Well, it’s getting close to that time of year again, the Goliath Grouper Spawning Aggregations off Jupiter Florida.
The height of the Goliath Grouper Spawning Season begins the last quarter of August through September to into first quarter of October.
The three largest aggregations on Florida’s East Coast, where these giant reef fish converge in large numbers take place offshore North Palm Beach County (Jupiter, FL). Two on wrecks, the MG-111 (depth 60 feet) and Esso Bonaire (depth 90 feet) with the third at the Hole-in-the-wall (depth 140 feet). Last year between these three sites I was able to count more than 150 of these giant groupers, weighting in excess of 250-lbs each, with one individual sure to weight in around 500-lbs. Underwater, a 500-lb goliath looks equal in size to a Mini-cooper with fins.
This year, I have put together a three day charter on Jim Abernethy’s Scuba Adventures 65-foot live-aboard Shear Water.
The trip dates are August 28 – 30th
We board late afternoon/early evening of the 27th, Dive all day the 28, 29, and 30th, disembarking (earliest time) the evening of the 30th
This special charter (limited to 12 rebreather divers max.) includes on board accommodations, 3 delicious meals plus snacks each day, and gas fills (oxygen to 2000 psi and air) for rebreather cylinders for a total of $720 per person ($240 per person, per day). If you need sorb, we can obtain what you need before departure.
Although we will close to shore, that advantage of the live-board greatly improves the logistics for some serious dive run times in the 90+ minute range for an easy 3 to 4 dives per day, and night (for two of the days out). Conditions this time of year are often very enjoyable with warm water temps between 79 and 81 degree F, underwater visibility in the 50 to 90 foot range, 60 feet is the average, and I can not lie currents abound here, and they can sometimes screen. For this drops live boat (free drops) with accent stops off of lift bags. Everyone is to have one.
In addition to capitalizing on the Goliaths during their love fest, we will also look for sleeping reef sharks, and sea turtles - loggerhead and hawksbill’s are very prolific off upper Palm Beach County - on some the ledges in the area, as well as some of the wreck sites like the Princess Ann, Mizpah, Governor’s River walk collection of four freighters. If conditions look good, we could even journey northward to dive the Rankin wreck up north off Stuart.
I have been diving this region of a number of years, and have been amazed by what I have seen here, and have the pictures to prove it. If you are into both diving with big critters and rebreathers, this trip is for you.
