Large head with large mouth. Jaw extends back past the vertical or posterior edge of eye. Subequal teeth in 2-3 rows. Serrated preoperculum, subangular shaped. Three flat spines near the upper-posterior corner of operculum.
Large specimens have numerous but smaller spots.
Protogynous hermaphrodite species. Sex change occurs at the size of 55-75 cm. Eggs and larvae are pelagic. Rocky and continental slope to depth of 100 m. Reported also to enter estuaries.