Where I Like to Hang Out I like the rock, coral and mud bottoms in waters up to 150 ft. We’re also one of the few grouper species that can be found in brackish (aka slightly salty) waters. And as the saying goes, big fish eat littl If you haven’t seen a Goliath Grouper eat before, then you are missing out on watching one of the most aggressive eaters in the entire ocean. The Atlantic goliath grouper or itajara (Epinephelus itajara), also known as the jewfish, is a large saltwater fish of the grouper family found primarily in shallow tropical waters among coral and artificial reefs at depths from 5 to 50 m (16 to 164 ft). Goliath grouper is the largest of the Atlantic groupers. Well, it's basically a double whammy--recreationals cannot harvest Goliaths, yet Goliaths help themselves to loads of grouper … Its range includes the Florida Keys in the US, the Bahamas, most of the … In most all cases, these Goliath Grouper are even more aggressive eaters than sharks when they attack prey. What do goliath grouper eat? Juveniles are just 2.5 cm long and prefer settling into mangrove habitats. The florida record is a 680-pound goliath grouper The fertilized eggs scatter in the water and eventually develop into kite-shaped larvae with long dorsal fins and pelvic fin spines. That's like a silverback gorilla that can swim, only with less hair and a severely diminished tree-swinging ability. While diving in 80-foot deep waters off the coast of Jupiter, Florida, spearfisherman Arif Sabir had a standoff with a seemingly fearless and ferocious goliath grouper, which GrindTV estimated was 300- to 400-pounds.Sabir had just caught a lesser amberjack with his spearfish gun, he told Grind TV, when he noticed the large grouper … Goliath groupers have been known to weigh up to 800 pounds. Most local anglers and divers are convinced that this massive grouper, which can weigh up to 800 pounds, eats other small grouper and fish found on the reefs they inhabit. If Goliath Grouper are the kings of the shallows, these guys dominate the deep. They were once so overfished in the southeastern United States, they were considered for listing under the Endangered Species Act. We hang out there when we’re young. The goliath grouper or itajara (Epinephelus itajara), also called "jewfish", is a large saltwater fish of the grouper family. They’re capable of hitting almost 600 pounds and well over 7 feet. It has neither venomous barbs nor impressive fangs. Add in the fact that they live several hundred feet down, where all fish taste great, and they become the dream catch of many deep dropping enthusiasts. Goliath Groupers breed from July through September; they gather in groups of 100 or more at specific breeding sites for spawning. The goliath grouper is found primarily in shallow tropical waters among coral and artificial reefs. Darn big. This giant can reach 800 pounds (455 kg) and over 8 feet (2 meters) in length. Where I … However, this does not appear to be true. Recreational fishermen have long viewed Goliath grouper with utter disdain--kind of like that grade school teacher's pet that annoyed the crap out of other students, but hid behind unflinching protection. Goliath groupers rely on the protection of the mangrove forests because after their eggs hatch, they settle in the mangrove litter and roots. The Atlantic goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara) isn’t the meanest or fastest fish on the reef. This doesn't mean, of course, that a hungry goliath, as many … Thus, the mangroves are crucial in their survival because mangroves serve as microhabitats that prevent predators from eating the very young juveniles. Why such contempt? Snowy grouper is a long-lived, slow-growing, predator species that changes sex from female to male as they age, all characteristics that make this grouper highly vulnerable to fishing pressure. 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