Black Grouper
The black grouper (sirigado) is a reef-dwelling predator that ranges along Brazil's coast from Maranhão south to Santa Catarina, including the oceanic islands of Fernando de Noronha and Trindade.
It anchors both artisanal hook-and-line fisheries and recreational bottom fishing along the Northeast shelf and oceanic banks. Its firm, white meat makes it one of the more commercially valuable reef fish in Brazilian waters.
Scientific Name: Mycteroperca bonaci
Also known as sirigado, badejo-ferro, badejo-preto, badejo-quadrado, cerigado-preto, serigado, serigado-preto, quadradinho
- Olive-gray to charcoal body covered in irregular dark rectangular blotches on the upper sides; lower sides show a maze-like pattern of evenly spaced spots.
- Broad black margins on the anal fin, tail fin, and second dorsal fin — a reliable field mark that separates it from similar groupers like the gag.
- Boxier and more robust than most groupers; protruding lower jaw, continuous dorsal fin, and a square caudal fin.
- Commonly caught in the 5–20 kg range along the Brazilian Northeast; the species can exceed 100 cm and reach roughly 50 kg at full size.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to Brazil; range runs from Maranhão in the Northeast south to Santa Catarina, with a documented gap along the northern coast between Suriname and Maranhão.
- Also present at the Brazilian oceanic islands of Fernando de Noronha and Trindade, where reef structure is abundant.
- Lives on rocky reefs, ledges, and hard-bottom structure from about 6 to 75 m deep — deeper structure holds larger, older males.
- Prefers clear, warm tropical and subtropical reef water; not found in turbid estuaries or open sandy bottom.
Key Locations
- Northeast shelf and oceanic banks (Ceará to Bahia): the core of Brazil's artisanal sirigado fishery, with offshore pinnacles holding the largest concentrations.
- Fernando de Noronha: the protected marine park around this oceanic island holds healthy reef populations; most fishing is restricted, but the area is a reference point for the species' presence.
- Pipa Beach (Rio Grande do Norte): coastal reef structure here supports grouper and snapper fishing accessible to sport anglers from shore and small boats.
- Santos coastline and Angra dos Reis area (Southeast): groupers including sirigado are caught on rocky bottom structure by boat anglers working the coast of São Paulo state.
Specific Spots
- Rocky reef ledges and drop-offs: sirigado hold tight to the bottom edge of structure, using the shadow and current break to wait for prey to pass.
- Oceanic banks off the Northeast shelf concentrate fish; artisanal fishermen have long targeted these offshore pinnacles with hook-and-line and compressor-assisted spearfishing.
- Reef walls and hard-bottom outcroppings along the Santos coastline and Pipa Beach area hold fish accessible to both boat anglers and divers.
- During the "correção" feeding aggregation — a southward chain-reaction movement from Ceará to Bahia — fish stack up in predictable locations along the Northeast coast.
Black Grouper FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Black Grouper?
Whole or cut baitfish (sardinha, bonito strips) fished on the bottom near reef structure is the traditional artisanal approach and still produces reliably.
When is the best time to fish for Black Grouper?
The "correção" feeding aggregation moves southward along the Northeast coast, from Ceará toward Bahia, and historically draws the most concentrated fishing effort when it arrives in each state's waters.
How do you catch Black Grouper?
Most sirigado fishing in Brazil is done from boats over offshore reef structure and oceanic banks, using hook-and-line with natural bait or vertical jigs worked close to the bottom. Artisanal fishermen along the Northeast coast also use compressor-assisted spearfishing on shallower reefs.
What do Black Grouper eat?
Smaller reef fish make up the bulk of the diet; match this with jigs, deep-diving plugs, or whole/cut baitfish fished on the bottom near structure. Crustaceans, crabs and shrimp, round out the menu; natural bait presentations with whole crabs or large shrimp work well when fish are less active on artificials.
Where do Black Grouper live?
Native to Brazil; range runs from Maranhão in the Northeast south to Santa Catarina, with a documented gap along the northern coast between Suriname and Maranhão. Also present at the Brazilian oceanic islands of Fernando de Noronha and Trindade, where reef structure is abundant.
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