{"id":11711,"date":"2017-05-06T06:02:54","date_gmt":"2017-05-06T11:02:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.captivafishing.net\/?p=11711"},"modified":"2018-06-28T17:52:50","modified_gmt":"2018-06-28T22:52:50","slug":"captiva-fishing-goliath-grouper-may-6-2017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/old.captivafishing.net\/?p=11711","title":{"rendered":"Captiva Fishing, Goliath Grouper, May 6, 2017"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"File<\/a>
File Photo: Bradley with 300LB. Goliath, Sanibel & Captiva Islands & Fort Myers Charters & Fishing Guide Service. May 6, 2017.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sanibel Fishing & Captiva Fishing, Goliath Grouper.<\/h2>\n
\"Sanibel<\/a>
Sanibel & Captiva Rentals<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sanibel Fishing & Captiva\u00a0Fishing, Captiva Island, Saturday, May 6: Goliath Grouper strictly catch & release; caught year round on structure;<\/strong>\u00a0latest\u00a0Red Tide Report<\/a><\/strong>;\u00a0<\/strong>better water north of Sanibel up through Captiva & North Captiva.\u00a0 Please click here to\u00a0Book A Charter<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or call\u00a0239-472-8658.<\/strong><\/p>\n

We\u2019re located at Castaways Marina, Santiva, Sanibel Island, just before the Blind Pass bridge to Captiva Island.<\/p>\n

For more photos and\/or fishing reports from our other Captains\u2019 boats from other marinas,\u00a0please also visit our\u00a0Sanibel<\/a>,\u00a0Fort Myers<\/a>,\u00a0Seashell & Shelling<\/a>,\u00a0Florida Fishing Report<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Cuban Fishing<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>sites.\u00a0Please check here for\u00a0Live Sanibel Traffic Cams<\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong>Click\u00a0here for\u00a0College Of Fishing\u00a0Hats & Apparel<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Big<\/a>
Big Goliath Grouper, 300 lbs. +, Sanibel Fishing & Captiva Fishing, Monday, July 4, 2016.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“The Atlantic goliath grouper<\/b> or itajara<\/b> (Epinephelus<\/a> itajara<\/i>), is a large saltwater fish of the grouper<\/a> family found primarily in shallow tropical waters among coral<\/a> and artificial reefs at depths from 5 to 50\u00a0m (16 to 164\u00a0ft). Its range includes the Florida Keys<\/a> in the US, the Bahamas<\/a>, most of the Caribbean<\/a> and most of the Brazilian<\/a> coast. On some occasions, it is caught off the coasts of the US states of New England off Maine and Massachusetts. In the eastern Atlantic Ocean<\/a>, it occurs from the Congo<\/a> to Senegal<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Young Atlantic goliath grouper may live in brackish<\/a> estuaries, oyster beds, canals, and mangrove<\/a> swamps, which is unusual behavior among groupers.<\/p>\n

\"Goliath<\/a>
Goliath grouper, 7-21-14, Redfish Pass, North Captiva, Sanibel & Captiva Islands & Fort Myers Charters & Fishing Guide Service.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

They may reach extremely large sizes, growing to lengths up to 2.5\u00a0m (8.2\u00a0ft) and can weigh as much as 360\u00a0kg (790\u00a0lb). The world record for a hook-and-line-captured specimen is 308.44\u00a0kg (680.0\u00a0lb), caught off Fernandina Beach, Florida<\/a>, in 1961.[2]<\/a><\/sup> They are usually around 180\u00a0kg (400\u00a0lb) when mature. Considered of fine food quality, Atlantic goliath grouper were a highly sought-after quarry for fishermen. It is a relatively easy prey for spear fishermen because of the grouper’s inquisitive and generally fearless nature. They also tend to spawn in large aggregations, returning annually to the same locations. This makes them particularly vulnerable to mass harvesting while breeding.<\/p>\n

It is a relatively easy prey for spear fishermen because of the grouper’s inquisitive and generally fearless nature. They also tend to spawn in large aggregations, returning annually to the same locations. This makes them particularly vulnerable to mass harvesting while breeding.[3]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

\"Goliath<\/a>
Goliath Grouper caught offshore of Captiva, Sanibel & Captiva Islands & Fort Myers Charters & Fishing Guide Service.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Until a harvest ban was placed on the species, its population was in rapid decline. The fish is entirely protected from harvest and is recognized as a critically endangered species by the IUCN<\/a>.[1]<\/a><\/sup> The US began protection in 1990, and the Caribbean in 1993. The species’ population has been recovering since the ban; with the fish’s slow growth rate, however, some time will be needed for populations to return to their previous levels.<\/p>\n

Goliath grouper eat crustaceans<\/a>, other fish, octopodes<\/a>, young sea turtles<\/a>, sharks<\/a>, and barracudas<\/a>. They are known to attack divers and have even been seen attacking large lemon sharks<\/a>.[citation needed<\/span><\/a><\/i>]<\/sup><\/p>\n

