White Grunt (Gray Snapper)
Family Haemulidae, GRUNTS Haemulon plumieri
Desciption: Body color light bluish-gray, head with horizontal blue stripes, white underbelly; black blotch on preopercle; margin of each scale bronze; large bright orange mouth; scales above lateral line larger than scales below lateral line.
Similar Fish: Other grunts.
Where Found: From SHORE to the outer reef edge or OFFSHORE hard bottom to 115 feet; most abundant in water less than 80 feet deep; juveniles INSHORE.
Size: Most catches 1.5 punds (15 inches).
*Florida Record: n/a
Remarks: Audible grunting is produced by grinding of the pharyngeal teeth, with air bladder acting as amplifier; spawning occurs on OFFSHORE hard bottom or reefs from May through June; feeds on crustaceans, mollusks and small fishes.
*The Florida records quoted are from the Department of Environmental Protection's printed publication, Fishing Lines and are not necessarily the most current ones. The redords are provided as only a benchmark.
