A Bucket-List Dive with Jupiter Dive Center and Goliath Groupers!
Simply stated, divers are explorers and the realm we visit is vast and full of incredible creatures. If you’re like many divers, you’ve made a bucket list of marine life you want to see. One of our favorites is the goliath grouper—a gentle giant that gathers off the coast of Jupiter, Florida from July through September to spawn. So if you’re ready, the time is right and Jupiter Dive Center is ready to help you experience the dive of a lifetime!
Identification
The goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara—formerly called a Jewfish) holds the honor of being the largest of the grouper species and can weigh up to 800 pounds and attain a length of eight feet! It has a rounded snout and a large mouth with long jawbones that extend past its proportionally small eyes. They have yellowish-brown mottled skin with darker brown spots mostly on the head, fins, and their vertical fan-like tail. They also sport five dark body bands that are most visible on young goliaths. Both variations help them blend in with rocky reefs and other habitats.
Goliath groupers live more than 30 years and they reach reproductive maturity between five and seven years. Some biologists believe that groupers start their life as female and become male later in their life span—but this is one aspect of their existence that still retains some mystery. According to NOAA Fisheries, overfishing and habitat loss remain the greatest threats they face. Once fully grown, their only natural predators are larger sharks.
History
Since at least the late 1800s, goliath groupers were targeted by both commercial and recreational fishermen. Improvements in fishing technology and habitat erosion lead to the decimation of their populations. In 1994, the species was declared critically endangered, and the harvesting of groupers was prohibited in both state and federal waters.
Historically, goliaths ranged far beyond our state, but their habitat has shrunk and now they are found primarily in southern Florida waters. While our offshore reefs host a year-round population of goliaths, between July and September their numbers surge as they gather to spawn.
A Stunning Comeback Story
Due to action taken by fishery management councils that prohibit the harvest of goliaths, their populations started to rebound and in 2006, goliaths were removed from the government species of concern list. That improvement resulted in the Florida Wildlife Commissioners reexamining the feasibility of allowing limited harvesting of this large fish in 2018. Thanks to the groundswell of opposition—much of it provided by the dive community—the commissioners chose not to pursue the initiative at that time. Since then, however, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has instituted a limited Goliath Harvest Program. Fortunately, Jupiter, Florida falls within a prohibited fishing area (that runs from Martin County down to the Florida Keys) established to protect the goliath’s spawning grounds.
Behavior
Goliath groupers are docile fish, but opportunist eaters. In fact, they’re ambush predators, swooping in, opening their large mouths, and swallowing their prey whole. They usually eat crabs and small fish and will be happy to eat any cast-off lionfish left by divers.
On night dives, they’ll let your flashlight beam find them their next morsel—which is something to be aware of because, despite their size, they can materialize out of the darkness with surprising speed.
Where To Find Goliath Groupers
Like many big fishes, goliaths take years to mature. They spend the first five years of their lives in the mangroves, but even as juveniles, they can reach nearly four feet in length. As adults, they move offshore to the reefs or wrecks—where divers are most likely to encounter them:-
- Wreck Trek
During aggregation, Jupiter Dive Center routinely visits the Wreck Trek, a series of three wrecks—the Zion Train, Miss Jenny, and The Esso Bonaire—that in addition to groupers, draws in other large marine animals.
This is a deep dive that requires Advanced Open Water Certification.
- MG-111 and Warrior Reef
Paired with the Wreck Trek during grouper aggregation is another wreck, the MG-111.
While this river barge has seen better days, north of the wreck is an area known as Warrior Reef, which consists of a collection of concrete pillars that serves as a Goliath playground. There, the large fish often gather in groups facing into the current.
- Tunnels
If you are more interested in reefs rather than wrecks, consider Tunnels, a spectacular and very popular reef dive.
Several goliath groupers like to hang out by the first of the three tunnels, while several more can be found under a substantial ledge that divers will encounter near the 25-minute mark of their dive.
During aggregation, Jupiter Dive Center runs dedicated charters for divers to observe these aggregations. Seeing sixty or more of these behemoths is truly an incredible opportunity that only a fortunate few get to experience. In fact, many of our crew were so taken by their experiences with groupers it helped them decide to become dive professionals.
The depths of our reefs are 60-90 feet. To ensure the safety of our divers and to enhance the diving experience, all of our dives require the use of nitrox and our specialty dives including the Wreck Trek require Advanced Open Water certification.
Want To Learn More?
Jupiter Dive Center is proud to offer an exclusive Goliath Grouper Specialty course where you will learn all about goliath grouper identification, habitat, range, diet, and role in the marine ecosystem. It starts in the classroom in the morning. Then in the afternoon, it’s off on our boats for a two-tank charter where you get to put your newfound knowledge to use while accompanied by your instructor. Divers who complete both portions of the class will receive a Goliath Grouper Specialty certification.
Your Next Adventure
The goliath grouper spawning aggregation draws divers from around the globe, and Jupiter, Florida is ideally situated with plenty of quality lodging in the area. We hope you’ll join us, so you too, can say you’ve been diving with the area’s gentlest giants. Are you ready? Call Jupiter Dive Center at 561-745-7807 and book your dive today.