Goliath grouper

US fish and state coverage

Epinephelus itajara

A state link is a recorded source association, not a catch guarantee or confirmation that targeting is legal. Check current regulations with the responsible state agency.

Peak months
Typical depth
Typical size
Up to 8 feet and 800 pounds; largest grouper species in western Atlantic waters Harvest is prohibited without a permit.
Catch minimum
National record

See state records · Browse all fishing records

Biology, seasons and size reflect the canonical source record, which may contain Florida context. They are not state-specific guidance for every linked state. Missing fields remain unfilled.

Overview

Habitat summary
Coastal and nearshore waters around natural and man-made structures, or muddy bottoms. Young often occur in estuaries, especially around mangroves or manmade structures such as bridges, docks, and artificial reefs. More abundant in southern than in northern waters in Florida.
Diet
feed mostly on slow-moving, bottom-associated species. diet, with other invertebrate species and fish filling in the rest. feed on fish that are struggling on a fishing line, but typically do not actively hunt down fast, free swimming fish, such as snappers and other grouper species.
Water type
saltwater

When to fish

Good months
Mar · Apr · May
Seasonality
Spawn during summer months from June through October, with peak spawning taking place from July through September, and have an average lifespan thought to be 30 to 50 years.

Where to fish

Habitat summary
Coastal and nearshore waters around natural and man-made structures, or muddy bottoms. Young often occur in estuaries, especially around mangroves or manmade structures such as bridges, docks, and artificial reefs. More abundant in southern than in northern waters in Florida.
Habitat zone
inshore
Fishing zone
nearshore

How to catch

Techniques
heavy tackle; circle hooks; catch-and-release only — do not remove from water longer than needed

Bait & lures

Preferred bait
large live or dead baitfish near heavy structure

Size

Typical size
Up to 8 feet and 800 pounds; largest grouper species in western Atlantic waters Harvest is prohibited without a permit.

Records

Recorded catches retain their source scope; state and world catches are not national records.

state record evidence

Source context: Florida

Record type
florida state
Record weight lb
680.0
Record location
Fernandina Beach
Record date
05/20/1961
Record angler
Lynn Joyner
Record catch text
680.0 lb; by Lynn Joyner; on 05/20/1961; at Fernandina Beach

Browse sourced catches for this species

Related states & places

Place links are planning context, not proof of local species presence. Florida city links marked local context follow existing directory relationships, not catch reports.

Source-linked directories

Real local listings currently cover Florida only. Boat-ramp, charter and creator links below follow existing Florida species relationships. Bait-shop links are city context only, not species-targeting evidence.

Boat ramps — Florida

Selected examples from 1020 source-linked directory records.

Browse the Florida boat ramps directory

Charter captains — Florida

Selected examples from 2 source-linked directory records.

Browse the Florida charter captains directory

Bait shops — Florida

Selected examples from 632 source-linked city-context records.

Browse the Florida bait shops directory

Fishing creators — Florida

Selected examples from 10 source-linked directory records.

Browse the Florida fishing creators directory

For other linked states, local listings are not in the source yet; use the state and species guides above.

Related species

Navigation links share a recorded scientific genus or a source state and water-type grouping. This is not a claim of identical habitat or legal targeting.

Source evidence by state

LoveToFish is a national fishing guide. Fish species coverage spans all 50 states. Ramp, charter, bait shop, and creator directories currently cover Florida. Verify current local regulations with the responsible agency.