Beneath the Surface

Imagine seeing thousands of groupers all in one place— so many that they bump into each other. These grand fish, which can weigh up to 800 pounds, swim thousands of miles to aggregate and breed. Their spawning is triggered by the full moon, lasting only one hour. Soon after breeding, they disappear into the blue-green oceans, leaving the water foggy with eggs and sperm.

Groupers are seen in nearly every size, color, and pattern imaginable. Some are protogynous hermaphrodites, meaning they begin life as a female and become a male as they age. Truly a spectacular fish. Though grouper species are protected, many are endangered or being driven towards extinction by overfishing or illegal fishing.