Atlantic Goliath Grouper
Epinephelus itajara
Sighting evidence at City of New York, North Carolina
Photo: victorbach · CC BY-NC
Critically important to reef ecosystem function, Atlantic goliath grouper visit the City of New York in summer months as part of their pre-spawning aggregation movements along the Carolina coast. These massive fish, which can exceed 300 kg, are apex predators capable of consuming lobster, stingray, and even small sharks. Once hunted to near-extinction, they are now a protected species and their increasing presence on North Carolina wrecks reflects a slow but measurable recovery.
Evidence at this site
No confirmed records on file at this site
Atlantic Goliath Grouper is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.