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If you fish here in Southwest Florida, and even if you don’t, you’ve got to be sick of hearing about the Goliath Grouper problem we all lament about.

Free from being taken since 1990, these gargantuan fish have proliferated to a level where most everyone who fishes here, anywhere from backwater to the grouper ledges 20 miles offshore, will catch at least one every time they wet a line.

Worse, much worse than that, is the almost universal experience of having a Goliath come up and engulf a nice fish you are trying to land; rip it from your line and handle the disposition in one quick, big belly filling gulp.

Those new to the Goliath issue will most always ask where the “authorities” are in managing this quite devastating problem. “Asleep at the switch” would be the kindest of responses. Those entrusted with managing the health and sustainability of marine species, took what they thought was a necessary step in closing the Goliath fishery in 1990 and then went sound asleep.

Only the recreational anglers universal clamor here in the last two years have the “authorities” beginning to look into the problem. Recent meetings and initial actions show that those well meaning scientists and bureaucrats don’t have any idea of how big the Goliath population really is let alone the immensity of the problem.

But ask anyone who fishes, they know!

But all is not lost to everyone. At least not yet. And therein lies the story.

Jim Bridge (name changed to protect the innocent) is an excellent charter captain who operates here in Southwest Florida. Like many of us, his clientele consists of many vacationers from other parts of the country and the world, for that matter, whose biggest catch back home teeters between a four inch guppy and a six inch bream.

When they show up here, with the vast Gulf of Mexico at their backdoor, and fueled by the blarney fed them on the TV fishing shows back home, they conjure up dreams of catching huge fish.

The luggage is still unpacked when they call Captain Jim and ask about taking a charter trip. An almost universal request is for big fish. It sort of goes like, “We’re from Indiana and all we catch back home are little pan fish. We want something that will make our line sing; double our rod and hurt our muscles. Can you do that for us?”

Now-a-days, since Captain Jim has teamed up with Gomer, the answer is always a responding positive, “You betcha, we can. What day do you wanna go fishin’ ?”

When they show up on the appointed morning they are in awe of the size of the tackle that Captain Jim has racked in the cockpit for their fishing expedition. Huge rods and reels with line the size of hawsers are at the ready for their “big fishing experience.”

“Golly, it’s gonna take a real tough dude to reel in something on a rig that size, captain.”

Captain Jim always smiles and responds “and that be you,” as he starts the engine and edges away from the dock.

He has the route to his fishing spot memorized. It’s a Southwest bearing from the Sea Buoy and usually a pleasant ride with manageable sea conditions for a short ride of less than three miles. It’s hush when the engines go to idle and Captain Jim maneuvers back and forth to find his special spot. Suddenly we’re there and he drops the anchor.

The preparation is quick and focused. The chum is set into the water and a few handfuls of cut bait are tossed in the water right under the boat. One of the huge rods with a hook the size of a gaff is removed from the holder and a bait the size of a dinner plate of cut-up jack crevelle is impaled on the hook and lowered to the bottom.

Captain Jim carefully places the rod in the holder and tells everyone to watch the tip, he knows what’s going to happen; it’s almost a sure thing.

Suddenly the rod twitches; Captain Jim yanks the rod and pulls up hard to set the hook and passes the rod to the bug eyed angler. Jim straps a rod belt on the now frantic angler and the fight is on.

Twenty some feet below the boat is Gomer the Goliath Grouper who has been looking for his morning meal and workout. Gomer has lived on this spot for the past two years and enjoys his association with Captain Jim. He puts up with this daily activity and certainly enjoys the handfuls of fish that Jim brings him most every day. Getting caught, oohed and aahed over, photographed and gently released is the least he could do for the partnership.

Up top, our Indiana angler is bathed in perspiration, his arms and hands are cramping as he struggles to bring Gomer to the surface. Literally, time gets swept away, as he retrieves line and then looses it as Gomer does his daily exercises below. He doesn’t want the catch to look too easy — Captain Jim would be looking for his replacement.

Finally, with a mighty lunge, he brings Gomer to the surface and can’t believe his eyes.

“Wow, what a fish; it’s enormous.” Everyone is congratulating our angler as he tries to stop his arms from cramping. He’s all smiles. This is what he came for.

Gomer’s job is done and he just lays there resting as the cameras snap yet another legion of pictures. Soon Captain Jim, just like always, comes over and pats Gomer on the head, and gently releases the circle hook and with a flip of the tail, Gomer goes back home.

On board, everyone is thrilled with the immense catch and is trying to see the digital pictures in the glaring sunlight. Happy, they are all thanking Captain Jim for the experience. As Jim starts the engines he sends another couple of handfuls of cut bait down to his partner, “Thanks, Gomer. See you tomorrow.”

And so it comes to pass that Gomer is there tomorrow, at the same exact coordinates, and puts on the same show for that day’s guests from Iowa.

And he’s there the day after that etc.

Who says those Goliaths haven’t got the program figured out. Just ask smilin’ Captain Jim.

•••

Name: Goliath Grouper

In season: Usually shows up on reefs and wrecks as the water warms — late spring.

Florida Regulations: Totally protected. Zero take.

Habitat: Juveniles can be found in the backwaters. Adults just about on every piece of structure nearshore and offshore. Can grow to 800 pounds. Florida record is 680 when they could be taken prior to 1994.

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Capt. Bill Walsh owns an established Marco Island charter fishing business and holds a current U.S. Coast Guard license. Send comments or questions to dawnpatrolcharters@compuserve.com.