Super Grouper - Full Episode

Florida’s underwater giants are back! After years of over-harvesting, Goliath Grouper have made a noticeable resurgence off of Florida’s coasts. Changing Seas joins scientists in the field as they study the life history of these awe-inspiring fish. Their goal is to gain a better understanding of the species and the obstacles it faces on the road to full recovery.
Weighing up to a thousand pounds and reaching seven feet in length, Goliath Grouper, Epinephelus itajara, are the Atlantic Ocean’s largest species of fish in the sea bass family. Formerly known as Jewfish, years of over-harvesting severely reduced the Goliath’s numbers, and in 1990 the fishery was closed in U.S. waters. Since then, the species has had time to slowly regenerate in Florida and the fish are once again seen on popular dive sites, especially in the summertime when the animals aggregate to spawn.
But this recovery hasn’t been a welcome sight to all - some recreational fishermen believe goliath grouper are devouring popular game fish, and that it is time to re-open the fishery. Scientists, however, have conducted studies on the grouper’s diet and determined that their main source of food is crustaceans - and not other groupers and snappers. Researchers say it’s too early to re-open the fishery. While they are encouraged by the goliath’s recovery in Florida, the fish remain critically endangered throughout the rest of their range.
Learn more at www.changingseas.tv or changingseas

[@JennaEmbers]

Don is absolute legend for what he did for these fish. The fact that he fished but then saw the impact it was having & decided to try & save them from extinction - what a great human.

[@mondraymondo]

Aah a PBS documentary specifically about groupers!? I love this and the channel!

[@natep0611]

THANKS FOR GOOD PEOPLE!! Helping this beautiful, magnificent fish survive!!

[@BLAZENYCBLACKOPS]

“Spear fisherman and reel fishermen think that the Goliath Grouper is destroying the ecosystem”, lol, you know what the Goliath Grouper thinks about them, likewise, lol.

[@boogle785]

Many years ago I dived on the wreck of the quetta when visiting Australia. The biggest fish I have ever seen. It could have swallowed 2 of me at once. It was like a bison with flippers !

[@otisluciano6368]

instablaster

[@Semmydagee]

Indonesian - Australia yes Beach

[@michellehaywood9781]

I love the footage and the narrator sounds familiar...I believe he narrates for murder cases...awesome..ty!!..☺

[@acojankovic3709]

Yes sir forensic Files

[@John14-6-iamtheway]

I agree these beautiful friendly grouper need to be protected. I grew up in Fortlaudale Lauderdale Florida they were scarcely seen and we dove constantly. They were known to not have much value, they were full of worms in their fillets.

[@nonamenoname9322]

These groupers are massive because they are filled with curiosity and kindness towards humans.

[@XyYx-on1gl]

No Name No Name， could you explain further in detail about the groupers‘ massive size related to curiosity and kindness towards humans？

[@HighlanderNorth1]

@@XyYx-on1gl 🤔As a self-proclaimed expert marine biologist, let me explain what he meant.... You see, its my theory that the grouper feed on crustaceans which are filled with "kindness chemicals". The grouper extract these kindness chemicals and convert them into physical mass. More kindness = more size. Makes perfect sense, right?? (Lets hope not)! Lol 😁

[@chrishaapala7997]

@@HighlanderNorth1 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@stevenphelps7929]

Appreciate you for saving this beautiful species big guys. Blessings to you all.

[@sharonkaczorowski8690]

Groupers were around when I was a kid. I’m in my seventies. Never heard they ate everything on a reef…humans always think any large animals competes with their fun.

[@shadowcat314]

they spawn on very dark nights **proceeds to shine a very bright spotlight on them to see if they are spawning*

[@grey8771]

Just gotta put a bunch of torches down in the area. Creeps don't spawn in torchlight.

[@rikumaruya3170]

@@grey8771 Fortnite🤪

[@doggmansnapperdude3405]

It’s no different than a largemouth bass just much much bigger and in saltwater and they are beautiful to me for some reason just plain powerful swallow food whole ultimate predator.

[@alikhan7903]

I guess the small fish stays around this big fish because they feel safe?

[@arcreactor-ti9kk]

Likes to live in den/cave, likes to boom(roar), huge like the king of the forest, ITS LITERALLY THE LION OF THE OCEAN

[@wendyshoo3476]

Golite is simply angiant awesome fish you don't want to eat but want to admire.

