The White Grunt

The White Grunt belongs to the Haemulidae family. It generally reach a length of 45 cm and a weight of 2.5 kg, the white grunt is a small fish. The maximum declared length is 46.0 cm and the weight is 4.38 kg. The maximum lifespan for white grunt is thought to be between 9 and 12 years old. Spawning takes place during most of the year. It can be fished all year round.
The body is moderately elongated, with a high and compressed back. The head is long with a pointed snout. The dorsal and anal fins of the white grunt are completely covered with scales. The caudal fin is forked and the pectoral fin long and sickle-shaped. The scales above the side line are larger than those below the side line. The white grunt is silvery-white to creamy, the head is bronze to yellow dorsally while the ventral surface of the head and belly is white. There is a series of dark blue stripes on the head, bordered with yellow-brown and rising into the body. The margin of each scale is bronze and the back edge is often grey. The rows of ladders above the side line are larger than those below the side line. The spiny dorsal fin is chalky to yellowish-white, the soft dorsal fin, the soft anal fin and the caudal fin are brownish grey. Pelvic fins are chalky, while pectoral fins range from light yellow to chalky. A black spot is located on the precapping and the inside of the mouth is red. The colour of this fish is variable, the fish appearing in a shade corresponding to the immediate environment.