Black Grouper

Black Grouper -Mycteroperca bonaci  

The Black Grouper varies in color as it adjusts to it's environment for camouflage. Groupers and sea bass are heavy bodied predators. Look for them along the sea floor hiding under ledges, or amid rock piles. Juveniles and sub adults at snorkeling depths rarely exceed 10-12 inches. A mature fish inhabits much deeper water and can exceed 4 feet in length if it can avoid becoming dinner for some other larger predator.
The tail is not forked, is wide with a thin pale white or light blue edge. Markings are rectangle squares that can almost fade or strenghten to a single color.
See the juvenile youtube video: https://youtu.be/IT6dF3Sj9mM