Endemic to the tropical waters and coral reefs of the Florida Keys, Bahamas, Caribbean, and Brazil, the goliath grouper is massive saltwater fish. They can grow as large as 8 feet long and weigh over 800 pounds, although on average they weigh around 400 pounds. History: Unfortunately, the Atlantic variant of the goliath grouper is classified as a critically endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Like many threatened marine species, they suffer from a loss and degradation of their natural habitat. They are also sometimes affected by commercial fishing, where they end up as bycatch. The good news is that goliath groupers were recently successfully bred in captivity, providing hope for their future. Scientific Name: Epinephelus itajara.