Every late summer, Florida’s wrecks come alive with the ocean’s gentle giants.
From August through early October, divers in Palm Beach County are treated to one of the most spectacular underwater events in the world, the Goliath Grouper aggregation. These massive fish, weighing up to 800 pounds, travel from far and wide to gather on our local reefs and wrecks for their annual spawning season.
Two of the best places to witness this are the Corridor Wreck Trek off West Palm Beach and the Jupiter Wreck Trek just to our north. Here, dozens of Goliath's can be seen in one dive, stacked around wreck structures, hovering effortlessly in the current, and occasionally booming with their signature “bark.”
Beyond their impressive size, Goliath Groupers haven’t had an easy journey. Once over-fished to the brink of extinction, their numbers began to rebound in the 1990s thanks to strict protections. However, a severe cold snap in 2010, combined with red tide events and other environmental stressors, appears to have slowed that recovery, a trend reflected in the reduced grouper density at aggregation sites.
Today, the Goliath Grouper is listed as vulnerable, meaning they still have a long way to go. They stand as a powerful reminder of how much influence we have over our oceans, and that through continued support, education, and ethical practices, we can help our reefs not only recover, but truly thrive.
