Longfin grouper (Epinephelus quoyanus) is a saltwater species recorded in Hong Kong, Taiwan. It is mainly found over reef, at depths of ≤ 50 m.
Scientific name: Epinephelus quoyanus · Water: Saltwater · Also known as: Honeycomb grouper
Size: up to 52 cm
The Longfin grouper is a serranid patterned with honeycomb markings, known in Hong Kong as the gold-coin grouper. Its range is the western Pacific from Japan to Australia, unknown from the Indian Ocean apart from one record from the Andaman Islands and unreported from Micronesia, Melanesia and the central Pacific. It lives on inshore silty reefs, with no records deeper than 50 m, and is solitary, feeding on shrimps, small fish, worms and crabs. Its fleshy, enlarged pectoral fins are a consequence of its habit of sitting on the bottom. No season has been verified for it, it reaches about 52 cm, and IUCN lists it as Least Concern. Taiwanese reefs and rock crevices are the main grounds, where it ambushes prey and makes a determined dash for cover when hooked, so heavy tackle is needed to pull it clear; it ranked 6th in the OCA's 2021 Q3 report, and grouper catches there totalled 292 records in 2019.
Caution: large individuals carry a ciguatera risk. Heat, cold and marinating do not remove the toxin, which concentrates in the liver, roe and head, so avoid eating those parts. Seek medical help if numbness, tingling or a reversed sense of hot and cold follows a meal.
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