The Atlantic goliath grouper is a massive, slow-moving fish of warm Atlantic reefs and wrecks. Once overfished almost to extinction, it has made a remarkable recovery in Florida.
Interesting facts
- It is one of the largest bony fish found on reefs.
- Goliath groupers gather in groups of over 100 to spawn on shipwrecks off Florida in late summer.
- Fishing for goliath groupers was banned in US waters in 1990, and numbers recovered.
- Young goliaths grow up in mangrove forests.
- They swallow prey whole, using powerful suction.
- Its status improved from Critically Endangered to Vulnerable in 2018.
Behaviour
Goliath groupers are usually solitary and territorial, staying close to caves, ledges and wrecks. They are curious and often approach divers.
Breeding and young
Adults gather at spawning sites around the full moon in late summer and release eggs into the water.
Threats and conservation
Past overfishing, loss of mangrove nurseries, cold snaps and red tides.
Where to see it
- Shipwrecks off Jupiter and Palm Beach, Florida (August to October)
- Florida Keys
- Belize
- Fernando de Noronha, Brazil
Status source: IUCN Red List. Profile last reviewed September 2026.
