06 February 2024 , 19:17
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A school student has landed a fish weighing more than a fully grown man after the fishing trip of a lifetime to a beach in Florida.
The fish, estimated to weigh about 250 pounds or 18 stone, was caught by 17-year-old high school student Isaac Francis who hauled the monster ashore at Turtle Beach in Sarasota.
Isaac’s father described how the fishing line belonging to his son, who is a junior at Riverview High School, went tight, starting an epic battle to land the nearly 250-pound goliath grouper.
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Dad Stu Francis told local reporters that his son described the catch as “lucky” - though he put it down to skill and years of fishing experience, saying his son starting to fish at an early age.
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Isaac was with some school friends who helped him catch the massive fish (Stu Francis via FOX 13 in Tampa)Isaac, who has been an avid fisherman since he was young, was at the beach along with several friends from Riverview High School when he hooked the beast, and they helped him to bring it ashore.
Goliath grouper, which at one time were called "jewfish," must be released alive, unharmed and with proper fish handling techniques, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s website says.
Pulling the massive fish from the water is not permitted, the commission says, as the fish’s skeletal structure cannot support its massive weight outside the water, and it could sustain fatal injuries.
Although massive, the 250 pound monster is nowhere near the biggest of its kind (Stu Francis via FOX 13 in Tampa)Juvenile goliath grouper are notable for the bands or stripes visible on their sides, these can fade as the fish grow older however. Although 250 pounds is huge for a fish, Isaac’s catch is far from the biggest goliath grouper caught in the state - Florida state record for a goliath fish was set in 1961 when a 680 pounder was caught off Fernandina Beach.
In other areas the fish have been known to reach 800 pounds and can grow to over 8 feet in length.
Florida high schooler Isaac Francis has been an avid fisherman since he was small (Stu Francis via FOX 13 in Tampa)According to the Florida museum: "This large, solitary fish will defend its territory when threatened, with aggressive body language and a rumbling sound it makes with its swim bladder. Its large, thick, elongated body can grow to over 8 feet long (and up to 800 pounds), from rounded snout and small eyes, to short, fan-like tail fin.
"Usually it is a mottled yellow-brown to grey with darker bard and spots, ideal for blending in to their rocky coral and muddy inshore habitat. Although most groupers start out as females and become males later in life, there is still some debate as to goliath groupers being protogynous hermaphrodites."