Saltwater · Year-round on deep structure; best in calm spring and summer weather

Speckled Hind

Epinephelus drummondhayi

A deep-water grouper of the Atlantic and Gulf shelf edge, reddish and dense with white speckles — the pattern behind its other name, calico grouper. Deep-water grouper rules change often, so check the current regulations before keeping one.

Seasons · Peak

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Speckled Hind — Photo: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Public domain — Wikimedia Commons

Identifying features

Reddish-brown body densely covered in small white speckles — the 'calico' pattern
Speckling covers the fins and tail as well as the body
Stocky grouper build with a large mouth and a rounded tail
Juveniles are yellowish with dark speckles, changing as they grow
Head and eyes are also flecked with white spots

Habits

Lives deep on rocky bottom, mostly 200-400 ft (60-120 m) at the shelf edge
Ambushes fish, squid and crustaceans from ledges and rock piles
Mostly solitary and tied to specific pieces of deep structure
Slow-growing and long-lived, like most deep-water groupers
Deep-water grouper seasons and rules change often — always check the current rules before a trip

Distribution

Charleston, SC · North & South Carolina★ Primary

Venice, LA · Louisiana & Gulf ShoreCommon

Emerald Coast, FL · FloridaCommon

Daytona Beach, FL · FloridaCommon

Where to find them

Carolinas shelf-edge ledges and deep rocky bottom
Florida Panhandle and Louisiana deep offshore structure
Atlantic shelf-edge reef off Florida

Where they live

Rocky bottom in 200-400 ft (60-120 m)Shelf-edge ledges and deep reefDeep offshore structure on the Atlantic and Gulf shelf edge

How to catch them

Deep bottom rigs over rocky structure Boat

Rig: Heavy bottom rig with a large circle hook and enough lead to hold in current, fished on rocky structure in 200-400 ft (60-120 m)

Bait/lure: Cut fish, whole squid and large live baits

Key tip: Drop directly on the structure marks and stay tight — these fish sit right on the rock.

Deep jigging on offshore ledges Boat

Rig: Heavy jigging rod with 200-300 g jigs worked along offshore ledges at the shelf edge

Bait/lure: Metal jigs, sometimes tipped with squid or cut bait

Key tip: Keep the jig near the bottom with long lifts; groupers strike as it flutters down.

Best baits & lures

Cut fish (mullet or bonito)Whole squidLarge live baits such as pinfish or grunts

Techniques for Speckled Hind →

Baseline setup

Rod: Heavy boat or deep jigging rod
Line: 65-80 lb braid with a heavy mono leader
Terminal: Large circle hooks, heavy bank sinkers, deep-drop or jigging hardware