Grunt Fish

by annie · Published November 1, 2012 · Updated November 2, 2012

Grunt Fish

Grunts in the Pacific Ocean belong to a huge family that has hundreds of different sub types. Their name is no coincidence, and comes from the pig-like grunting sounds that come from their throats, and as a result they are also called “pigfish” or “porkfish”. They are a fish family that is found on both coasts in Costa Rica and the waters surrounding it on different islands. A lot of these sub types are found by scuba divers in the Pacific Ocean to spot different types of fish in the coral reefs found in the ocean. Grunts belong to the fish family “Haemulidae”. The grunts in the Pacific Ocean travel to a lot of other places like Florida and the Bahamas where they are hunted for sport as well as their meat. Grunt fish are caught for fun and because their meat is known to be one of the best-tasting. Since most other fish are too small to make a good meal, the grunt fish is the next best option for most fishermen when snappers and groupers are unavailable. The White Grunt fish (scientifically labeled Haemulon plumier) is found commonly within the waters of Costa Rica. It is colloquially called “Gray Grunt” by the locals who prefer the meat of this fish to any others. The white grunt usually Is found within the deepest part of the Pacific Ocean. The colors on this fish range from a light silvery gray to a metallic white. Some white grunt fish are also dark gray in color. They sometimes have slight blue and yellow lines across their heads. The white grunt fish is very small in size averaging from 8 – 10 inches. In some parts of the world though, the white grunt fish can also grow up to 12 inches (which is not very common).

Another type if the Blue Striped grunt fish which is scientifically called Haemulon sciurus. It is also called the Blue Grunt or the Yellow Grunt. The blue striped grunt fish is found near the Bahamas as well as the Pacific Ocean and waters near Costa Rica. The blue striped grunt fish resides in coral reefs as well as inland patches and channels. The blue striped grunt fish has a yellow body which is marked with long and thin blue stripes which is how it gets its name. The inside of the fish’s mouth is deep red in color. The tail and dorsal fin of the blue striped grunt fish is darker in color as compared to the rest of its body. The average weight of the blue striped grunt fish is 20 pounds.

A third type of grunt fish typically found in the Pacific Ocean is the French Grunt. The scientific name given to this type of grunt fish is “Haemulon flavolineatum”. It is colloquially called the Corocoro. This type of grunt fish also resides in the coral reefs found in the Pacific Ocean and near Costa Rica. The body of the French grunt is dark gray or silvery white, crossed with plenty of yellow stripes. Some stripes are thin while others are very broad in size. The average size of the French grunt is 6-8 inches and it rarely grows beyond that range.

Video of Grunts in Florida