What is the average weight of a grouper

The grouper prefers structure such as oyster bars, mangroves, rock or coral and is one of the few groupers found in brackish water. Adults have small spots on the fins, body and head and are typically olive, gray or brownish yellow in color.

Goliath groupers are opportunistic ambush predators that feed on a variety of food items. This grouper primarily feeds on crustaceans crabs, shrimp and spiny lobster.

Other prey items include octopus, juvenile sea turtles, gastropods, and a variety of fish such as hardhead catfish, stingray and parrotfish. The large fish can live more than 35 years and is a slow grower. On average the fish grow approximately 4 inches per year until age six, then growth declines sharply to 1.

Strikingly patterned juveniles inhabit mangroves and brackish estuaries, especially near oyster bars. The goliath grouper is notable as one of the few groupers found in brackish waters. This fish is solitary by nature, with the adults occupying limited home ranges. It is territorial near areas of refuge such as caves, wrecks, and ledges, displaying an open mouth and quivering body to intruders.

This sound travels great distances underwater and is also used to locate other goliath grouper. Distinctive Features Goliath grouper are the largest members of the sea bass family in the Atlantic Ocean. The body is robust and elongate; its widest point is more than half its total length. The head is broad with small eyes. The dorsal fins are continuous with the rays of the soft dorsal longer than the spines of the first dorsal fin.

The membranes between the dorsal fin elements are notched. Pectoral fins are rounded and noticeably larger than the pelvic fins. Bases of the soft dorsal and anal fins are covered with scales and thick skin. The caudal fin is rounded. Coloration This fish is generally brownish yellow, gray, or olive with small dark spots on head, body, and fins.

Large adults are somber-colored. Three or four irregular faint vertical bars are present of the sides of individuals less than 3 feet 1m in length. The rear half of the caudal penduncle of these small individuals is covered by another similar bar. The tawny colored juveniles, although not as colorful as some grouper species, are attractively patterned; exhibiting a series of dark, irregular, vertical bands and blotches.

Dentition Goliath grouper have three to five rows of teeth in the lower jaw. The presence of a number of short weakly developed canine teeth is useful in distinguishing this species from other North Atlantic groupers. Size, Age, and Growth The goliath grouper is the largest grouper in the western Atlantic. Growing to lengths of 8. In Florida, the largest hook and line captured specimen weighed pounds kg.

The oldest verifiable goliath grouper on record is 37 years. However, this specimen was sampled from a population of individuals depressed by fishing pressure and it is projected that goliath grouper may live much longer, perhaps as much as 50 years.

Males achieve sexual maturity at four to six years of age and lengths of inches cm , females at six to seven years of age and inches cm. Growth rates are slow, averaging approximately four inches 10 cm per year until the age of six years. However, for sport anglers out there, keep in mind that this particular type of grouper is protected.

While the fish have big mouths and the largest of the species can seem intimidating, these are slow, at least from the perspective of other fish. The shape of their body is not suited to swim quickly nor is it suited for long-distance swimming.

They still thrive, and they are often capable of living in waters that are brackish. They do better than some other fish when it comes to having low levels of oxygen in the water. However, the grouper can be quite a scary fish, as well. Take the video that you can find online from that shows a Goliath grouper rising right out of the depths and swallowing a… wait for it… Blacktip shark.

It circles the shark for a bit and then snatches it right out of the water before the angler can bring it on the boat. Many groupers, when they are young, will have colorful markings. However, as they get older, the color will begin to change. It will become duller, turning a greenish gray or brown. The grouper has the ability to live for up to 50 years, which is impressive for a fish. Another interesting fact is that groupers are not solitary fish.