[@HighlanderNorth1]

✔️Just heard about him for the first time tonight, but already that guy is my hero! Great work!👍

[@tidepods9985]

What’s funny is we just are naming fish anything we want haha

[@deviliantoyap]

Wow 1:08 blacktiph fishing

[@markgordon1665]

one of the most fearless fish in the sea,once it's over 100lb, approach with tactical caution 😕and it eats everything in it's path,shark doesn't even mess with them 😓😨☠

[@molanlabexm15]

A predatory fish with revenge on its mind and a fisherman turned informant. Can a group of Marine Biologists plot their next move before its too late?

[@Slipmahoney21]

They are all over the east coast of Florida, and they are most definitely not endangered there. They are among the most seen/ abundant fish you see when you dive or snorkel.

[@Julianuribe23]

Did you miss the part that where they say goliaths haven't recovered anywhere within its natural range except Florida? Pay attention

[@zymphad7377]

Fishermen: Grouper eating our fish! Reality: Fishermen are the destroyers.

[@feldyfreediving]

Nice video....

[@NoName-rg3np]

Any angler complaining about the opportunity to catch a grouper responsibly isn't an angler.

[@tolget4684]

Beautiful animal. Man must learn to coexist with nature better or it's gonna get real bad for the future generations.

[@scottyeomans2111]

It's already bad for us lol

[@Alex-pn9hp]

Already is as you can see now in the future haha

[@Dazhimself]

Ohh imagine a fish coming back and eating its own food.. Us poor humans complaining about that haha

[@lynderherberts2828]

I love grouper.

[@GladiatorsBoy]

Love the title. One of my favourite ABBA songs.

[@jayfigg7981]

they get to know you too and will play

[@Renelsrhythm]

What's keeping the Goliath from eating people?

[@mitchell3306]

I saw groupers in GTMO Bay around the river inlet that were well in exess of 10 ft long

[@rashanterogers3711]

Side note is that Peter Thomas the narrator of forensic files

[@1337fraggzb00N]

"Super Grouper beams are gonna blind me But I won't feel blue Like I always do 'Cause somewhere in the crowd there's you" **ba dum tss**

[@IllaLuna17]

This fisher men just want to start fishing the groupers! They are finding reason to have them the banned lifted. Disgusting humans!

[@johnbrownell1018]

Thanks for the information

[@brucelee5576]

Humans overfish deplete ocean and blames it on Groupers.

[@erickulakovich7303]

Cause of people like this eere seeing goliaths in northern florida

[@ronaldosouza9618]

Boa tarde para o canal no limite da pesca. Abraços mestre Jeová esse jovem guerreiro pescar, seus filhos Evandro e Francisco da família Nojosa. Que o Senhor Deus continue abençoando e protegendo todos pescadores do Ceará, Bahia, e Brasil. Manda um alô pra Naldo de Salvador Bahia, comunidade da Massaranduba.

[@MisfitsFiendClub138]

Biggest threat to prized reef fish is the out of control population of invasive lionfish

[@rodrigosalom3822]

N p k ganda ng inang kalikasan mahalin sna natin at irespeto ang mga bagay at nilalang n nabubuhay sa anomang anyo ng tubig. Ang tubig ang kanilang mundo

[@nikimjohnson2439]

Am I the only one who was waiting to hear prosecutor's believe 🤔 (forensic files joke)

[@criaturaz6155]

E um louco umdememte cbegar perto de um bicho deses

[@trustno1192]

ive had a few groupies in my day..

[@steffensamlal1854]

🤔🤣😂🤣😂🤣

[@ermac6466]

IS this forensic files why is the narrator here?

[@redbloodedhardworkingameri6958]

I love how people know what's best for a fish under water hum.. leave them alone should humans be depopulated?? I didn't think so

[@sackfu7952]

Excuse me, did he just say the grouper used to be called the "jew fish" wtf? i'm sure i heard that wrong but what did he say?

[@spearbelize]

people still call them jew fish

[@WoogieBoogie96]

They were called Jewfish for hundreds of years until political correctness forced a change over the objections of most knowledgeable Jews! There is still Jewfish Creek in the northern Keys.

[@struggle-dad6715]

Yup, he said it

[@Yourmom-wm8oo]

Why do people feel like they need to interfere with nature. Get over yourselves and leave them alone. Jesus

[@steffensamlal1854]

So it's been 30 years now since the ban, y'all wanna ban chicken to🤔 there is other fish we can eat, let them thrive so they can be there for the future

[@natalieguti7414]

I dreamed lastnight with this fish..it was real real big..

[@Frankfurter1982]

They need to be protected, also from gossip claiming that they would attack people. ridiculous. The fishes they allegedly eat have been harvestes by the fishermen themselves...

