Florida high schooler reels in 250-pound goliath grouper from beach

A Florida teenager and her friend pulled the fish, estimated to weigh around 250 pounds, off the beach for the catch of a lifetime.

FOX 13 in Tampa reports that Riverview High School senior Isaac Francis, 17, was fishing Saturday night at Turtle Beach in Sarasota, Florida.

His father, Stu Francis, said the fight continued until Isaac’s line tightened while fishing and he brought in a nearly 250-pound Goliath grouper.

Francis, a senior, told the station that his son called the catch “lucky,” but credited his fishing skills and years of experience.

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Isaac was an avid fisherman from an early age, his father said.

Several of Isaac’s friends, who also attend Riverview High School, were on the beach when Isaac caught the fish and helped him bring it in.

The Goliath grouper, formerly known as the “Jewfish,” must be released alive, unharmed, and using proper fish handling techniques, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s website.

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Isaac Francis, a 17-year-old student from Sarasota, Florida, caught a Goliath grouper estimated to weigh about 250 pounds at Turtle Beach with the help of friends. (via Stu Francis, FOX 13 in Tampa)

Fishermen are also not allowed to pull Goliath grouper from the water. This is because their skeletal structures cannot support their weight outside of water, which can lead to fatal injuries.

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Juvenile Goliath groupers have very noticeable stripes, but the stripes can fade as they grow older.

Although Isaac’s catch was huge, the Florida state record for Goliath was set in 1961 when a 680-pound Goliath was caught off Fernandina Beach.

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This fish has been known to weigh up to 800 pounds in other areas and can grow over 8 feet long.