Saltwater
White Grouper
Epinephelus aeneus
Hebrew name: לוקוס לבן
- Peak season
- Late spring through autumn
- Length range
- 20–120 cm
- Weight range
- 0.5–25 kg
- Typical depth
- 10–200 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
Sandy and muddy bottoms near rocks, estuaries, and seagrass meadows. Tolerates brackish water; 10–200m typical.
Behavior
Less reef-tied than Dusky Grouper. Ambushes from sand near structure; juveniles enter brackish lagoons and estuaries.
Best techniques
- Bottom fishing with live bait
- Slow jigging over mixed bottom
- Soft plastics on jig heads
- Drift fishing near rocky edges
