Saltwater · Late spring to autumn; best from May to October in warm water

Hong Kong Grouper

Epinephelus akaara

A prized red-spotted reef grouper of the East and South China Seas, taken by rock and boat anglers over rough ground. It grows slowly — undersized juveniles should always be released.

Seasons · Peak

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

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Aug

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Oct

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Dec

Hong Kong Grouper — Photo: Totti, CC BY-SA 4.0 — Wikimedia Commons

Identifying features

Reddish-brown body covered in small red-orange spots over the head, body and fins
Rounded tail fin with a pale margin in larger fish
Stout grouper body with a large mouth and thick lips
Spiny dorsal fin with a dark edge; soft dorsal and anal fins spotted
Juveniles show the same red spotting on a paler background

Habits

Reef ambush predator feeding on shrimp, crabs and small fish
Holds tight to holes and ledges — hooked fish dive straight for cover
Slow-growing and late-maturing; release undersized juveniles to protect stocks
Most active in warm months; sluggish in winter cold
A top-value live fish in Cantonese seafood restaurants, which pressures wild stocks

Distribution

Regional coverage expanding

Where to find them

Rocky headlands with deep water at their feet
Boat marks over broken reef in 30-100 ft
Breakwater corners over reef and boulder ground

Where they live

Reefs of the East and South China SeasRocky island shores and headlandsHarbour breakwaters with deep reef at their feet

How to catch them

Rock fishing with live shrimp Rock fishing

Rig: Float or light ledger rig presenting a live shrimp just above reef ledges from the rocks

Bait/lure: Live shrimp

Key tip: Keep the bait inches above the snags; strike instantly and lift hard — a grouper reaches its hole in a second.

Boat jigging and bottom fishing over reef Boat

Rig: Small jigs or a paternoster with shrimp and fish baits worked tight over reef marks

Bait/lure: Live shrimp, small jigs, fish strips

Key tip: Fish vertically over the mark and wind up fast for the first ten turns to clear the reef.

Best baits & lures

Live shrimpSmall live fishCrab pieces and squid

Techniques for Hong Kong Grouper →

Baseline setup

Rod: Medium rock rod or medium boat rod
Line: 20-30 lb braid with abrasion-resistant leader
Terminal: Stout hooks 1/0-3/0, small jigs, ledger rigs

Recommended gear for this species

Rod · Best value

7'6" medium-heavy jigging rod

≈ US$110-170

Works 2-6 oz jigs over rock and reef and still has the backbone to lift a halibut off the bottom.

Line · Budget

50 lb braid with 40 lb leader (200 yd)

≈ US$25-40

Thin braid cuts the current so jigs stay vertical; the leader shrugs off rock and teeth.

Terminal · Budget

Leadhead jigs, swimbaits and two-hook bottom rigs

≈ US$25-40

A leadhead with a swimbait tail is the universal bottom-fish catcher, from rockfish to cod to flounder.

Picks come from our rule library — never paid placements. Prices are guides; affiliate links may earn us a commission.

Typical size

Common 10-16 in and 1-4 lb; large fish to about 20 in and 8 lb

On the table

Excellent — one of the finest steamed groupers in Cantonese cuisine; release undersized fish, which are slow to replace.

Similar species

Yellow GrouperYellow grouper has yellow-brown vertical banding rather than all-over red spots; Hong Kong grouper is defined by its dense red-orange spotting

Barred KnifejawBarred knifejaw has bold black vertical bars and a beak-like mouth for crushing shellfish; Hong Kong grouper is red-spotted with a large predatory mouth

Regulations vary by area and can change in-season — always check the official rules for your area before you fish. Regulations guide →

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