Fish Identification Photos: Jewfish, Goliath Grouper, Itajara Grouper, Epinephelus itajara: The Jewfish varies in color as it grows in size. Specimens less than 3.5 feet in length are a greenish-brown color with a series of oblique dark brown bars along the sides; specimens more than 3.5 feet long are gray-green with a series of pale blotches and smaller dark brown spots scattered over the upper body, head, and pectoral fins.

The Jewfish has tiny eyes disproportionate to the size of its head and body, with the space between the eyes being flattened or depressed. The Jewfish has a rounded anal fin, and a dorsal fin of two distinct parts, with 11 spines that are shorter than the rays. The Jewfish is highly territorial and feeds predominately on crustaceans including lobsters, sea turtles, sting rays, and small fishes. The Jewfish can be confused with the Giant Sea Bass, Stereolepis gigas (straight caudal tail, large brown spots on sides and strongly notched dorsal fin, pointed anal fin); and the Spotted Cabrilla, Epinephelus analogus (larger pupil sized more uniformly distributed spots on its body, 10 dorsal spines, space between the eyes is curved and elevated and four faint bars on their sides).

The Jewfish is one of the largest members of the Serrandae or Sea Bass and Grouper Family. The Jewfish is found in the first 100 feet of the water column, normally around or in caves. It reaches a maximum length of 8 feet, and 700 pounds. In Mexico, the Jewfish is found south of Magdalena Bay along the Pacific side of the Baja California peninsula, in the lower two-thirds of the Sea of Cortez, and along the coast of the mainland through to Guatemala; It is absent from the oceanic islands. Due to its size and food value the Jewfish is a highly sought trophy game fish, although it has become very rare.

The name Jewfish is believed to be derived from the “Junefish” which is the Panamanian name for this species. It has been severely overfished. Because it is slow moving without a fear of man the Jewfish has also been taken by commercial spear fishermen and is now an endangered species.

Jewfish, Goliath Grouper, Itajara Grouper, Epinephelus itajara: A Leviathan at Cabo Pulmo, East Cape, Baja California Sur., Mexico. Mark Rayor of Vista Sea Sport, lower left, and a diving student, swim with a monstrous jewfish found about 50 deep in the Cabo Pulmo Marine Park, August 2003: "We sighted this huge fish at a dive site called Las Casitas. It is in Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park near Iguana beach. It is about 50 feet deep and has unique rock formations with cavern-like pockets. It was a great surprise to encounter this huge jewfish. It was very social, not afraid of us, and stuck around for about 15 minutes while we watched and took pictures. My first guess was around 500 pounds. It may have been closer to 700 or 800 pounds. I tend to be conservative. We spent a lot of time close enough to touch. When it swam, its belly dragged in the sand." Description and photos courtesy Mark Rayor.