-
 THE
GOLIATH GROUPER
-
Huge
mammoth from the deep of the oceans
-
- Roberto Ferrario
The goliath grouper or
jewfish is the largest of the grouper and a member of the
serranidae family.
Distribution is not too clear and it is known that it occurs
in the western Atlantic Ocean from Florida south to Brazil,
including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. It is
also found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean, from Senegal to
Congo although rare in the Canary Islands. The species is
also present in the eastern Pacific Ocean from the Gulf of
California to Peru. Recently some huge exemplars were fished
also on the east coast of Africa (Tanzania), but the
identification as the same type of grouper is not yet
confirmed
Occurring in shallow, inshore waters to depths of 50-80
meters, the goliath grouper prefers areas of rock, coral,
and mud bottoms. Strikingly patterned juveniles inhabit
mangroves and brackish estuaries, especially near oyster
bars. The goliath grouper is notable as one of the few
groupers found in brackish waters. This fish is solitary by
nature, with the adults occupying limited home ranges. It is
territorial near areas of refuge such as caves, wrecks, and
ledges, displaying an open mouth and quivering body to
intruders. Additional warning may be delivered in the form
of the goliath grouper's ability to produce a distinctly
audible rumbling sound generated by the muscular contraction
of the swim bladder. This sound travels great distances
underwater and is also used to locate other goliath grouper.
MORE ABOUT IT
 As told, goliath grouper are the largest members of the sea
bass family in the Oceans. The body is robust and elongated;
its widest point is more than half its total length. The
head is broad with small eyes. The dorsal fins are
continuous with the rays of the soft dorsal longer than the
spines of the first dorsal fin. The membranes between the
dorsal fin elements are notched. Pectoral fins are rounded
and noticeably larger than the pelvic fins. Bases of the
soft dorsal and anal fins are covered with scales and thick
skin. The caudal fin is rounded.
As Coloration this fish is generally brownish yellow, gray,
or olive with small dark spots on head, body, and fins.
Large adults are somber-colored. Goliath grouper have three
to five rows of teeth in the lower jaw. The presence of a
number of short weakly developed canine teeth is useful in
distinguishing this species from other North Atlantic
groupers.
The goliath grouper can be considered the largest of the
bottom fishes. Growing to lengths of 2.5 m, this grouper can
weigh as much as 350 kg. In Florida, the largest hook and
line captured specimen weighed 308 kg and is is also the
actual IGFA world record for this specie. In other places
like Africa seems that exemplars of over 200 kilos where
caught by local fishermen.
The oldest verifiable goliath grouper on record is 37 years.
However, this specimen was sampled from a population of
individuals depressed by fishing pressure and it is
projected that goliath grouper may live much longer, perhaps
as much as 50 years.
Goliath grouper feed largely on crustaceans (in particular
spiny lobsters, shrimps and crabs), fishes (including
stingrays and parrot-fishes), octopus, and young sea turtles.
Prey is ambushed, caught with a quick rush and snap of the
jaws. The sharp teeth are adapted for seizing prey and
preventing escape although most prey is simply engulfed and
swallowed whole. The larger fish exibit a great deal of
curiosity, leaving their caves to investigate and interfere
with diving operations, sometimes even tryng to eat divers.
Of historical importance to commercial fisheries, the
goliath grouper has also long been prized by recreational
and sport fishers. Traditionally, the species has been
caught primarily by hook and line, traps, and trawls. Spear
fishers find this fish easy to approach; hence in locations
accessible to divers their numbers have declined.
The large size, slow growth, low reproductive rate, and
spawning behavior have made the goliath grouper especially
susceptible to overfishing. The goliath grouper is totally
protected from harvest and is recognized as a critically
endangered species by the World Conservation Union in all
USA.
ANGLING
Despite its poor fighting ability (mostly strong pulling
through massive weight), the goliath grouper’s great size
and weight, and its habit of swimming into a hole or between
rocks when hooked, make it difficult to land. It can be
taken on live or dead baits; slow trolling also works on
occasion. Any way heavy tackle like 80 lb is strictly
necessary. Any way this kind of grouper remain only an
occasional catch, but in the USA there are some fishing
charter that target them with regularity and with a strictly
release policy.
OTHER INTERESTING GROUPERS
In the seas and oceans of the earth exist several and
several type of groupers. Most are non schooling species
that generally congregate in the same area. Dozens of
species inhabit all warm seas, preferring rocky shores and
deep reefs. Groupers of small size are general very good to
eat and in the recent time are a very frequent catch of
fishermen that spin fish with large poppers or metal jig
with the intent to catch other predators like trevally and
dogtooth tunas.
Some of the most appreciate and common groupers that can be
fished are: grouper black, grouper nassau, grouper red,
grouper spotted coral, grouper maori, grouper yellowfin and
grouper gulf and so on. In the IGFA book are registered 36
different species of groupers elegible for a record.
ATTENTION AT CIGUATERA!
In Carribbean groupers can contain toxins of ciguatera.
Ciguatera, in fact, is a unique type of food poisoning
caused by the consumption of marine species that harbor
natural toxins originating in certain tropical waters. These
species and locations are linked by a food chain, which
generates and accumulates a heat-resistant, acid-stable
collection of toxic substances known as ciguatoxin. The
initial culprits are certain species of microplankton or
dinoflagellates that form the toxins that higher-order
predators and man consume. These natural toxins can
concentrate as they move up the food chain, but their
adverse effects appear limited to man.
Ciguatera illness generally occurs in the tropical regions
of the world and especially in the Carribbean. There is no
simple, reliable test kit available to the public at this
time. Thus, determinations for ciguatera usually are limited
to diagnosis based on symptoms. Symptoms following ingestion
of a ciguatoxic fish can begin within less than six hours.
This rapid onset is a primary reason for close food
association and reporting of this seafoodborne illness.
Initial symptoms are gastrointestinal, including nausea,
cramping and vomiting. This is followed by neurological
discomforts: headaches, flushing, muscular aching.
-
______________________________
-
Images
|
back
to adventures