Epinephelus marginatus
The most sought-after rock fish of the South and Southeast. Vulnerable, with a closed season from November to February and a size window of 47 to 73 cm.
Also called: garoupa-verdadeira, garoupa
The grouper (garoupa-verdadeira) is the most sought-after rock fish of the South and Southeast. It lives on rocky shores, ledges and patch reefs, from a few metres to over 100 m, always close to dens. It is territorial, grows slowly, lives more than 50 years and changes sex: born female, the largest become males. That biology has left it vulnerable to fishing, and it is now on the national list as Vulnerable, with a recovery plan, a November to February closed season and a size window. It hunts by ambush, leaving its den to grab octopus, squid, fish and crabs, and goes straight back in. The fight is won in the first few metres.
Robust body, large head, huge mouth with a projecting lower jaw. Dark brown to reddish, with irregular pale blotches over the body and head; soft dorsal, anal and tail fins with a thin white edge. Difference from the badejo-quadrado: the badejo is more elongated, has rectangular dark blotches and a straight tail. Difference from the goliath grouper (mero): the goliath exceeds 1.5 m, has a very broad head, tiny eyes and black spots.
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Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
From Bahia to Rio Grande do Sul, with the main populations on rocky shores and islands of Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Paraná and Santa Catarina.
Habitat: Rocky shores, islands, ledges and patch reefs with dens; the largest in depths of 30 to 100 m.
coast
states
Bahia, Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Paraná, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul
It spawns in summer, protected by the closed season from November 1 to February 28. Outside it, March to May, with water still warm and clear, it tends to bite well on the rocky shores and patch reefs of the Southeast and South.
Daytime, with peaks at dawn and dusk. Hunts by day from ambush, with peaks at dawn and dusk. At night it stays in its den.
A temperate-water fish; it tolerates cold better than the badejo, but very cold upwelling reduces activity.
Stable pressure favors it; right after a cold front, with rough seas, fishing drops.
Small effect; big-moon tides increase the current and the bait movement on the rocky shore.
Not much relevant at sea; a storm on the rocky shore is dangerous.
Surge muddies the water and stops rocky-shore fishing for days.
Sensitive to motor noise over shallow rock; anchor away and approach with the current.
Strong onshore wind makes the rocky shore dangerous and hampers drifting.
Prefers moving water: with the tide flooding or ebbing, the current at the rock corner brings food and it leaves its den. At slack it eats less. On patch reefs, tidal current matters less than wind-driven current.
On the rocky shore, 3 to 20 m; on patch reefs, 20 to 100 m.
lures
natural baits
accessories
On feeling the strike, lift the fish in the first few metres, with the drag nearly locked. If it gets into its den, leave the line slack for a few minutes: it often comes out on its own.
Vertical fishing with metal jigs over reefs, wrecks and the shelf edge, from 30 to 150 m deep.
guideHow to read down imaging, side imaging and live sonar to find structure, confirm fish and get back to the right spot.
guideFind troughs, sandbars and rip currents, choose tide and time, and fish the rocky shore without risking your life.
guideReleasing only counts if the fish survives. Right gear, little time out of water, proper handling, the right hook, care with barotrauma and revival against the current.
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
Conservation: Recovery plan in force (Interministerial Ordinance 41/2018).
Targeted fishing, transport, landing and trade of the grouper (garoupa-verdadeira) from November 1 to February 28 are prohibited, for all methods and vessels. Trade in the period only with stock declared to Ibama by November 10.
Source: Portaria Interministerial SG-PR/MMA nº 41/2018 (art. 2º)
Only grouper (garoupa-verdadeira) of 47 cm or more in total length may be caught and retained. IN MMA 53/2005 already set 47 cm for the Southeast and South.
Source: Portaria Interministerial SG-PR/MMA nº 41/2018 (art. 3º)
Groupers over 73 cm total length cannot be retained: these are the large breeders (males) and must be released.
Source: Portaria Interministerial SG-PR/MMA nº 41/2018 (art. 3º)
The grouper (garoupa-verdadeira) is Vulnerable on the national list; use is valid only under the recovery plan. Ordinance 41/2018 regulates commercial fishing (vessels up to 20 AB, bottom longline and handline) and does not mention recreational fishing, which leads to divergent interpretations, including on underwater fishing. When in doubt, release and confirm with the competent agency. The plan is under review by Ordinance GM/MMA 1.666/2026.
Source: Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.667/2026; Portaria Interministerial SG-PR/MMA nº 41/2018
Targeted fishing, transport, landing and sale of dusky grouper (garoupa-verdadeira) are prohibited, for all methods and vessels. Outside the closed season, only fish of 47 to 73 cm (total length). The species is Vulnerable, and the plan is under review under Portaria GM/MMA 1.666/2026 (art. 11).
Barotrauma is common from more than 15 to 20 m: release with a descender, without puncturing the swim bladder. Support the body; don't lift a large fish by the mouth alone.
White, firm and highly valued meat. Respect the closed season and size window; if in legal doubt, release.
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.01023, b = 3.07; FishBase (estimativa bayesiana, comprimento total)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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The season weights (months), the time of day and the sensitivities (cold, pressure, moon, wind, rain, tide, strong light, murky water and noise) are the app's editorial estimates, based on the literature below and on the field experience of anglers and guides. They are not official data nor a measurement made for this species, and they may vary by region and year. Closed seasons and legal rules appear in the rules section, with the norm and a link.
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