Fish

Pacific goliath grouper (mero guasa)

Mero guasa del Pacífico

Epinephelus quinquefasciatus

SaltwaterBrackish

At a glance

Typical size

50–200 lb.

Depth

5–300 ft.

Best time

Any time.

Found in

5 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: Giant grouper with a broad, heavy body, a wide flat head, tiny eyes, rounded fins and a brownish-yellow to olive color with dark bars and small black spots.
Typical size: 50–200 lb.
Maximum size: About 8 ft and several hundred pounds.
Diet: Crabs, lobsters, fish, rays and octopus.
Behavior: Slow-moving and curious; lives in caves, ledges, wrecks and river mouths. Young fish live in mangroves.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from Baja & Sea of Cortez, Pacific Mexico, Pacific Central America, Pacific Colombia & Ecuador and Peru. Rocky reefs, wrecks, mangrove estuaries and river mouths from the Gulf of California to Peru.
Habitat: Rocky reefs, wrecks, mangrove estuaries and river mouths from the Gulf of California to Peru.
Depth: 5–300 ft.
Fishing depth: 20–100 ft.
Best season: All year.
Best time: Any time.
Best tides: Moving tide.
Best weather / conditions: Calm seas.

What to tie on and what to throw.

The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.

Also at Bass Pro Shops: Rod Reel Line Hooks Sinkers Gloves

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Step by step, from first cast to landing.

Go where it lives: Rocky reefs, wrecks, mangrove estuaries and river mouths from the Gulf of California to Peru.
Rig up: Very heavy gear (130 lb class or more). 200–400 lb mono or cable.
Pick your bait: Big live or cut fish. Lures: Rarely.
Fish it: Most are caught by accident while fishing big baits for other fish; if one eats, release it in the water.
Time it: Any time. Moving tide.

Fishing techniques: Most are caught by accident while fishing big baits for other fish; if one eats, release it in the water.
BigJoe's tip: Don't pull a giant grouper out of the water — the weight can hurt its organs.
Catch and release: Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Is it good to eat, and how to prepare it.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Huge and powerful; it can pull you overboard. Big fish may carry ciguatera in some areas.
Regulations: Little is known about its numbers (data deficient), and goliath groupers are easily overfished; several countries restrict or protect it. Release it and check local rules. Rules vary by country: Mexico requires a CONAPESCA sport fishing license for everyone aboard a fishing boat, Costa Rica requires an INCOPESCA license, and Panama, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru set their own rules. Many islands and coasts (Coiba, Isla del Coco, Malpelo, Gorgona, the Galápagos and others) are marine parks with strict limits or no fishing.
Conservation: Like the Atlantic goliath, it was likely overfished in many places.

Tap an area to open its fishing map.

Sources & photo credits