Some Say This Goliath Fish, Once Overfished, Is Now a Nuisance | National Geographic

they are fish that can range from a

they are fish that can range from a tasty 30 pounder to something the size

tasty 30 pounder to something the size

tasty 30 pounder to something the size of a Volkswagen you’ll see spots where

of a Volkswagen you’ll see spots where

of a Volkswagen you’ll see spots where this you know multiples like 14 15 20

this you know multiples like 14 15 20

this you know multiples like 14 15 20 Goliath Grouper swimming around the

Goliath Grouper swimming around the

Goliath Grouper swimming around the Goliath Grouper population is getting

Goliath Grouper population is getting

Goliath Grouper population is getting out of hand

they were historically overfished

they were historically overfished fishing pressure really peaked in the

fishing pressure really peaked in the

fishing pressure really peaked in the 1980s and there was a very noted and

1980s and there was a very noted and

1980s and there was a very noted and dramatic decline in population numbers

dramatic decline in population numbers

dramatic decline in population numbers especially in Florida and so there was

especially in Florida and so there was

especially in Florida and so there was an emergency closure in 1990 they have

an emergency closure in 1990 they have

an emergency closure in 1990 they have responded quite encouragingly to the

responded quite encouragingly to the

responded quite encouragingly to the protective measures laws were enacted to

protective measures laws were enacted to

protective measures laws were enacted to protect the fish which I think were good

protect the fish which I think were good

protect the fish which I think were good laws and now 20-30 years later they

laws and now 20-30 years later they

laws and now 20-30 years later they definitely or nuisance fish and what

definitely or nuisance fish and what

definitely or nuisance fish and what they end up doing is yeah for fishermen

they end up doing is yeah for fishermen

they end up doing is yeah for fishermen trying to bring a fish up they often end

trying to bring a fish up they often end

trying to bring a fish up they often end up fighting the Goliath Grouper

up fighting the Goliath Grouper

up fighting the Goliath Grouper who wants the same fish they have they

who wants the same fish they have they

who wants the same fish they have they are opportunistic predators so they do

are opportunistic predators so they do

are opportunistic predators so they do readily and often steal fish that are

readily and often steal fish that are

readily and often steal fish that are hooked and being reeled in by anglers a

hooked and being reeled in by anglers a

hooked and being reeled in by anglers a lot of anglers are concerned that

lot of anglers are concerned that

lot of anglers are concerned that Goliath Grouper are eating up all of the

Goliath Grouper are eating up all of the

Goliath Grouper are eating up all of the grouper and snapper species that we have

grouper and snapper species that we have

grouper and snapper species that we have that are important fishery species and

that are important fishery species and

that are important fishery species and the reality of that is that goliath

the reality of that is that goliath

the reality of that is that goliath grouper typically eat lower on the

grouper typically eat lower on the

grouper typically eat lower on the trophic level they do eat a lot of bait

trophic level they do eat a lot of bait

trophic level they do eat a lot of bait fish and crustaceans they’ll eat a lot

fish and crustaceans they’ll eat a lot

fish and crustaceans they’ll eat a lot of crabs they don’t naturally take

of crabs they don’t naturally take

of crabs they don’t naturally take snappers and groupers on their own it

snappers and groupers on their own it

snappers and groupers on their own it comes at the time that we need to start

comes at the time that we need to start

comes at the time that we need to start thinking about how do we how do we

thinking about how do we how do we

thinking about how do we how do we manage this right now I think a lot of

manage this right now I think a lot of

manage this right now I think a lot of guys would like to see some sort of a

guys would like to see some sort of a

guys would like to see some sort of a lottery system like for alligators or

lottery system like for alligators or

lottery system like for alligators or moose or elk where you buy into a

moose or elk where you buy into a

moose or elk where you buy into a lottery you’re given a tag if your names

lottery you’re given a tag if your names

lottery you’re given a tag if your names chosen and it allows you to go out and

chosen and it allows you to go out and

chosen and it allows you to go out and harvest one of these fish

the stock assessments that have been

the stock assessments that have been performed for Goliath Grouper have been

performed for Goliath Grouper have been

performed for Goliath Grouper have been inconclusive as far as total recovery of

inconclusive as far as total recovery of

inconclusive as far as total recovery of the population goes and the data that we

the population goes and the data that we

the population goes and the data that we have definitely show evidence that the

have definitely show evidence that the

have definitely show evidence that the population is recovering but to what

population is recovering but to what

population is recovering but to what level is still relatively inconclusive

level is still relatively inconclusive

level is still relatively inconclusive so if there’s ever going to be any sort

so if there’s ever going to be any sort

so if there’s ever going to be any sort of a limited take it would need to be

of a limited take it would need to be

of a limited take it would need to be managed based on scientific evidence and

managed based on scientific evidence and

managed based on scientific evidence and it would have to be monitored very

it would have to be monitored very

it would have to be monitored very carefully you have an animal that once

carefully you have an animal that once

carefully you have an animal that once it invades can really increase in

it invades can really increase in

it invades can really increase in population numbers uh very rapidly