I was snorkeling there once — first time I ever snorkeled. Peering into a patch of seaweed on a buoy anchor, looking for the quaint little sea creatures, I found my face inches from a gaping mouth big enough to fit my head and shoulders. I could feel the suction as it opened and closed. I heard gurgling scream noises reminiscent of the “Jaws” movie; they were mine. But wait. How could a face this big be on a fish in such a small patch of seaweed? I backed off, and circle the seaweed; sure enough, this fish had no body — it was just a big mouth with fins and a tail. “Goliath Grouper” they told me. It’s lucky I wasn’t hungry.
No spearing of Goliath Grouper or Nassau Grouper allowed in Florida. Protected species.