Gag Grouper
Mycteroperca microlepis
Also known as Grouper, Copper belly, Charcoal belly
Culinary Profile
Mild but distinct flavor, somewhere between bass and halibut.
Firm, moist, and flaky.
Grouper is low in saturated fat. It is also a good source of vitamins B6 and B12, phosphorus, potassium, protein, and selenium.
Gastronomic Specifications
Biology & Habitat
Appearance
Gag have long, compressed bodies. Their coloring varies with their size. Large gag are dark brownish-gray above and paler below, with traces of dark wavy markings on the sides. Smaller fish are much lighter and have dark brown or charcoal kiss-like marks along their sides.
Biology
Gag grow slowly, can reach more than 3 feet in length, and weigh up to 50 pounds. They can live as long as 30 years. They are protogynous hermaphrodites—they begin life as females and sexually mature around age 4. As they grow older, they change to males, around age 8. They spawn from mid-January to early May in the South Atlantic and from late January to mid-April in the Gulf of America.
Where They Live
Range Gag are found in the western Atlantic, primarily from North Carolina to the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, including the Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico). Habitat Adults live offshore and prefer hard-bottom habitat including reefs and wrecks, and live bottom (sponges, corals and sea squirts), and depressions and ledges.
How to Buy & Source
Availability
Fresh year-round in the Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico), and from May through December in the South Atlantic.
Source
U.S. wild-caught from North Carolina to Texas.
Commercial Fishery & Harvest
Commercial fishery: In 2024, commercial landings of gag totaled 240,000 pounds valued at $1.7 million, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database . Most commercial harvest comes from the west coast of Florida. Gear types, habitat impacts, and bycatch: Commercial fishermen mainly use vertical hook-and-line gear to harvest gag, and some also use longlines and spears. Trawl gear, fish traps, and bottom longlines are prohibited in some areas to reduce bycatch. Several areas are closed to all fishing to protect snappers and groupers, including gag. Sea turtles and other reef fishes, such as snappers and groupers, can be incidentally caught while fishing for gag.
Nutritional Benchmarking Across 111 Species
Where Gag Grouper ranks against the rest of the catalogue on each of USDA FoodData Central's per-100 g nutrient measures.
| Nutrient | Value | Rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron | 0.89 mg | 29 / 111 | 74% |
| Selenium | 36.5 µg | 32 / 106 | 70% |
| Protein | 19.38 g | 43 / 111 | 61% |
| Omega-3 DHA | 220 mg | 52 / 104 | 50% |
| Zinc | 0.48 mg | 56 / 111 | 50% |
| Omega-3 EPA | 27 mg | 93 / 104 | 11% |
| Phosphorus | 162 mg | 99 / 111 | 11% |
| Vitamin B12 | 0.6 µg | 100 / 106 | 6% |
Other Southeast Fisheries
Sustainable species managed out of the same regional fishery council as Gag Grouper.
Blacknose Shark
Carcharhinus acronotus
Sweet, meaty taste.
Caribbean Spiny Lobster
Panulirus argus
Mild and sweet.
Gray Triggerfish
Balistes capriscus
The meat of gray triggerfish is uniquely sweet. It tastes more like crab than fish.
King Mackerel
Scomberomorus cavalla
King mackerel has a rich, pronounced flavor. For a milder flavor, cut out the outer bands of dark, strong-tasting meat a…
Queen Conch
Aliger gigas
Conch has a sweet, slightly smoky flavor, similar to abalone or clam. Fresh, farmed conch is sweeter and more tender tha…
Red Snapper
Lutjanus campechanus
Red snapper has a sweetly mild but distinctive flavor.
Spanish Mackerel
Scomberomorus maculatus
Spanish mackerel has a rich, pronounced flavor. For a milder flavor, cut out the outer bands of dark, strong-tasting mea…
Vermilion Snapper
Rhomboplites aurorubens
Mild and sweet.
Similar by Flavour: Other Mild-Tasting Species
If you enjoy the mild flavour profile of Gag Grouper, these other species in the catalogue will feel familiar on the palate.
Acadian Redfish
Sebastes fasciatus
Mild and slightly sweet. Redfish can be used as a substitute for haddock and similar fish.
Alaska Pollock
Gadus chalcogrammus
Pollock has mild-tasting flesh and is similar to other white fish like cod or haddock.
American Lobster
Homarus americanus
Mild and sweet.
Arrowtooth Flounder
Atheresthes stomias
Mild, sweet flavor.
Atlantic Bigeye Tuna
Thunnus obesus
Bigeye tuna has a mild, meaty flavor, with a higher fat content than yellowfintuna. Sashimi lovers prefer it.
Atlantic Cod
Gadus morhua
Atlantic cod has a mild clean flavor. It is sweeter than Pacific cod.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big does Gag Grouper get?
grow slowly, can reach more than 3 feet in length, and weigh up to 50 pounds.
Where in the water column does Gag Grouper live?
Range Gag are found in the western Atlantic, primarily from North Carolina to the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, including the Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico). Habitat Adults live offshore and prefer hard-bottom habitat including reefs and wrecks, and live bottom (sponges, corals and sea squirts), and depressions and ledges.
Where is Gag Grouper found?
Range Gag are found in the western Atlantic, primarily from North Carolina to the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, including the Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico). Habitat Adults live offshore and prefer hard-bottom habitat including reefs and wrecks, and live bottom (sponges, corals and sea squirts), and depressions and ledges.
Sustainability Story
U.S. wild-caught gag grouper is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.
Stock Structure
There are two stocks of gag: South Atlantic and Gulf of America. According to the most recent stock assessments: The South Atlantic stock is overfished (2021 stock assessment), and is not subject to overfishing based on 2024 catch data. Summary stock assessment information can be found on Stock SMART .
Population
The Gulf of America* (formerly Gulf of Mexico) and South Atlantic stocks are overfished. The fishing rate established under rebuilding plans for these stocks promotes population growth.
Fishing Rate
Not subject to overfishing.
Habitat Impacts
Fishing gear used to harvest gag grouper has minimal impacts on habitat.
Bycatch
Regulations are in place to minimize bycatch.
Management
NOAA Fisheries and the South Atlantic and Gulf Fishery Management Councils manage the gag fishery. In the South Atlantic, managed under the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan : Annual catch limit allocated between the commercial (51 percent) and recreational (49 percent) fisheries.
Data Source: NOAA Fisheries
Nutritional Profile
per 100 g raw edible portion · 19 values
Energy
Macronutrients
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Vitamins
Minerals
Source: USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy). %DV is percent of 2,000-kcal daily value for adults.
calendar_month Harvest Season
Frozen available year-round.