AS SEEN IN THE SEPT/OCT 2006 ISSUE 

Charlotte Harbor’s goliath grouper fishery is no big secret.
Although knowing where these monsters live is one thing,
catching them is a whole different story.

I need to confess up front that I am a total tarpon addict- seriously afflicted. Over the past decade, I have cast for tarpon in almost every channel in the Florida Keys, especially around Islamorada. I have fished for tarpon on countless occasions throughout the Everglades National Park near Flamingo during every season of the year, and more than a handful of times in remote tropical destinations such as Belize in the islands around Caye Caulker and Ambergris Caye. I’ve fished for tarpon from boat (both casting and trolling), from land, and from bridge, with every bait known to man from crabs and pinfish to sardines and mullet. I think you get the picture.

So, imagine me riding along with Captain Randy Knowles aboard the No Slack, a Scout 192 powered by a 150 Yamaha outboard, heading through Boca Grande Pass to the Florida Gulf in mid-May. The pass was stacked with over a hundred boats chasing after the mighty silver king. We witnessed three massive tarpon jump and two small skiffs being dragged around like they were mere surfboards. But I didn’t care; I was headed to the Gulf to try to catch a few ladyfish. Captain Randy and I had just horsed up three giant goliath grouper with an average weight of over 300 pounds, and we were seriously running short of bait. Suddenly, I had a new addiction, and its name was Goliath.

The short version of the whole story:
The goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara) has a storied past. It was called the jewfish historically and had its name changed to goliath grouper in 2001 by the American Fisheries Society when objections were raised. For decades, these magnificent creatures capable of reaching mammoth proportions were heavily over-fished, partly due to their lack of fear of humans and their curiosity. I guess you get that way when you can tip the scales at 680 pounds (Florida State Record). Many a diver in the presence of an enormous goliath has reported feeling like a Ritz cracker on a buffet table. During the 1970s and 1980s, goliath numbers plummeted. The U.S. began complete protection is 1990, with the Caribbean following suit in 1993. To the best of my knowledge, goliath grouper are still considered a critically endangered species by the World Conservation Union.

Today though, there is no question that goliath grouper numbers are on the rise; there is even talk of a limited harvest. For now though, catch and release is the only opportunity to go one-on-one with a shallow water giant that may weigh north of 500 pounds! This gives anglers a shot at enjoying a big game experience in shallow water seldom found anywhere else on the face of the planet.


Goliath garden:
Any shallow water guide working the Florida Keys or Southwest Florida territory worth his or her weight in salt will tell you respectable numbers of impressive goliath grouper inhabit many of their favorite shallow water structures. Old decayed wrecks and sharp ledges shadowing deep holes and caves in ten to twenty feet of water are favorite hangouts for these gentle giants. However, few places, at least to the best of my knowledge, hold as many gargantuan goliaths on such a consistent basis as the phosphate docks just off Gasparilla Island in Lee County, Florida. The phosphate docks were built last century to accommodate the mineral trade. Phosphate mined on the Florida mainland near Lakeland was shipped by rail car to the dock up until 1979 when the operation completely shut down. Frigates to steamships plied this dock in its heyday.

Over half of the original wooden structure has since been removed, decayed, or damaged by severe storms. What’s left is a perfect honey hole for these monsters, a goliath garden of sorts. As the water temperature rises into the high 70s in late April and early May, goliath, the largest of all grouper species, take up temporary residency and stay until the late fall. When the tide is rolling toward Charlotte Harbor, the hungry grouper lurk at the south end of the remaining weathered structure looking for tasty morsels floating by in the strong current. Basically, any life form large enough to fit in their cavernous mouths is fair game, with full grown snook, trout, and big jacks no exception. Goliaths have even been known to eat turtles. On the opposite tide, they stage on the north end of the structure with the same purpose in mind. Can you say, “Hog heaven!”

To win a battle with a fish that is as powerful as a tow-truck, specialized tools and techniques are required!
On that sunny morning in mid-May 2006, I was looking forward to catching a few chunky grouper and calling it a day. Little did I know that nine hours later I would have caught seven fish with a combined weight of over 1,500 pounds!

We started the day by netting a few dozen blue runners and then cruising for big ladyfish.  Captain Randy was right on the money when he said, “I bet you’ve never deliberately set out to catch ladyfish?” 

The bigger the better… four pounds are primo size. Huge rays fall into the category of being true goliath grouper candy, but they apparently are uncatchable when you target them specifically, yet as I have discovered over the years, they’re quite bountiful when I’m fishing for tarpon, permit, bonefish, etc. We ended up catching five ladyfish and Knowles had brought several frozen jumbo mullet just in case we ran dry. 

