Photo: Unknown author / CC BY-SA 2.5 (via Wikimedia Commons)
Epinephelus akaara
Hong Kong Grouper (Red-spotted Grouper)
Saltwater
About this species
A handsome reddish grouper speckled with orange spots, prized across East Asia. It lurks in rocky reefs and holes in warm coastal waters, ambushing crabs and small fish. A top lure and bottom target, it fights hard toward the rocks.
Season
123456789101112
Depth
5 – 60 m
Habitat Spots
ReefNearshoreOffshore
Fishing Methods
LureBottomJigging
Bait & Rig
Soft plastics bounced along rocks, or live shrimp and small fish on the bottom.
Edibility & Taste
Delicate, sweet white flesh, a premium sashimi and hot-pot fish.
Similar Species
Told from other groupers by the fine orange-red spots over a brownish body.
Record Weight
3 kg