Other divers and anglers claim the huge apex predators are competing with humans for snapper, spiny lobster and near inlets and bridges, snook. Some spearfishers and hook-and-line anglers have called for reopening harvest. Thanks to protection, their population has surged after nearly being wiped out by overfishing in the 1980s. It is possible to find them in 90 feet of water and shallower where they gather between Boynton Beach and Stuart. Here in Florida and especially along the Treasure Coast and in the Palm Beaches, the annual spawning aggregations of 20 to 100 of the giants in one spot at one time has become another diving ecotourism attraction between the months of July and October. They have been protected from all harvest in the United States since 1990. Worldwide overfishing has landed the large fish on many critically endangered lists.

The Goliath grouper, capable of growing to eight feet in length and reaching close to 1,000 pounds, typically spend much of their time alone or in small numbers on reefs and wrecks throughout the world's tropical and subtropical waters. Who wouldn't enjoy sitting down to a seafood dinner of fresh spiny lobster, tasty snapper or delicious snook? According to a study published last month by a Fort Pierce scientist, one of Florida's largest predators, the Goliath grouper, almost always passes on the highly sought seafood choices in favor of snacks that most divers and anglers would never seek.

Download goliath worms