Reef fish
Camouflage grouper (marbled grouper)
Epinephelus polyphekadion
A stocky, mottled brown grouper of Indo-Pacific reefs, solitary most of the year. At Fakarava it forms one of the largest documented spawning aggregations of any grouper - roughly 17,000 fish gathering in the South Pass to spawn around the June or July full moon. The predictability of these aggregations makes the species vulnerable to fishing, and the IUCN lists it as Vulnerable.
- Max size
- Up to ~90cm, usually 60-75cm
- Habitat
- Coral reefs, lagoon patch reefs and atoll passes
Best places to dive with Camouflage grouper (marbled grouper)
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | occasional |
| February | occasional |
| March | occasional |
| April | occasional |
| May | occasional |
| June | peak season |
| July | peak season |
| August | occasional |
| September | occasional |
| October | occasional |
| November | occasional |
| December | occasional |
Present on Fakarava's reefs year-round but seen singly outside the spawn. The spectacle is the aggregation of roughly 17,000 fish in the South Pass over a few days around the June or July full moon, documented by CRIOBE researchers. Outside that window you may see scattered individuals only.
Sources & last checked
Checked July 2026
This is a researched draft, not yet human-verified. The seasonality and logistics are drawn from the sources below — confirm specifics (permits, fees, closures) with an operator before you book.
- Visitation patterns of camouflage groupers Epinephelus polyphekadion at a spawning aggregation in Fakarava — Coral Reefs (Springer)
- Epinephelus polyphekadion - Camouflage grouper — Science and Conservation of Fish Aggregations (SCRFA)
- GOMBESSA II: an expedition to discover the secrets of a South Pacific atoll's pass — Johann Mourier (research blog)
- Epinephelus polyphekadion, Camouflage grouper — FishBase
Note on the data: Also called camouflage grouper; the Fakarava spawn is the reason the shark densities spike in June-July.