[@WoogieBoogie96]

I must admit this was an interesting video, but a bit dated. There are many juvenile goliaths in the mangroves in the Indian River Lagoon, especially south of the Sebastian River. Based on my observations, there are presently more of these animals now, than back in the 50s when my dad fished for them on occasion. I have also learned off East Central Florida, see goliath grouper, see NO LOBSTER!!! Caves that used to house big lobster, now house goliath grouper.

[@dr.funkinstine4465]

So did anyone else get the feeling that the grouper was convicted because of forensic science?

[@c150gpilot]

"The harvest of this species" You cannot say "harvest" where you do not sow.

[@tahupotikihaddon2967]

The very ones who nearly destoyed them are trying to save them

[@luc5731]

Black drum make that sound 2

[@nonamenoname9322]

Florida should make them a state fish, that way they’d have guaranteed protection forever!

[@michaetsully87]

A thirty three year moratorium is absolutely absurd

[@jackoneill8719]

Can I eat it?

[@garykay7418]

goliath groupers existed for centuries and didn't hurt other fish populations then. i think the lionfish are the culprit for wiping out other fishes. maybe the goliath will be the solution to the lionfish overpopulation problem.

[@uruvilaathakarjanan9996]

👍🏾🙏🏽

[@irobott3713]

5:05 Conch - slang term for native Bahamians of European descent

[@estelitamartinez8367]

That is GOD CREATIONS DIFFERENT FISH AS WE ARE PEOPLE'S DIFFERENT. LOOK

[@natep0611]

LOVE THE NARRATION, BUT WAS SCARED TO DEATH I WAS GOING TO WITNESS, AN ACTUAL MURDER!😅👍. Anyone that watches “FORENSIC FILES” WILL UNDERSTAND! 😂👍👍💯

[@berkslaw]

eh.

[@patriarchparamour]

I’m glad I wasn’t the only one who noticed haha

[@MenCanNotBeWomen]

the eco system was fine when humans were not around.. the groupers did what they did. long before humans arrived... and every thing was fine and dandy.

[@michaelwescott8064]

what eats them besides people? I imagine a pod of orcas showing up would thin them out.

[@malcolmdeboo3794]

It’s ok for us to drain the seas of fish / whales but then the grouper get blamed for clearing the reefs 🤔

[@dannydaniels5837]

who are we to decide what can be and what cannot? this planet was fine until we showed up!

[@jjmccloud]

I think our reefs have many other man caused or made issues before the Goliath is responsible for

[@dannydaniels5837]

man is the only animal that needs to be over fished!

[@scottyeomans2111]

Imagine humans thinking they have a right to another species because it's possibly effecting their fishing. Smh

[@peppitachips1764]

California giant Black Sea bass has the same story but people still poach them

[@AngelRivera-wp9bg]

Eating everything on the reef. I think they were their before being almost exterminated.

[@Julianuribe23]

Someone didn't watch the video

[@StarlightEater]

Yay for Jewfish! Go forth my brothers! #catchandrelease baby!

[@skyhighpizza1577]

The grouper needs to join an I’ve been abducted support group

[@SolachiVoz]

marine forensic files

[@jayfigg7981]

just scrapethe crud off the bottom of your boat you will likely get a visit

[@stevenphelps7929]

This is the most beautiful fish I've ever seen. All Groupers should be illegal for many more years to come. I hope the foreign countries do the same, China and Japan, etc.

[@BLAZENYCBLACKOPS]

I’m sorry but China has no respect for anything living or dead, and that’s not an attack on Chinese culture it’s just a reality.

[@stevenphelps7929]

True!! No lie about this.

[@scotcolt2421]

This is why I don't like Spearing or Netting Fish . . .

[@person390]

Please don't reopen the season on this species . I see anglers catch Goliath grouper on KZbin using lobster and other game fish as bait . No gamefish should ever be used as bait whether salt or fresh. Mostly breaking them off . I watched one fellow break off 3 before he landed one . This is very common to see .Fishing laws very throughout the United States. In New York it is eleagle to fish for a species out of it's season intenchinaly . If the season is reopened then a tag lottery should be considered for the harvest of these fish at a very limited number . Aggressive action should be taken on any violations .

[@johngramere9434]

I want to go fishing at this spot so bad

[@joshuareglin9711]

These are babys compared to the Queensland grouper...

[@Speedospearo]

This is the largest grouper.. sorry

[@joshuareglin9711]

@@Speedospearo standard recorded size for a goliath 2.5m weight 360 kg standard recorded size for are Queensland grouper 2.7m weight 400kg.. did you mean largest in the Atlantic?

[@Speedospearo]

@@joshuareglin9711 he New York Times reported in 1895 that a fisherman caught a 1,500-pound Goliath grouper in the Gulf of Mexico.

