speckled hind grouper

Scientific Name

Epinephelus drummondhayi

Common Names

Strawberry grouper

Kitty Mitchell

Stock Status

Overfishing – No

Overfished – Unknown

Stock Assessment

SEDAR 49

Additional Information

Recreational Regulations

Federal Regulations

  • Open year-round

  • 1 Bag Limit
  • 4 Aggregate Limit
  • 1 Vessel Limit
  • Minimum Size: None

  • Gear Description: Non-stainless steel circle hooks are required when fishing with natural baits. At least one dehooking device is required and must be used to remove hooks.

  • Notes: Anglers required to have a venting tool or descending device rigged and ready to use when fishing for reef fish species in Gulf of Mexico federal waters. For more information, see NOAA Descend Act.

    No recreational minimum size limit.

    To see commercial regulations, download Fish Rules Commercial App for iOS devices or Android devices.

Commercial Regulations

Harvest Limits

 Combined stock ACL for yellowedge grouper, warsaw grouper, snowy grouper, and speckled hind – 1,070,000 pounds gutted weight
 Combined stock ACT for yellowedge grouper, warsaw grouper, snowy grouper, and speckled hind – 1,024,000 pounds

Additional Information

Description

Speckled hind, also known as calico grouper, strawberry grouper and kitty mitchell, is found in the western Atlantic from North Carolina to the Florida Keys, including the Gulf of Mexico and Bermuda.  Its body is varying shades of dark to reddish brown with a dense covering of small white specks; these specks also cover the fins.  The juvenile’s body is yellow with white spots on the body and fins.

Maximum observed age:  45 years1, 2

Age at maturity:  ~ 6 to 7 years3

Maximum weight:  66.14 pounds (30 kilograms)4

Maximum length:  43.31 inches (110 centimeters)4

Life History and Distribution

Within its range, speckled hind is found offshore over rocky bottoms typically from 197 to 394 feet (60 – 120 meters).4   Not much is known about this species’ reproductive behavior or spawning patterns, although courtship behavior has been observed on Oculina reefs where scamp and gag are known to aggregate for spawning.  In the Gulf of Mexico, the spawning season is estimated to occur from April through September.3

References

  1. SEDAR 49. 2016. Gulf of Mexico Data-limited Species: Red Drum, Lane Snapper, Wenchman, Yellowmouth Grouper, Speckled Hind, Snowy Grouper, Almaco Jack, Lesser Amberjack. Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review.  North Charleston, South Carolina.
  2. Andrews, A.H., B.K. Barnett, R.J. Allman, R.P. Moyer and H.D. Trowbridge, 2013. Great longevity of speckled hind (Epinephelus drummondhayi), a deep-water grouper, with novel use of postbomb radiocarbon dating in the Gulf of Mexico. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 70: 1131-1140.
  3. Kobara, S., B. Erisman, W. Heyman, C. Biggs, N. Farmer, S. Lowerre-Barbieri, M. Karnauskas, and J. Brenner. 2017. Cooperative monitoring program for spawning aggregations in the Gulf of Mexico: data portal. Version 1.0 GCOOS, USA.
  4. Heemstra, P.C. and J.E. Randall, 1993. FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 16. Groupers of the world (family Serranidae, subfamily Epinephelinae). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of the grouper, rockcod, hind, coral grouper and lyretail species known to date. Rome: FAO. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(16):382 p.