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The Atlantic goliath grouper or itajara (Epinephelus itajara), also known as the jewfish, is a saltwater fish of the grouper family and one of the largest species of bony fish.
The goliath grouper is the largest grouper species in the Atlantic Ocean weighing up to 800 pounds. They were once so overfished in the southeastern United States, they were considered for listing under the Endangered Species Act.
Goliath grouper are some of the biggest fish in the sea—they can grow more than eight feet long and weigh up to 800 lbs! Goliath grouper also has a big presence in a healthy coral reef ecosystem, as they help maintain balance as a top predator.
Jun 3, 2024 · Goliath grouper, (Epinephelus itajara), large sea bass (family Serranidae) found on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of tropical America and in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. The species sometimes attains a length of 2.5 metres (8.2 feet) and a weight of about 455 kg (1,000 pounds).
Feb 22, 2023 · The goliath grouper is the largest species of grouper in the Atlantic Ocean—they can grow up to eight feet and more than 800 pounds! They also feature a rather grumpy look on their faces due to their incredibly large downturned mouth and tiny eyes.
Order Perciformes (perch-like fishes), Family Epinephelidae (groupers and relatives) The Atlantic goliath grouper, like most groupers, is an ambush predator and eats fairly large fishes and invertebrates and even small sharks.
Goliath grouper were historically found in tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean, both coasts of Florida, and from the Gulf of Mexico down to the coasts of Brazil, and the Caribbean. In waters off Florida, young goliath grouper spend up to 5-6 years in estuaries and mangrove habitats.
Goliath grouper, which were once known as jewfish, can grow to more than eight feet in length and 800 pounds. From July through September, goliath groupers converge at special locations to spawn. As a group, they release milt (or sperm) and eggs into ocean currents to create the next generation of goliaths.
The Goliath grouper, (Epinephelus itajara), is found in shallow tropical waters and reefs. They can reach sizes of 3 meters, and will eat crustaceans, other fish, octopi, and even sharks.
“Goliath” is truly one of the few words that captures the sheer scale of one of our ocean’s largest bony fish: Epinephelus itajara, the Atlantic Goliath Grouper. But just how big are we talking here?
