Goliath Grouper Fishing in Florida

Goliath Grouper in the Naples area are the largest of grouper family, also known as Epinephelus Itajara, or Jewfish, goliaths are on endangered species so they are not fishable. Due to overfishing, in 1990 they prohibited the harvesting and possession of these fish. They can get to 800 lbs. with the Florida record being 680 lbs. caught on 5-20-61 in Fernandina Beach FL. On my boat we caught one weighing in at about 400 lbs. all catch and release.

Goliaths eat around reefs and around wrecks and ledges. For bait we use live fish and cut barracuda. I use my rod, a Penn 50 (big tackle rod) with 200 lb. monofilament line 8 oz. weight and #14 hook fish. We can fish close to a wreck, ledge on or near the bottom all year long on the West Coast.

Before the goliath grouper reaches full-size it is preyed upon by king mackerel, barracudas, moray eels, and some sharks. Once fully grown, humans and large sharks are the goliath grouper’s only predators.

Did you know…. Goliaths can only be photographed on the active of releasing them. In Florida many are trying to open a season on them, but FWC still has them marked endangered.

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