Fisherman Captures Extremely Rare 350-Pound 50-Year-Old Giant Fish Whose Population Is Still Unknown
An extremely rare 350-pound grouper, which is around 50 years old, was captured off the coast of Florida.
The fish was caught by a fisherman with just a hook and line.
Authorities believe the fish is around 50 years old, making the fish as the oldest-known specimen to be caught in the state.
The massive Warsaw grouper was caught on December 29, 2019.
Biologists with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute age tested the grouper’s otolith.
The biologists used the calcium carbonate bone structure of the fish to help determine the age and environmental conditions of a fish.
Adult Warsaw groupers are a mottled brown color with 10 dorsal spines.
The fish are a solitary species, usually living in the within depths of 200 to 1,700 feet.
The 50-year-old grouper was caught in waters roughly 600 feet.
Younger groupers are occasionally spotted in shallow waters reefs and jetties throughout the southern Gulf of Mexico.
The fish was caught in Desting, with whopping 436-pounds, making it the record holder of the state size record.
An image was shared with the catch.
The FWC (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission) accompanied the post with a photograph of Jason Boyll, an amateur fisherman from the southwestern Siesta key.
In the picture, the fisherman is standing next to his catch, which is way taller and larger than him.
Boyll reportedly caught the grouper fish off the west coast of Florida on December 29, 2019, at the depth of 600 feet.