Groupers, one of Florida's most important commercial fish, are members of the sea bass family, Serranidae , and are found in tropical and warm temperate waters worldwide. The Serranidae has over 400 species which are found around coral reefs and rocky ledges of the coastal shelf. Because of their preferred habitat, groupers and other family members are most easily accessible by hook and line fishing. They are common to 40 pounds but may weigh as much as 100 pounds.
Red Groupers are brownish red with blotches on the sides and black dots around the eyes.
The lining of the mouth is scarlet orange. They are common to about 15 pounds. The firm, lean, white-flaked flesh contains no intramuscular bones. The skin is tough and strongly flavored and should be removed during cleaning. The bulk of the red grouper is harvested off the coast of Florida between Tampa and Fort Myers.