Fisherman catches 'a big old
fish' weighing 350 pounds
off southwest Florida
CNN) A fish weighing 350 pounds was caught off southwest Florida, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said on Facebook.
The enormous fish, identified as a Warsaw grouper, was caught using a hook and line December 29 in about 600 feet of water, according to the FWC's Fish and Wildlife Research Institute.
Photos shared by the FWC on Facebook show the fish towering over a man standing beside it.
FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
on Friday
A big old fish!
This 350-lb Warsaw grouper was caught by hook-and-line on December 29th 2019, off Southwest Florida in ~600 ft of water. Biologists from FWRI’s Age & Growth Lab estimated the age of this fish at 50 years old, making this the oldest sample collected for our ageing program. Acquiring the otolith from this fish was extremely valuable as samples from larger and older fish are rare.
Warsaw are characterized by an elongated second dorsal spine. They’re the only grouper with 10 dorsal spines; all others have 11. Although adults usually occur in depths of 180-1700 ft, juveniles are occasionally seen around jetties and shallow-water reefs in the northern Gulf.
FWC does not encourage the targeting of Warsaw grouper since the status of the population in the Gulf is unknown.
"Biologists from FWRI's Age & Growth Lab estimated the age of this fish at 50 years old, making this the oldest sample collected for our ageing program," the FWC said. "Acquiring the otol9ith from this fish was extremely valuable as samples from larger and older fish are rare."
Otoliths are the hard structures located behind the brain of bony fishes, according to the FWC. They help fish hear, maintain balance and orient themselves. Scientists use the growth structure of otoliths to estimate a fish's age.
Warsaw groupers can grow to a length of 7.5 feet and weight of 580 pounds. The record for the largest one caught in Florida is nearly 440 pounds.
"Warsaw are characterized by an elongated second dorsal spine," the FWC said. "They're the only grouper with 10 dorsal spines; all others have 11. Although adults usually occur in depths of 180-1700 ft, juveniles are occasionally seen around jetties and shallow-water reefs in the northern Gulf."
The FWC said it "does not encourage the targeting of Warsaw grouper," as the species' population in the Gulf of Mexico isn't known.
-Justin Thyme-Two cents worth of opinion. You know I am an angler myself. And I catch fish to eat, not to taxidermy trophy. I loWarsaw groupers can grow to a length of 7.5 feet and weight of 580 pounds. The record for the largest one caught in Florida is nearly 440 pounds.
"Warsaw are characterized by an elongated second dorsal spine," the FWC said. "They're the only grouper with 10 dorsal spines; all others have 11. Although adults usually occur in depths of 180-1700 ft, juveniles are occasionally seen around jetties and shallow-water reefs in the northern Gulf."
The FWC said it "does not encourage the targeting of Warsaw grouper," as the species' population in the Gulf of Mexico isn't known.
-Justin Thyme-Two cents worth of opinion. You know I am an avid angler. And I fish for fish to eat, period. And I love grouper. And this beauty would fill up my whole chest deep freezer. But I would love to see the looks of the guy who cleans and fillets this. And the dude at the super market when you ask for tartar sauce in five gallon resealable buckets. 😲 Fish Fry Time!
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