We motored up to the south end of the phosphate dock just before the incoming tide and set up shop. Mike, the first mate and Randy’s childhood friend, payed out the anchor line until we were within six to ten feet of the dock. Captain Randy looked me square in the eye and said that if I wasn’t careful, these powerful fish could easily break my hands…no kidding! He really got my attention when he showed me how to position the rod against his skiff’s poling platform. The correct technique is to firmly grasp the rod above or below the central sweet spot where the goliath could bring the rod down with enough force to crush my fingers, which brings me right to the specialized rod and reel setup that Captain Randy has perfected over the years. The stout stick is a five-and-a-half foot magic wand specially built by Gold Coast Custom Rod Company. It is a magnificent tool of reinforced lamiglass with extra heavy-duty hardware expertly designed to lift these brutes off the bottom. The tip is a swivel roller adaptation that allows the angler flexibility when a goliath turns left or right. Randy secures a safety line from rod and reel to boat in case the angler loses balance in this sumo style wrestling match.

The reel is a standard 114H Penn Senator. Nothing fancy but the reel deal, capable of winching several hundred pounds from the bottom… and often with the goliath wedged around a thick wooden piling. Of course, not any line will do. Captain Randy has tried everything from thick mono to ultra abrasion resistant super braids, and finally ended up with 462 lb. test aircraft cable- that’s right, 462-pound test! For terminal tackle, Randy utilizes 14/0 circle hooks with the barb ground down. The hook is attached to the line with stout double barrel leader sleeves carefully crimped on. This gear is no joke and is specifically designed for the sole purpose of quickly subduing even the largest beasts. The idea is not to exhaust the fish but rather to quickly win the tug-of-war so a healthy release can be ensured.  

Several other goliath warriors tried the dock during our full day excursion and no one even came close to bringing a goliath boat-side. The clear message: don’t go bear hunting with a pellet gun. 

Fast and furious is the only way to describe the action.
Here’s the trick. Standing next to the poling platform, Randy hooks on a four-pound ladyfish through the skull from below the mouth, and lobs it toward the base of the dock.  He gently bobs and bounces the bait on the bottom, about twelve feet deep on the south end- twenty-three feet deep on the north end, until he feels a tap, a surprisingly light tap from such a big fish, I might add. Then with wide eyes and a serious tone in his voice, he looks directly at the angler (in this case me) and shouts, “Watch your hands!” 

In one smooth motion, the rod and angler are smashed into the top of the poling platform. I’m sure this is exactly what it would feel like if you were to hook the end of your line to a freight train.  

Figure that you have about forty-five seconds to pull the goliath free of the dock, or he will wrap you mercilessly around a very stout wooden piling. If that happens, the fish now has a few seconds to find a way to gain some slack and loosen the circle hook in the corner of its mouth. He’s free and you’re now hooked up to a 100 year old piece of wood.  Seems like a fair wager. If you do get hooked to the dock, you have the option of gunning the boat forward in the hopes of the hook coming free, often miraculously not bent. Of fourteen hook-ups, we managed to haul in seven fish- and lose seven others…not a bad success ratio. I should add that none of the fish brought to the surface had tags. Trust me, we looked. An extensive tagging program has been ongoing in an effort to learn more about this slow growing, slow maturing, and highly valuable species. It’s unfortunate we weren’t able to provide any useful data.   

If you manage to stay connected long enough to lug the fish away from the dock, the captain quickly drives the boat forward, while the angler pulls and cranks with all his or her might. If all goes well, within a minute or two, the amazingly huge shadow of a super steamed goliath grouper with murder in its eyes appears behind the boat. After a few more minutes of forceful coercing, a large hand gaff leads the giant boat-side for hook removal, a few pictures, and a safe return to the harbor. This is absolutely intense!

It didn’t take me long to learn there isn’t anything quite like going head-to-head with such a beast of a fish. Once you’ve won your first battle with a great goliath, it’s hard to go back to anything else.

Keep in mind, for the time being, goliath grouper are totally protected. Until a limited harvest is available, each glorious goliath grouper, regardless of size, must be released unharmed. Many conservation minded anglers believe that until further notice, goliath grouper should not even be targeted. I, like Captain Randy Knowles, believe otherwise. There is absolutely no reason that if adequate tackle is utilized, and all the necessary measures are taken to insure safe and healthy releases, why a manageable catch and release fishery can’t be enjoyed. If you get the opportunity, check it out and decide for yourself.  

Interested in giving it a try?
Captain Randy Knowles is an all-around Florida inshore fishing guide, but his passion lies with goliath grouper. He knows exactly what he is doing and has specialized gear to get the job done! To contact Captain Randy, call 863-206-8588 or visit www.NoSlackCharters.com.

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