Grouper

Over the years, big grouper have become harder to find on Bonaire's reefs.  Grouper belong to the sea bass family. They are extremely vulnerable to overfishing, because they migrate long distances to participate in spawning aggregations  This morning, we encountered a sizable yellowmouth grouper.  It was about 2 feet long, at a depth of 65 feet.

A few minutes later, we encountered a juvenile yellowmouth grouper.  It was about 10 inches long.  Juveniles most often have a dark back and a white belly, but they can be dramatically paler or darker.  The yellow dorsal fin is a diagnostic characteristic.  Juveniles don't yet have a yellow mouth.

Adult yellowmouth grouper on the reef

The most frequent view of grouper (fleeing)

The yellow mouth is pretty faint.

Grouper in the company of a group of divers

Juvenile yellowmouth grouper, facing to the lower left