Targeting Juvenile Goliath Grouper in The Mangroves

If you’ve been anywhere near the internet in the past few years, you’ve most certainly seen the videos. An angler walks up to a pier or a dock with a giant big game rod and reel, hooks up a big live jack or baitfish and drops it down. Within a minute or two, the rod is doubled over and braid is being pulled from a locked drag on an 80wide. Within a few minutes, one of two things happen, either the angler falls back and lands on his ass or a mondo-sized (200- 500 lb.) goliath grouper appears on the surface to see what is pulling on him.

Targeting these adult goliath grouper for sport has become all the rage with the Instagram crowd, and why not — it’s arguably the biggest, meanest, toughest adversary you can target in Florida on a rod and reel. Sure, there are some big mean sharks around, but pound for pound a case can certainly be made for these goliath groupers being the kings of the reef.

But how do they get so big? And what if the idea of using 130 lb. braid and a broomstick doesn’t really appeal to you? Well, for those who like a bit more finesse in their fishing experience but still want to battle a worthy adversary, the juvenile version of the goliath grouper ticks all the boxes.

The goliath grouper is a fascinating species commonly found in the tropical waters of the western Atlantic Ocean, ranging from the Gulf of Mexico to the coast of Brazil. Their scientific name is Epinephelus itajara. It belongs to the family Serranidae, which includes more than 400 species of fish, including other popular game fish such as the red snapper and the black grouper.

As fully mature adults, goliath groupers are one of the largest fish species found in the Western Hemisphere, growing up to 800 pounds and 8 feet long. As juveniles at around 16 inches, they start to become an interesting target to anglers. The little ones, at the bottom of this juvenile range, are some of the most stunningly beautiful fish in the ocean. With a dark body and random bright yellow markings, they are not hard to identify. As they age and grow bigger, the darker coloration tends to fade and lighten, eventually resulting in a fish that is mottled in several shades of brown. Despite being considered “juvenile,” even as young fish their eating habits are distinctly grouper-ish.

Juvenile goliath groupers are carnivorous and primarily feed on small fish, crustaceans and cephalopods. They are ambush predators, waiting patiently for unsuspecting victims to come within striking distance before quickly lunging forward to suck the prey into their giant bucket-sized mouths and swallow it whole. Even when they’re small, they have large mouths and sharp teeth, which make them incredibly efficient predators.

FINDING JUVENILE GOLIATHS

Targeting these smaller groupers isn’t an especially complex process: Step One is finding them. Good places to look include under docks, around bridge pilings. Fallen trees and shallow wrecks are also popular haunts for juveniles of the species. Once located they will often fall for a well-presented paddle tail jig or swim bait. Of course, a live pilchard or ballyhoo will also get their attention; but targeting these fish on artificials is a lot more fun. Using lures also allows the angler to be more mobile, as moving around till you find a few fish stacked up tends to be more effective than sitting in one spot and hoping one happens by to eat your bait.

While full-grown goliaths tend to live solitary lives amongst wrecks and big structural features, as juveniles these fish tend to group up and sit in one spot. Prior to sexual maturity, specimens under 60 lbs. or so like to get together and hang out. As a group, they will cling to the bottom near structure or cover and wait around for food. For this reason, a moving tide is important in getting these fish to bite and it’s not uncommon for them to turn on and off as the tides shift. A spot that seems devoid of fish on a slack tide can turn into a hot spot a few hours later when the flood is in full swing. So, paying attention to the tide tables can make the difference between success and failure with these fish.

As the juvenile goliath groupers grow and mature, their habits will begin to change. They move to deeper waters, live a more solo existence and can be found in areas such as offshore reefs and shipwrecks. However, they will return to their original habitat during spawning season, which occurs during the months of July through September. During this time, they will congregate in large numbers in specific locations to mate.

Breeding season for the goliath grouper is tied closely to the moon phases. Actual spawning activities are preceded by an initial migration phase that usually occurs in July. Post migration, the actual spawning activity generally occurs at night, during summer’s new moons, and takes place in shallow waters near reefs and shipwrecks. During this time, the adult fish will gather in large groups to spawn, with females producing millions of eggs and males following the females waiting for the right moment to fertilize.

One fascinating aspect of the goliath grouper spawning process is the auditory vocalizations that males produce during this process. Scientists on multiple instances have recorded these wild sounds and have demonstrated that acoustic communication is a critical part of their mating process. Over the course of these mating events, the eggs are fertilized by the males in a unique “dance” that occurs after the female releases her eggs.

Once the eggs have hatched, the goliath grouper enters its larval stage. The larvae are very small, measuring only a few millimeters in length. They have a large yolk sac attached to their body, which provides them with the necessary nutrients to survive for the first few days of life. During this time, they will drift with the currents, eventually settling into a suitable habitat.

Once the larvae have settled in their new home, they will begin to grow and enter the juvenile stage. The juvenile goliath groupers are typically found in shallow, protected areas such as mangroves, seagrass beds and coral reefs. These areas provide the perfect environment for the young fish to grow and mature before migrating to deeper waters. Grouper mature relatively quickly and are generally ready to reproduce in less than seven years; by this time they are usually well over 100 lbs.

It’s important to mention that goliath grouper play an important role in maintaining the balance of the marine ecosystem; at the same time, they are and have long been a popular target for recreational fishermen. Goliaths are considered a critically endangered species and are protected by law in many areas. This is due to overfishing in the past, as the fish was prized for its meat and was often caught for sport.

Today, it is illegal to harvest the goliath grouper in many areas, and conservation efforts are being made to help protect the species. Over the years, with strong protections in place, the goliath grouper has seen a resurgence in Florida waters. With the population bouncing back, Florida has recently instituted a tag-and-bag system for the harvesting of these fish. It’s important to read up on the regs regarding this harvest as they are constantly evolving.

But, as general rule, we here at FSF release any and all goliaths caught on our watch. We also are especially observant of the rules around handling these fish as specimens over a certain size (generally 36” is a standard) can be negatively affected if removed from the water. If you would like to harvest a goliath grouper to eat, we suggest reading up on the rules and applying for a harvest tag from the FWC.

To learn more about this limited harvest and how to acquire a tag, visit myfwc.com/license/recreational/saltwater-fishing/ goliath-grouper-harvest-permit.

Source: https://floridasportfishing.com/targeting-juvenile-goliath-grouper-in-the-mangroves/