The last place one would expect to catch a 350-pound goliath grouper was from a dock, but that’s exactly what veteran fisherman Joshua Jorgensen did this week in Florida, and he captured it in video.
Jorgensen—the originator of YouTube’s BlacktipH Fishing show based in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.—had been fishing with Capt. Preston Muller from Gulf Angler Fishing Charters in Destin, Fla.
They were trying to catch swordfish but only caught squid all day. After not getting any fish, they returned to the dock and started cleaning the squid.
“A bunch of jack crevalles show up and he decided to catch one,” Jorgensen told USA Today/For The Win Outdoors. “While he was reeling in the jack, this massive goliath grouper came from out of nowhere and tried to eat his jack.
“I ran to the boat, grabbed my big-game rod, tied on a rig and ran back to catch the grouper.”
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The behemoth fish took the bait and the fight was on. Muller held Jorgensen from behind to ensure he wasn’t pulled in. Soon he had the fish to the dock. He then jumped into the water for some photos before unhooking the fish and watching it swim off.
“This is the biggest fish I’ve ever caught from a dock,” said Jorgensen, who estimated the weight of the fish. “I didn’t know goliath groupers this big were in marinas.”
Photos courtesy of Joshua Jorgensen.
