Fish Identification Photos: Spotted Cabrilla or Pinto Bass, Epinephelus analogus: The Spotted Cabrilla is characterized by its overall reddish brown body, the numerous circular dark spots for which it is named, and broad dusky bars.

It has ten dorsal spins and a rounded caudal fin. The Spotted Cabrilla can grow up to 30 inches in length and up to 20 pounds.

It is a close relative and resembles the Goliath Grouper, Epinephelus itajara, which reaches 700 pounds in size.

Spotted Cabrilla resemble and can be confused with the Leopard Grouper, Mycteroperca rosacea. Spotted Cabrilla are found over patch reefs within the first 150-feet of the water column.

They are voracious predators feeding on crustaceans at night and on small fishes during the day.

The Spotted Cabrilla is a member of the Serrandae or Sea Bass and Grouper Family.

The Spotted Cabrilla is found in all Mexican waters including the oceanic islands.

They are considered to be an excellent food fish and are a prime quarry of the sportfishing industry of the central Sea of Cortez, although they have become quite uncommonly caught, due to decades of over fishing and slow reproductive and growth rates.

Spotted Cabrilla, Epinephelus analogus: Mike Auditore caught this huge 45-pound Pinto Bass, or Spotted Cabrilla on his boat El Gato Blanco out of Rocky Point (Puerto Penasco), Sonora, Mexico, in June 2004. The enormous specimen hit a live corvina in 71.5-degree water. Photo courtesy Stuart Burnett. Spotted Cabrilla, Epinephelus analogus: A juvenile specimen already showing the characteristic raspberry-colored spots. Photo courtesy Stuart Burnett. Spotted Cabrilla, Epinephelus analogus: Photo courtesy Ester Donaldson, Santiago's Ocean Services, Rocky Point (Puerto Penasco), Sonora, Mexico. Fish identification courtesy Neff Nash.