Hapuku (polyprion oxygeneios) is known by the maori name in the north, but groper is preferred in the south It lurks in caverns and around reefs in deep water and is obtained only by line fishing. The hāpuku, hapuka or whapuku (polyprion oxygeneios), also known as groper, is a wreckfish of the family polyprionidae, found around southern australia, southern south america, south africa, tristan da cunha and new zealand at depths between 30 and 800 m Its length is between 60 and 180 cm, and it can weigh up to 100 kg. The head is pointed and has a protruding lower jaw Hapuku rarely swim alone and are sometimes found in schools of 30 or more
They migrate but are believed to return to the same caves and rocky clefts for the winter spawning season. They are widely spread around new zealand waters, more commonly around the chatham islands and on the chatham rise. Hāpuku are grey in colour with silvery white underbellies, with juveniles generally being blue in colour Hapuka, puka, groper, grouper, bass (misidentification) hapuku is distinguished from a bass in two ways The lower jaw of the hapuku juts prominently forward The hapuku tends to be less deep in the body
Spawning for both species takes place in winter Groper are found throughout new zealand They live in areas with rough ground from the central shelf to the shelf edge at depths to 500 m.
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