Yes, it is possible to eat a Goliath grouper. However, due to their large size, most people opt to catch and release them. The goliath grouper has been a popular target for recreational fishermen, and some people do choose to keep and eat them. In the 1950s, a famous urban legend tells of two children who jumped off a bridge in the Florida Keys, and only one came up, with the other supposedly eaten by a Goliath grouper. However, this story is widely believed to be a myth.
Has a goliath grouper ever attacked a human?
While there have not been any documented cases of a Goliath grouper attacking a human, there have been cases of Goliath groupers being aggressive if the human had something that the grouper wanted. In addition, Goliath groupers have been known to stalk and ambush humans in some cases.
Has anyone ever caught a goliath grouper?
Yes, as of 2021, the largest Goliath Grouper recorded caught in the wild is 680 pounds on the Southern Atlantic Coast of Florida. It has also been caught in other places around the world, including Mexico and the Caribbean. A few anglers have also caught Goliath Groupers in the Gulf of Mexico, although they are much rarer there. There are also a few reports of Goliath Groupers being caught in the Pacific Ocean.
Has anyone been swallowed by grouper?
There has not been a documented case of a grouper swallowing a human. However, there have been reports of large grouper attacking and shoving humans. Additionally, there have been reports of other large fish such as barracuda, sharks, and jewfish attacking humans. It is generally advised to be wary of large fish, as they can be dangerous if provoked.
Why can’t you catch a goliath grouper?
It is illegal to catch and keep a goliath grouper in the United States due to overfishing which caused its population to decline drastically. This is why it has been protected in state and federal waters since 1990, and the limited harvest is intended to help the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in their efforts to protect and conserve goliath grouper populations. Additionally, catching and releasing goliath grouper is important to ensure the species’ survival, as they can suffer from barotrauma and other stress-related injuries if they are caught and kept.