Young Atlantic goliath groupers may live in brackish estuaries, oyster beds, canals, and mangrove swamps, which is unusual behavior among groupers. They may reach extremely large sizes, growing to lengths up to 2.5 m and can weigh as much as. The world record for a hook-and-line-captured specimen is, caught off Fernandina Beach, Florida, in 1961. They are usually around when mature. Considered of fine food quality, Atlantic goliath grouper were a highly sought-after quarry for fishermen. It is a relatively easy prey for spear fishermen because of the grouper's inquisitive and generally fearless nature. They also tend to spawn in large aggregations, returning annually to the same locations. This makes them particularly vulnerable to mass harvesting while breeding. Until a harvest ban was placed on the species, its population was in rapid decline. The fish is recognized as "vulnerable" globally and "endangered" in the Gulf of Mexico. It is entirely protected from harvest. The US began protection in 1990, and the Caribbean in 1993. The species' population has been recovering since the ban; with the fish's slow growth rate, however, some time will be needed for populations to return to their previous levels. Goliath groupers eat crustaceans, other fish, octopuses, young sea turtles, sharks, and barracudas. They are known to attack divers, and have even been seen attacking large lemon sharks.
Reproduction
Goliath groupers are believed to be protogynous hermaphrodites, which refer to organisms that are born female and at some point in their lifespans change sex to male. Most grouper follow this pattern, but this has not yet been verified for the goliath. Males can be sexually mature at about, and ages 4–6 years. Females mature around, and about 6–8 years.
Conservation
In May 2015, the Atlantic goliath grouper was successfully bred in captivity for the first time. Since Epinephelus itajara are Vulnerable it is important that conservation efforts for the E. itajara are focused on their habitat. Tidal pools act as nurseries for juvenile E. itajara. In tidal pools juvenile E.itajara are able to utilize rocky crevices for shelter. Besides shelter, tidal pools provide E. itajara with plenty of prey such as lobster and porcelain crab.
Parasites
As with other fish, the Atlantic goliath grouper is the host of several species of parasites, including the diplectanid monogenean Pseudorhabdosynochus americanus on its gills.
Etymology
The Atlantic goliath grouper has historically been referred to as the "jewfish". The name's origin is unclear. It may have referred to the fish's status as inferior leading it to be declared only suitable for Jews, or the flesh having a "clean" taste comparable to kosher food; it has also been suggested that this name is simply a corruption of jawfish or the Italian word for "bottom fish", giupesce. In 2001, the American Fisheries Society stopped using the term because of complaints that it was culturally insensitive.
