WATCH "Our Goliath Wisdom" to learn what you can do to save Goliaths

[SpearMax]

TIME TO SPREAD THE WORD
Applications for limited recreational harvest of goliath grouper in state waters open Oct. 1*

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will begin accepting applications for the second annual limited harvest season of goliath grouper in state waters. Those interested can apply anytime from Oct. 1-15, 2023, for the upcoming 2024 season.

WATCH "Our Goliath Wisdom" to learn what you can do to save Goliaths

https://youtube.com/watch?v=7038napqqAQ&feature=shared

[North Star]

I hope you are feeling better Tony. I have been praying for your recovery.

[SpearMax]

Originally Posted by North Star

I hope you are feeling better Tony. I have been praying for your recovery.

Thanks Max!

[SpearMax]

My graphic of the data supports the decline as collected by FIU

Huge groupers, the joy of Florida divers, are now 'vulnerable'

https://phys.org/news/2023-09-huge-g...da-divers.html

[SpearMax]

The nonscientist author of the article explained a decline is happening at the same time as FWC is opening up fishing. It did not say there was a cause and effect.

The REEF organization has been documenting this for quite a while as shown by the attached chart showing the decline in population over Decades of REEF counting Data.

On top of this, the scientisIs I volunteer with and the divers at the various spawning aggregation sites are reporting declines in spawning counts from these fish which have high site fidelity where they return to the same sign year after year to spawn. It does not take a rocket scientist to figure if there is a decline in spawning numbers whatever the reason, there will be a decline in spawned juvenile fish inevitably.

[SpearMax]

To better understand the role of spawning site fidelity in the movement of Goliath groupers, please read my friend Dr Bob Ellis's paper attached. Bob just published it and is one of the lead scientists who works on Goliath groupers for FWC. He works for their research arm on the west coast of Florida. Bob and I go back a long way when he was frequently on my boats as a graduate student of Florida State University.

[jfjf]

Originally Posted by SpearMax

My graphic of the data supports the decline as collected by FIU

Huge groupers, the joy of Florida divers, are now 'vulnerable'

Yeah they certainly have brought me "joy" on so many occasions .

Glad to see you back on line Tony

https://youtu.be/W-3cBHxa4f0?si=dMoGhzW_LfODEIha

[SEATUX]

Originally Posted by jfjf

Yeah they certainly have brought me "joy" on so many occasions .

Glad to see you back on line Tony

https://youtu.be/W-3cBHxa4f0?si=dMoGhzW_LfODEIha

[sacha58]

It is great to see you back on these pages, Tony! All my best wishes for a great recovery.

[Diverboy067]

Originally Posted by SpearMax

My graphic of the data supports the decline as collected by FIU

Huge groupers, the joy of Florida divers, are now 'vulnerable'

https://phys.org/news/2023-09-huge-g...da-divers.html

Decline my ass…..come to the Tampa Bay Area and I can take you to several spots and show you the invasion of them. I’ll give you a list of 30 numbers, you pick any 10 and we’ll dive them and I guarantee you’ll see a Goliath on at least 8 of the 10 dives and you will see no less than 20 total. Many spots you’ll see 4-5 or more….there isn’t any shortage of them.