Yellowfin Grouper

The Yellowfin Grouper has a body covered with rectangular or oval blotches arranged in rows. Its colors range from red to shades of olive or brown, with small reddish spots on the lower body. In deep water it often appears more reddish, while in shallow water it looks more greenish. The outer edges of its pectoral fins are yellow, and its tail is bordered by a thin dark margin with a pale edge.

This Grouper can be seen alone on the reef, near ledges, and wrecks, where it is a very cautious predator. It uses an ambush strategy by hiding and then quickly darting out to eat smaller fish and squid. It gathers in spawning aggregations in specific spots at certain times of the year to reproduce. It is born as a female, with some later changing into males, and can live up to about 15 years, though some reports suggest it may reach over 40 years! On Bonaire, large Groupers like the Yellowfin Grouper are threatened and declining due to overfishing and habitat loss.