\"Goliath<\/a>
Goliath Grouper, Sanibel Fishing & Captiva Fishing, Saturday, 8-29-15 ~ #Sanibel #Captiva.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Goliath groupers are believed to be protogynous hermaphrodites<\/a>, which refer to organisms that are born female and at some point in their lifespans change sex to male. Most grouper follow this pattern, but this has not yet been verified for the goliath.[4]<\/a><\/sup> Males can be sexually mature at about 115 centimeters (45\u00a0in), and ages 4\u20136 years. Females mature around 125 centimeters (49\u00a0in), and about 6\u20138 years.[5]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

In May 2015, the Atlantic goliath grouper was successfully bred in captivity for the first time.[6]<\/a><\/sup>[7]<\/a><\/sup>[8]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

The Atlantic goliath grouper has been referred to as the jewfish<\/b>. The name’s origin is unclear and may have referred to the flesh having a “clean” taste comparable to kosher food<\/a>, been an insulting suggestion that the fish provided low-quality meat and was “only fit for Jews”, or that the word was simply a corruption of jawfish<\/i>.[10]<\/a><\/sup> In 2001, the American Fisheries Society stopped using the term because of concerns that it was culturally insensitive.[10]<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/sup>More background here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Goliath<\/a>
Goliath Grouper, Hank, August 4, Sanibel & Captiva Islands & Fort Myers Charters & Fishing Guide Service.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Atlantic goliath grouper, like most groupers, is an ambush predator and eats fairly large fishes and invertebrates and even small sharks.\u00a0 Reefs with large numbers of predators, like Atlantic goliath groupers, are known to be healthier than reefs with no predators, so this species may represent an important part of the reef food web.<\/p>\n

Atlantic goliath groupers feed by swallowing their prey whole; they do not chew.\u00a0 They use their very large mouths to create enough negative pressure to suck in whole fishes or large invertebrates, and they swallow them quickly and efficiently.<\/p>\n

\"File<\/a>
File Photo, Goliath Grouper, Sanibel & Captiva Islands & Fort Myers Charters & Fishing Guide Service, May 6, 2017.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Throughout most of the year, low numbers of Atlantic goliath groupers are observed in any one place.\u00a0 They are at the top of their food web and are therefore naturally rare.\u00a0 However, during reproduction (immediately after the full moons between June and December), they come together in groups of at least 100 individuals.\u00a0 These groups are known as spawning aggregations, and they form at relatively few places throughout the species\u2019 range.\u00a0 Individual Atlantic goliath grouper likely travel many miles to reach their preferred spawning sites and form part of the spawning aggregation.<\/p>\n

At these sites, the groupers reproduce by a method known as broadcast spawning, where females release eggs and several males release sperm into the water column above deep reefs all at the same time.\u00a0 This method increases the likelihood that eggs will become successfully fertilized and that fertilized eggs will not be eaten by egg predators on the reef surface.<\/p>\n

\"File<\/a>
File Photo, Goliath grouper, caught and released off Blind Pass in the gulf; Sanibel & Captiva Islands & Fort Myers Charters & Fishing Guide Service, May 6, 2017.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Though they were likely naturally rare, scientists believe that destructive fishing practices have reduced the numbers of Atlantic goliath groupers by at least 80% and that the species is now critically endangered.\u00a0 In other words, it is very highly vulnerable to extinction.<\/p>\n

These fish utilize the same, few locations and same, few days for spawning every year, so their presence is quite predictable.\u00a0 Furthermore, a total lack of fear of people makes them an easy target for spear fishers.\u00a0 Finally, the Atlantic goliath grouper\u2019s large size, slow growth, and ease of capture all contribute to slow its recovery, even where laws have been put in place to give it some or complete legal protection from fishing (e.g., in the USA and Brazil).\u00a0 It is important to continue to monitor Atlantic goliath grouper population trends in order to determine whether or not the species is recovering or if stronger legal protection may be required.<\/p>\n

\"Goliath<\/a>
Goliath Grouper, Charlie, Sanibel Fishing & Captiva Fishing, Saturday, 8-29-15 ~ #Sanibel #Captiva.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A note on a closely related species:\u00a0 the Atlantic goliath grouper lives on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean \u2013 in the Caribbean Sea and adjacent waters and off the west coast of Africa.<\/p>\n

A closely related species, the Pacific Goliath Grouper, is restricted to the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean from Mexico to Peru.\u00a0 Scientists only recently divided the species into two, based on their slightly different genetic makeup.\u00a0 The two species are similar in both appearance and behavior, but little is known about the population trends or conservation status of the Pacific goliath grouper. \u00a0More background here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Big<\/a>
Big Goliath Grouper, Sanibel Fishing & Captiva Fishing, Monday, 7-20-15 ~ #Sanibel #Captiva.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We\u2019re big advocates of catch and release, particularly for snook, but pretty much\u00a0for most species. \u00a0Only take what you are going to eat, and a lot of fish are better off as sportfish, even if they are in season. \u00a0Our motto is let \u2018em get bigger and catch \u2018em again!<\/p>\n

Please click calendar at upper right or call\u00a0239-472-8658<\/strong>\u00a0to\u00a0book a charter<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019re a longtime customer who has fished with us for many years or a first-time customer, expert fisherman or just a family with young children out to catch fish and have fun, you are going to enjoy being out in the boat with Hank and me!\u00a0 We greatly appreciate your friendship and business!<\/p>\n