pacific goliath grouper
Epinephelus quinquefasciatus
Giant grouper of the eastern Pacific, with small dark spots on the head, back and fins. It reaches 250 cm and has commercial interest.
Also called: mero-do-pacífico, mero, Pacific goliath grouper
- maximum
- 250 cm
who is the pacific goliath grouper
The Pacific grouper belongs to the family Epinephelidae and reaches 250 cm. It lives in the eastern Pacific, from the Gulf of California to Peru, on reefs and other varied habitats, at depths down to 100 m. It is a large, robust, elongated fish, with a very broad head and a flat area between the eyes. It is of interest to commercial fishing. The head, back and fins have small black dots, which get smaller as the fish grows. Because it is large, it needs careful handling.
Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the pacific goliath grouper; in the meantime, see the similar species.
identification
Elongated, robust body, overall yellowish-brown, gray or greenish. The head, back and fins have small black dots that get smaller as the fish grows. The head is very broad, the maxilla is scaled and extends well behind the eye, and there are no canine teeth at the front of the jaws. Do not confuse it with the rooster grouper (Hyporthodus acanthistius), which has a dark band above the maxilla, nor with the olive grouper (Hyporthodus cifuentesi), which is pale brown with a greenish sheen.
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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.
Essential profile: the index uses a general fish model (weather, sun, moon and tide), without a season or time of day specific to this species.
where found
Lives in the eastern Pacific, from the Gulf of California to Peru, with records in Ecuador, Guatemala and Panama.
Habitat: Reefs and other varied habitats, down to 100 m deep.
rules for the pacific goliath grouper
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.
It poses no danger to anglers, but it is a large, strong fish: handle it carefully and release it quickly.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.01148, b = 3.04; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa pelo gênero e formato do corpo)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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sources and references
Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.
- scientific FishBase: Epinephelus quinquefasciatus (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Epinephelus quinquefasciatusNames by country and language.
