Came across a beautiful Black Grouper while free diving on one of the many reefs just southeast of Miami, Florida. The second the wise giant saw me, he took off and didn’t stop for what felt like an eternity. Must have followed him a hundred yards from the boat, losing and finding him several times, before he finally stopped for a breather and I was able to bring down my heart rate and calmly approach for a near perfect head shot.
I don’t often take grouper from the ocean, especially in Miami waters where they’re under more pressure from fisherman. My personal rule of thumb is to let a grouper live unless it would surpass my personal best for the species.
This beast of a fish met the criteria and provided an unforgettable experience while feeding many friends and family for days. 26 pounds when weighed in at the dock, my personal best to date :)
