Epinephelus malabaricus

The Malabar grouper is a beautiful fish frequent in the Indian Ocean (Madagascar, Mozambique), less common in Indonesia. It can exceed 30-40 kg.

It is covered with small round spots, and its body is streaked with five broad oblique bands, like the white grouper of the Mediterranean E. aeneus. Apart from its size, it is distinguished from the ubiquitous E. fuscoguttatus by a less squat silhouette, a less bulging skull, less globular eyes and the absence of a black blotch above the base of the caudal fin; When it lives in a sandy biotope, its coloration becomes very clear, almost white.

It is mostly found in mixed zones, coral, rock and sand, and it seeks shelter in caves.

Like most large groupers, its skull is protected by thick bone plates so it must be shot from close enough. If you’re unfortunate enough to have a slip-tip, aim for the middle of the body instead. Once shot, this grouper will attempt to get stuck in the rocks, but less effectively than the European grouper E. marginatus.

This grouper is delicious, raw, cooked or in soup.