(07-20-2025, 08:54 PM)FCD Wrote: You know, today I wouldn't have won that same fishing contest with the Grouper like I did back then. Nobody knew it then, but the class of "Grouper" (the fish) was actually several different kinds of fish. Heck, I didn't know it then either. So, what had happened was, I had caught a fish in a different class than regular reef Grouper. Reef Gouper max out around 20-25 lbs (I think), and the Goliath Grouper is still considered a 'juvenile' at 20 lbs. Even back then, the fish I caught were referred to slightly differently...they were called "Jewfish", but that moniker went away long ago as a Politically Incorrect term. Not sure why they were called that, but it had nothing to do with 'Jews'. I'm sure there was some reason, but I don't know what it was. It was thought (then) that they were just a really huge variety of Grouper. So, today Goliath Grouper aren't even a class (or legal) so I wouldn't be allowed to enter it.
Irony and changing times, I guess.
"jewfish" or Jewies as we tagged them years ago were a much sought after catch. Have caught a few back in the day. Now known as "Mulloway" Bigger fish hovered around pylons of bridges where I used to fish as a kid. Other times off the beaches. They are a silver, large scaled fish. Very good table quality. I don't know what you call them in America. Of course over time the tagged name changed. Not related to groper.
Also known for a good fight from down deep.
Kind regards,
Bally)