Leopard coral grouper (Plectropomus leopardus) is a saltwater species recorded in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore. It is mainly found over reef, coral, rocky, at depths of 3–100 m. The main season in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore runs all year.
Scientific name: Plectropomus leopardus · Water: Saltwater · Season: All year
Size: up to 120 cm
The Leopard coral grouper is a coral-reef serranid covered in small blue spots, known in both Hong Kong and Taiwan as the seven-star grouper. Available all year, it reaches about 120 cm, ranges from 3 to 100 m, lives up to 26 years, and gathers to spawn. It occupies coral-rich lagoon and mid-shelf reefs, is solitary, active by day and hides under ledges at night, while juveniles stay in shallow reef habitat, especially around coral rubble. It feeds on fish, crustaceans and cephalopods. IUCN lists it globally as Least Concern, but Singapore's Red Data Book classes it as EN, threatened, although it is not legally protected there. Penghu, the north-east coast and eastern Taiwan are the main grounds, where it feeds fiercely and fights hard, taken on jigs, slow-pitch jigs or live-bait bottom rigs over deep reef. Anglers around Singapore's southern islands know it as Ang Gao or Ikan Kerapu Merah.
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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