Photo: James Hardan · Aug 2004
Leopard Grouper
Cabrilla sardinera
Mycteroperca rosacea · Epinephelidae
- Category
- Grouper & Cabrilla
- Found in
- Pacific Baja, Sea of Cortez
- IUCN status
- Least Concern
- Mexico fish counts
- 9 counted
About Leopard Grouper in Mexico
How to recognize it
A grouper with a long, compressed body, a reddish-brown to olive-gray base color and dense, small dark spots covering the head, body and fins, like a leopard's coat. A small fraction of fish show a striking golden-yellow phase, sometimes patched, that is especially eye-catching. The tail is squared or slightly concave, and the fins usually have a pale edge.
Where and when in Mexico
Cabrilla sardinera is closely associated with the Sea of Cortez, where it is one of the most commonly caught groupers, and it also reaches the Pacific side of southern Baja around Magdalena Bay. Rocky reefs, islands and seamounts near Bahía de los Ángeles, Santa Rosalía, Loreto, La Paz and Isla Espíritu Santo are all classic water. Fishing often peaks in spring and early summer, when leopard groupers gather to spawn and feed hard on sardines and other baitfish. Most weigh 3–12 pounds.
How it's fished
Loreto and Bahía de los Ángeles pangas slow-troll deep-diving plugs over shallow reefs and along rocky drop-offs, a reliable way to find fish. Others drop live sardina or mackerel near the bottom, or jig with yo-yo iron and leadheads. As the Spanish name suggests, the fish key on sardine schools, and they will rise surprisingly high in the water column to chase bait.
Good to know
A hooked leopard grouper heads for the rocks immediately, so the first few seconds decide the fight. The species was heavily fished commercially in past decades, and releasing larger fish helps populations recover. The firm white fillets are excellent eating.
Fishing rules in Mexico
- General limit: 10 fish per angler per day, max 5 of one species
Source: NOM-017-PESC-1994 §4.9.1 (2013 mod.). Rules change; confirm current limits, seasons and permits with CONAPESCA before you fish.
Where Leopard Grouper are caught in Mexico
- San Felipe 9 counted · last Aug 2006
Fish counts by year
| Year | Kept | Released | Trips |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 9 | 0 | 2 |
From fish counts posted by the Mexican landings on Mexico Fish Reports. Years with no posted counts are not shown.
