Good sized Lapu Lapu caught off Olango Is.

Common Name:  Grouper, Hind 

Local Name:  Lapu Lapu (Tagalog), Lapu Lapu, Pogapo (Cebuano)

Max Size:  40cm

Biodiversity: Marine, Reef Associated

Depth: 1 – 50 m

Fishing Season:  All Year Long

Minimum Size Limit:  10 inches

Recommended Bait/Lures:  Shrimp, Squid, small fish or cut bait/  small jigs, soft plastics

These are one of the many species of Lapu Lapu (or grouper like species) that can be caught here in Philippine waters.  This species is easy to confuse with its close relative the Bluespotted Grouper because of its dark color and blue spots.  This species has smaller spots and is usually smaller. These relatively small fish are found around shallow reef and are usually caught on bait like squid,  shrimp or even on jigs.  This is an excellent food fish if you are lucky enough to catch one large enough to eat.  They have a creamy white meat that tastes great steamed.  Some popular dishes are Sweat and Sour, and Black Bean Sauce.

If you happen to catch small fish of this species please release them and give them a chance to grow to a larger size.  We recommend that you don’t keep them if they are smaller than 10inches.

The fish in the picture above was caught on shrimp while bottom fishing in around 40m of water off of Mactan Island, Cebu.