Western Pacific: southern Japan to southern Queensland and east to Fiji and the islands of Micronesia. Recently recorded from Tonga. Record from Western Australia in the Indian Ocean is dubious. Replaced by Epinephelus flavocaeruleus in the Indian Ocean.

Juveniles are mostly yellow becoming gray with dark spots anteriorly. The gray area increases with increasing size until only the fins remain yellow on individuals of 15 to 20 cm.

Usually found around isolated coral heads in lagoons or bays, but also caught on outer reef area. According to Myers (1989, Ref. 4538) it usually swims out in the open, several meters above the bottom. It is readily caught by anglers at night. Feeds mainly on sand-dwelling fishes and crustaceans such as snake eels and box crabs. In Hong Kong live fish markets.