[@WhopperWednesday]

a fine ? the money only goes to the government

[@maxun1]

Dive and spear fish in the keys for 20 years, leave the jew fish grouper along, is so beautiful fish will be criminal to kill them. Buy a cup of soup, and let the fish live, his been there for thousands of years

[@capo4742]

They are shy because the ones that werent got fished out, 😂.

[@WoogieBoogie96]

Very interesting video. Thanx for posting. We've been catching juvenile goliath grouper in the Indian River Lagoon for at least 10 years. Yes Sack fu, Jews gave the fish the name Jewfish many years ago as it was a clean fish that Jews preferred. Political correctness by a vocal minority forced the name change! There is still Jewfish Creek in Monroe County, (Keys) Fl.

[@bobbysmith5642]

Jewfish are not endangered at all. Every time i am spearfishing, I see hundreds of those yummy fish you cannot take. They eat all of the big fish that you can take! We used to keep one a year when I was a kid. It was almost an entire years worth of grouper for a family of four. They really should open it back up with a one per boat limit, and no commercial. Have FWC vigorously enforce the limit. Don't follow the laws... loose everything you own with mandatory prison sentences. Why are they breaking the law on video? they are not allowed to be taken out of the water if caught under current law. Then proceed to admit breaking the law thousands of times! If you are going to commit a crime... never film it!

[@jjmccloud]

Aren't they full of mercury anyway why eat them lmao

[@WoogieBoogie96]

Allow me to add that some 5 years after this video was posted, this grouper has taken over many of the ledges and reef off East Central Florida. See a goliath grouper, and see NO lobster for hundreds of feet in both directions of the ledge! A limited, controlled harvest is in the best interest of managing this species. I believe there are far more now than there were back in the 50s & 60s when my father fished for them. Bang sticks were the reason for the almost demise of the species. The closure was completely justified, as is a limited harvest now!!!

[@Well_Edumacated]

this is the most ass backwards logic i've ever heard. The only animal that has increased in population is HUMAN BEINGS. Maybe people should EAT LESS LOBSTERS, there is no reason for people to be "catching in their limit' every time they go out looking for lobsters. Nor should they be keeping the biggest lobsters they can find. Human Beings are an INVASIVE SPECIES and it is beyond stupid to blame the decline in lobsters on the groupers, the ocean is THEIR NATURAL habitat. Human Beings are the reason for most if not all modern extinctions and the overall decline in animal populations. Farming is the only thing that's gonna save these animals cause people like you aren't gonna stop eating them.

[@camillehall3118]

Who gives a s*** about what spearfisher people who fish for fun really thinks

[@jasonlockhart4647]

These people have no idea what they're talking about this fish is absolutely devastating the reefs in South Florida

[@thinkcivil1627]

The sad part is that people continue to fish for them. Even though it is catch and release, the stress of catching a large fish kills too many for that practice to continue. We see a similar situation on Lake Superior with the few areas where the very large native lake trout can still be found (often called "redfins"). Slot limits have helped, but it takes 7 years before these very slow growing fish mature to spawn and a 40 inch fish is often older than the fishermen who catch them. They move to relatively shallow underwater reefs in the fall to spawn, where they are found in greater numbers and encounter heavier fishing pressure. I've been in some of the more popular spots after a heavy period of fishing, before the season closes, and too many of these fish can be seen dead on the bottom in the crystal clear water. With fish that are this slow growing, like the goliath grouper, they are in danger of being over harvested and it takes a generation for the population to return, if it ever does.

[@chronicawareness9986]

i wish we could hunt manatees

[@MH-uc7zt]

If the case was that the Goliath grouper is eating everything on the reef, how is it that for millions of years they lived in harmony with all other sea life in their ecosphere of existence. No, Man is the meddler in the ecosystem, through overfishing and mismanagement of the worlds Oceans, Lakes & Rivers. The Grouper becomes the fishermans enemy after they have depleted fish stocks so badly the grouper becomes an unwanted competitor for what's left...Just pathetic!

[@lukejonesdagoat2588]

I made this have 69 likes. Ur welcome

[@phillipbrewster969]

There no longer endangered they should regulate harvesting like they do giant tuna

[@jeffsartadventure3634]

Studying the fish by chopping parts off their bodies.. This video is horrible,from the initial "sportsman" extermination to the recovery efforts nearly as brutal. Just gross how humans interact with the natural world.

[@ninorishmague1432]

I didn’t k kw the environment recovering, was bad for the environment. What a stupid thing to say

[@roncallies6370]

what a load of bs

[@stevenphelps7929]

I hope they never catch anymore ,even if they lift the band on them.

[@lynderherberts2828]

Ew! The narrator sounds just like the narrator of a crime show that I watched many years ago.