bursts of speed to ambush schools of forage fish and reef invertebrates.

MarineReef DwellerCarnivorous
Gag Grouper reference
(c) Quinn, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Quinn · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
VulnerableConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXVulnerableRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyPinfish, Blue Crab, Squid
Predators
  • Bull Shark
  • Tiger Shark
  • Great Barracuda
ThreatsOverfishing, destructive bottom trawling, and episodic red tide algal blooms
HabitatsOffshore rocky ledges, coral reefs, coastal seagrass beds, and estuaries
Life spanUp to 30 years
Classification
  1. OrderPerciformes
  2. FamilySerranidae
  3. GenusMycteroperca
  4. SpeciesMycteroperca microlepis
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
What to notice
Look for a drab, brownish-gray body covered in dark, boxy marbling, lacking yellow mouth coloration or extended tail streamers.
Support conservation
Adhere strictly to fisheries closures and use non-offset circle hooks with venting or descending gear if caught accidentally.
Responsible observation
  • Diving Etiquette: Maintain neutral buoyancy and keep distance to avoid spooking resting adults on ledges.
  • Angling Regulations: Check regional seasonal closures and size limits, using descending devices to release bycatch.
Related species
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?

Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.

Checking your Fauna account…