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Goliath Grouper

Epinephelus itajara

Fish · family Epinephelidae · order Perciformes

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G3: vulnerable[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G3 Vulnerable[2]
Native in
5 states[3]

The Goliath Grouper (Epinephelus itajara) is a fish in the family Epinephelidae[4]. NatureServe ranks it G3 (Vulnerable) worldwide, and it is native to five US states and territories[2][3].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the Goliath Grouper a global rank of G3, which means Vulnerable[2]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is also Vulnerable[5]. In USFWS data, the fish is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe estimates the global adult population at 2500 to 1,000,000 individuals[6].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G3 (Vulnerable)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[5] Vulnerable
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[6] 2500 to 1,000,000 individuals

Where Goliath Grouper lives

NatureServe lists the Goliath Grouper as native in Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Texas[3]. NatureServe also gives each of these five states its own conservation rank[7]. GBIF observation records come mostly from Florida, Texas and North Carolina, but these counts follow where people look and report, not how many fish live there[8].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: not recordedMEWisconsin: not recordedWIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: not recordedNHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: not recordedMNIllinois: not recordedILMichigan: not recordedMINew York: not recordedNYMassachusetts: not recordedMAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: not recordedSDIowa: not recordedIAIndiana: not recordedINOhio: not recordedOHPennsylvania: not recordedPANew Jersey: not recordedNJConnecticut: not recordedCTRhode Island: not recordedRICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: not recordedNEMissouri: not recordedMOKentucky: not recordedKYWest Virginia: not recordedWVVirginia: not recordedVAMaryland: not recordedMDDelaware: not recordedDEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: not recordedKSArkansas: not recordedARTennessee: not recordedTNNorth Carolina: not recordedNCSouth Carolina: native, state rank S1SCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: not recordedOKLouisiana: native, state rank S1LAMississippi: native, state rank SUMSAlabama: not recordedALGeorgia: not recordedGAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S4TXFlorida: native, state rank S3FLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[7].
Show state ranks (5 states)
StateRankMeaning
FloridaS3Vulnerable
LouisianaS1Critically Imperiled
MississippiSUUnrankable
South CarolinaS1Critically Imperiled
TexasS4Apparently Secure

Habitat

NatureServe records bays and sounds, lagoons, forested wetlands and near shore waters as habitat[9]. Young fish are often found among mangroves, and both young and adult fish live in bays and harbors[10]. Large adults also turn up offshore around wrecks and areas of high relief, and they seem to stay within small home ranges[10]. The fish is usually found in shallow water, though man-made and sunken reefs at depths of 30 to 35 m are also used[10].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[9]

Life history

NatureServe notes say the Goliath Grouper eats mainly crustaceans[11]. The facts for this page do not give its size, lifespan or how it raises young.

When to look for it

GBIF records of the Goliath Grouper in the United States are highest in June, July and August[12]. These records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[12].

January: 44 recordsJanFebruary: 33 recordsFebMarch: 47 recordsMarApril: 90 recordsAprMay: 78 recordsMayJune: 195 recordsJunJuly: 121 recordsJulAugust: 98 recordsAugSeptember: 63 recordsSepOctober: 38 recordsOctNovember: 32 recordsNovDecember: 33 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[12].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January44
February33
March47
April90
May78
June195
July121
August98
September63
October38
November32
December33

Where to see it

This species is protected or at risk, so we show its range only at the state level. We do not publish parks, nesting, spawning or wintering sites.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Florida, Texas, North Carolina, Rhode Island, New Mexico[8]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Goliath Grouper endangered?
NatureServe ranks it G3 (Vulnerable) worldwide[2]. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS data[1].
Where does the Goliath Grouper live in the US?
NatureServe lists it as native in Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Texas[3].
What does the Goliath Grouper eat?
NatureServe notes say it eats mainly crustaceans[11].
When is the Goliath Grouper reported most often?
GBIF records peak in June, July and August, which reflects when people look and report[12].

Facts and sources

  1. Goliath Grouper is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Goliath Grouper: G3 (Vulnerable). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Goliath Grouper as native in 5 US states and territories: Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas. NatureServe Explorer
  4. Goliath Grouper (Epinephelus itajara) is a fish in the family Epinephelidae, order Perciformes. NatureServe Explorer
  5. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Vulnerable. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): 2500 to 1,000,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  7. NatureServe state ranks for Goliath Grouper (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  8. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Goliath Grouper: Florida, Texas, North Carolina, Rhode Island, New Mexico. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  9. Habitat types NatureServe records for Goliath Grouper: Bay/sound, Lagoon, Forested wetland, Near shore. NatureServe Explorer
  10. NatureServe notes on habitat for Goliath Grouper. NatureServe Explorer
  11. NatureServe notes on food for Goliath Grouper. NatureServe Explorer
  12. GBIF observation records of Goliath Grouper in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.