This entry was posted on Saturday, October 18th, 2008 at 11:09 pm and is filed under About, Adventure Cruises, Information, Sites, Snorkeling. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Photo Courtesy, Dr. Jack Randall/unknown
Dr. Randall says he has not yet seen a giant grouper (Ephinephelus lanceolatus) in Hawaiian waters and determines them to be extremely rare. The many conversations this author has had with local fishermen amounts to about the same information. The giant grouper, or Lance, as they are lovingly known by naturalists and scientists, have been hunted and fished to greatly reduced numbers.
These fish commence life as females, later changing to males as is necessary, and they are predators. Not a very fast animal, but a stealthy one who stalks and can take in a fish nearly as large as themselves. They also have a taste for crustaceans. Researchers tell us they can grow to a whopping 8 feet plus, and may weigh more than two hundred pounds. Sexual maturity for the giant grouper is at 3.5 feet in length, which means these fish are usually caught before they have a chance to reproduce. They are listed as an endangered species on the national IUCN Red List (http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/7858)
Would the average snorkeler or diver see a giant grouper? Probably not, but there is always the possibility of seeing something that amazes. What are you waiting for? Grab a towel, camera, and high expectations. Let’s go snorkel!
