Saltwater
Dusky Grouper
Epinephelus marginatus
Hebrew name: לוקוס אדום
- Peak season
- Late spring through autumn
- Length range
- 30–150 cm
- Weight range
- 1–60 kg
- Typical depth
- 8–200 m
Minimum size: 40 cm1
Closed to fishing: May 1–June 30, 2026, Mediterranean spawning season2
Measured from the tip of the mouth to the tip of the tail, fish lying flat. Release anything shorter at once.
- 1 Per Fisheries Regulations, 1937, First Addendum, January 7, 2025
- 2 Per Israel Nature and Parks Authority: fishing restrictions in the Mediterranean spawning and recruitment seasons, April 28, 2026
Habitat
Rocky reefs, caves, and ledges in warm Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic seas. Typically 8–50m, down to 200m.
Behavior
Solitary territorial ambush predator. Long-lived and slow-growing — must be turned hard from cover after hookup.
Best techniques
- Live bait on heavy tackle
- Slow-pitch jigging
- Deep bottom fishing with cut bait
- Soft plastic shads near structure
