Groper

The Gropers are the most powerful fish among the fish family. They are divided into two groups namely “the eastern blue groper” and “the western blue groper”. The eastern blue groper (Achoerodus viridus) and western blue groper (Achoerodus gouldii) are very closely related and belong to the wrasse family of fish. They are also commonly known as groper, red groper and brown groper. The have a barrel shaped, peg-toothed and heavily scaled body. The female is of orange-red color and the male are of deep blue color with reddish lines and spots on its body. They have small eyes like a pig. The western groper grows up to 1.6 meters and at least 40 kg. The eastern groper grows up to 15 kg and weighs up to 22kg. They can live up to a life span of 35 years.

Distribution

The eastern blue groper is found from Hervey Bay in Southern Queensland to Wilsons Promontory in Victoria. The western blue groper is found from west of Melbourne to the Abrolhos in Western Australia.

Reproduction

The Eastern Blue Groper spawns in every three months, starting from July to October. Where as, in Western Blue Groper spawning occurs in summer and early autumn. The most interesting about these fish is that they undergo sexual transition from female to male. They all start their life as females and later change into males. Thus they can breed as a female one year and then next year as a male. It is believed that they go this sex change when they reach up to a certain age and size. Generally, much is not known about the reproductive behavior of this fish.

Blue Gropers Food

Blue gropers like to feed on sea urchins and they also feed on small crustaceans.

Groper fishing methods

While fishing these fish one needs to be very alert. It is recommended that first of all find a safe place for fishing. Then cast your bait in the water till u catch one. These fish has a characteristic to travel alone. It may take long time till you catch one groper fish. But never leave your bait unattended in water.

Facts about Gropers

The facts about this fish are the following:

• They have a characteristic of sex change
• They are one of the most powerful fish
• They like to swim alone
• They are in the list of threatened species
• Much is not known about their reproductive behavior
• The gropers recipe is very tasty

Conclusion

This is one of the most interesting species of fish family. They have a very different characteristics compared to other fish family. They have a characteristic such as sex change. These fishes are very powerful fishes. Its reproductive behavior quite complex and so much is not known about its reproductive behavior. It is in the red list of endangered species. This fish is very friendly and swims right up to the divers. So it should not be killed if it has such a friendly characteristic. It is the protected species since 1969.