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10 Giant World-Record Groupers

10 of the largest grouper ever caught and approved as all-tackle records.

Grouper are among some of the toughest fighters in saltwater fishing. They’re naturally strong fish, but often it’s their pure size and weight that makes them difficult to land.

There are multiple species of grouper, but none are more popular than goliath grouper. This species of grouper can weight hundreds of pounds, and they’re often responsible for broken lines and lost tackle. Below is a collection of some of the biggest grouper ever caught, including a world record goliath grouper. You just might think twice about targeting giant grouper after seeing the photos in this list. These catches were approved as IGFA all-tackle world records.

No. 10 — 100-Pound Broomtail Grouper

biggest broomtail grouper ever caught 100 pounds
On Dec. 29, 1998, Ernesto Jouvin landed the biggest broomtail grouper ever caught and certified as an IGFA all-tackle record. He caught the big grouper off El Muerto Island, Ecuador, using a MirrOlure. Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org

No. 9 — 109-Pound Mottled Grouper

mottled grouper weighing 109 pounds, 9 ounces
Alberto Peralta boated a giant mottled grouper on Aug. 13, 1996, off the east side of Gibraltar (a small country located between Spain and Morocco). The grouper weighed 109 pounds, 9 ounces and was caught using a mackerel as bait. Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org

No. 8 — 113-Pound Gulf Grouper

113-pound gulf grouper
William Klaser landed the all-tackle record gulf grouper off Loreto in Baja California Sur, Mexico. The big fish weighed 113 pounds and was caught using a live mackerel on April 25, 2000. Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org

No. 7 — 121-Pound Mustache Grouper

121-pound, 4-ounce mustache grouper.
On New Year’s Day 1998, Charles-Antoine Roucayrol caught the all-tackle world-record mustache grouper. The 121-pound, 4-ounce fish was taken off Desroches Island, Seychelles, using a Kita lure. Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org

No. 6 — 124-Pound Black Grouper

124-pound black grouper caught using a bonito in the Gulf of Mexico
Fishing in the Gulf of Mexico off Texas, Tim Oesteich II reeled in a 124-pound black grouper. He caught the whopper using a bonito on Jan. 3, 2011. Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org

No. 5 — 171-Pound Potato Grouper

171-pound, 10-ounce potato grouper
On June 11, 2004, Takayuki Shibayama caught the record 171-pound, 10-ounce potato grouper. He caught the fish off Miyako Island in Okinawa, Japan. He was using a live snapper as bait. Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org

No. 4 — 264-Pound Convict Grouper (Mahata)

264-pound, 8-ounce convict grouper
Koji Yoshida caught the all-tackle record convict grouper off Yonaguni Island in Okinawa, Japan, on April 25, 2011. The astonishing 264-pound, 8-ounce grouper was fooled into taking a shad. Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org

No. 3 — 395-Pound Giant Grouper

295-pound, 11-ounce giant grouper off Latham Island, Tanzania
On March 4, 2012, Shayne Keith Nelson caught a monstrous giant grouper off Latham Island, Tanzania. The “giant” weighed 295 pounds, 11 ounces. It was hooked using a bonito as bait. Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org

No. 2 — 436-Pound Warsaw Grouper

436-pound, 12-ounce all-tackle world-record warsaw grouper
On Dec. 22 1985, Steve Haeusler landed the current, all-tackle world-record warsaw grouper. The huge 436-pound, 12-ounce fish was caught off Florida in the Gulf of Mexico. Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org

No. 1 — 680-Pound Goliath Grouper

680-pound goliath grouper aka jewfish
The heaviest grouper ever caught and certified as an IGFA world record was this 680-pound goliath grouper. The fish — then generally known as a jewfish — was caught on May 20, 1961, off Fernandina Beach, Florida, using a Spanish mackerel as bait. This particular species of grouper is considered endangered today and protected in the United States and Caribbean. Courtesy IGFA / igfa.org
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