What is the biggest goliath grouper ever caught?

680 pounds
As of 2021, the largest Goliath Grouper recorded caught in the wild is 680 pounds on the Southern coast of Florida. Anglers reeled the Grouper in May of 1961. In June 2021, another group of fishermen in Florida caught an almost-as-gargantuan Goliath that weighed in at about 500 pounds.

Can you take a picture with a goliath grouper?

What to do when you’ve caught a goliath grouper? Harvest and possession has been prohibited in both state and federal waters off Florida since 1990. Must be immediately returned to the water free, alive and unharmed. Photographs can be taken but only during the active act of release.

Why do they call grouper jewfish?

The origin of the fish’s name isn’t clear. The most innocent view traces to a book authored by an English adventurer in 1697; he wrote that the jewfish was a kosher creature favored by Jews in Jamaica. But the more likely theory is that the name traces back even further to medieval anti-Semitism in Europe.

Can you keep goliath grouper in Florida?

Since 1990, keeping goliath grouper — an aptly named fish that can grow to 800 pounds — has been illegal in Florida.

Can a grouper fish eat a human?

Goliath groupers may sound intimidating—and for most fish, they are! But humans have little to fear from these creatures. In fact, many people familiar with them call the fish “gentle giants.” It’s still smart to stay away from fully grown goliath groupers. They could eat a person if they wanted to!

What is the penalty for catching a goliath grouper?

Goliath grouper have been protected in state and federal waters off Florida since 1990. In state waters, harvesting goliath grouper is punishable by a fine up to $500 per fish and up to 60 days in jail.

What is the biggest grouper in the world?

Goliath grouper
According to American Oceans, the world record Goliath grouper is a 680-pound monster caught in 1961. The fish was caught by an angler who fought the fish for over an hour. Not only was this fish approaching 700 pounds, it was seven feet in overall length.