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20 FLORIDA’s GOLIAth GROupeR Text & Photography By Walt Stearns Now that they have returned, will it last, or will this be this giant’s final show? www.underwaterjournal.com June/July 2007
Stepping off the Republic IV, I began the 60-foot descent to the familiar remains of the MG-111 cargo barge. As its derelict steel structure came into focus, so did another nowfamiliar sight: grouped tightly around the wreck were some two dozen really big fish. And they weren’t scared. These gray-and-tan behemoths, which ranged from at least 100 pounds to well over 400 pounds, sported distinctive curved tails, small beady eyes and rotund physiques peppered with black spots. They hovered with mouths agape, ready to inhale any prey that came within range. There was no mistaking them for anything but goliath grouper. And unlike most other large predatory fish – including many sharks – they didn’t back off as I approached. Closing to within a few feet of one particularly large fish caused no visible reaction. It held its ground and gave me a look as if to say, “O.K., we’re all here, now what?” Coming face-to-face with a fish the size of 55-gallon drum is definitely an experience no diver will forget – especially if they’ve ever heard those urban myths about divers being swallowed whole by these outsized members of the grouper clan. But after the initial adrenaline rush of confronting something bigger than you wears off, most divers soon discover that goliath groupers (Epinephelus itajara) are not the ferocious brutes some would have us believe. 2 In fact, when confronted by divers, goliath’s turn into rather big babies. If threatened, they sound off with a short series of loud booms. In grouper speak, they’re saying “you’re in my territory, go away!” But such displays are just bark, not bite. The moment their bluff is called, these big fish will likely turn to the safety of a deep hole in a reef or wreck. The bigger the wreck the greater the odds of finding one, two, three or more goliath grouper. Why do these fish favor wrecks over natural structures? Look at it this way: where would you want to live, in a mansion or in a tent? www.underwaterjournal.com June/July 2007
Page 1 and 2: Issue 3 June/July 2007 - RebReatheR
Page 3 and 4: An Uncertain Future During my trave
Page 5 and 6: By Douglas Ebersole ClOSEd-CirCuiT
Page 7 and 8: About Time The other reason is time
Page 9 and 10: Dive Computers for the Recreational
Page 11 and 12: Adventure Diving It’s four thirty
Page 13 and 14: make maintaining a specific depth i
Page 15 and 16: pangas, the Solmar V positions its
Page 17 and 18: Left: For underwater photographers,
Page 19: The comfortable main salon features
Page 23 and 24: In the waters of Florida’s east c
Page 25 and 26: Back in the Day When I hear some di
Page 27 and 28: 27 NEW Freeport, Grand Bahama Depar
Page 29 and 30: “It’s not a just a fishing prob
Page 31 and 32: What Are You Doing This Summer? You
Page 33 and 34: • Bahamas • Saba/St. Kitts •
Page 35 and 36: For rinsing the inside of your BC,
Page 37 and 38: the simple solution Left: The man b
Page 39 and 40: Dive Florida America’s Underwater
Page 41 and 42: Hooked on Many a diver has a favori
Page 43 and 44: Like all polycheates, marine worms

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