Giant fish: Florida to allow Goliath grouper harvest again

The state is allowing for the harvest of a massive reef fish again this year.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is allowing a limited take of Goliath grouper in March, and applications for the harvest period are being accepted through Oct. 15.

Agency spokespeople could not be reached for comment.

Goliaths were given that name for a reason: they can grow up to 800 pounds, according to the FWC.

The state record catch is a 680-pound fish caught off Fernandino Beach in 1961. The first became protected in 1990.

"When not feeding or spawning, adult Goliath groupers are generally solitary, sedentary, and territorial," an FWC website reads. "Before Goliath grouper reach full-size they may be preyed upon by barracuda, king mackerel and moray eels as well as sandbar and hammerhead sharks. Once fully grown, large sharks are the Goliath grouper's only natural predators."

But how do Goliath groupers taste?

Harvesting Goliath grouper was made illegal in state waters in 1990, and reef anglers have been forced to release any catches since.

Some anglers and tackle shop owners aren't convinced the state will sell many Goliath grouper permits as the meat is not all that desirable.

Last year the permits sold out.

Dave Westra owns Lehr's Economy Tackle in North Fort Myers, and he grew up in an era when Goliath grouper were caught and eaten.

"I just don't think they're going to get many takers if it's $500," Westra said. "If it was a 400-pounder, somebody might do that. But the slot they have put on them is relatively small. "

Anglers still won't be able to keep record-sized fish, and Westra said he doubts many anglers will buy a permit to just to get a mounted Goliath grouper for the living room wall.

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"Nowadays you can catch a nice fish and take a picture of them and take measurements, lengths and girth and you can turn the fish loose and send that to a taxidermist and get a replica that looks the exact same," Westra said.

These fish are thought to live to be as old as 37 years, according to FWC.

Their preferred habitat changes during the lifespan, from coastal mangrove systems to reefs.

"In waters off Florida, young Goliath grouper spend up to five to six years in estuaries and mangrove habitats," according to FWC. "Areas such as the Ten Thousand Islands in Southwest Florida seem to be a center of abundance for juvenile Goliath and may serve as critical nursery habitat. Adults seem to prefer habitat with high relief or structure such as overhangs, ledges, bridges, piers, and shipwrecks."

Catching and releasing Goliath grouper in Florida

So what are the current rules? If you capture a Goliath grouper, the fish must be immediately released alive, unharmed, and with proper fish handling techniques.

Do not remove large Goliath groupers from the water. The skeletal structure of a large Goliath grouper cannot support its weight out of the water and if brought aboard a vessel or removed from the water, the fish may sustain fatal injuries.

FWC recommends anglers also keep smaller Goliath groupers in the water when removing a hook.

If a Goliath grouper shows signs of barotrauma, use a descending device or venting tool to help the fish return to depth.

You can photograph your catch if you follow the recommendations listed here and if it does not delay the release of the fish in any way.

Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

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This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Florida anglers to target massive reef fish