Red Hind
Epinephelus guttatus
Managed by: SAFMC
Physical description:
Both the red hind and the rock hind, Epinephelus adscensionis, have numerous dark spots on a lighter background. This color feature alone distinguishes the two from the speckeled hind. The red hind have pale pink bodies with uniform red spots. The back and the sides lack the large black blotches or saddles that are seen on rock hind, and the soft-rayed portions of the dorsal and anal fins as well as caudal fin are margined in black.
Biological description:
The species is found in tropical and subtropical waters as deep as 400 feet, from North Carolina to Brazil, including the southern part of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. It is most abundant off Bermuda and in the West Indies. Red hind are protogynous hermaphrodites. Spawning occurs from March to July, and females average from 90 thousand to 3 million pelagic eggs released. The species may live up to 17 years or longer, and resch a length of 23 inches at 10 pounds. Red hind feed on small fishes, crabs, shrimps, and squid. Prey are captures in ambush, as the red hind hides in holes and crevaces.
South Atlantic Federal Regulations
(For areas three-200 miles off the coasts of NC, SC, GA, and East Florida)
Note!: New regulations for red hind and other species July 29, 2009. See Fishery Bulletin for summary. Changes are noted below in red.
Commercial:
Recreational:
New Seasonal Closures:
A closure is in effect for the recreational and commercial harvest of all shallow water groupers, January through April beginning 2010. Shallow water groupers include:
- Red hind
- Gag grouper
- Black grouper
- Red grouper
- Scamp
- Rock hind
- Coney
- Graysby
- Yellowfin grouper
- Yellowmouth grouper
- Tiger grouper