Grouper

I just returned from Montego Bay Jamaica, where I ordered grouper twice. The first order was delicious, but the second order (from the same upscale hotel) was awful, having sort of mushy "fat" deposits or something. Is grouper this variable?

I know nothing about grouper except there are many different species. I only know this caused I Googled it. They range fom 20lbs to 450lbs. They also change from male to female at some age. The larger ones are now considered endangered. They have been know to be aggressive with divers. Apparently the smaller ones are easy to spearfish as they are approachable.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

No,They probaly ran out of the good stuff and subsituted a trash fish on ya.A trash fish is just another deep sea fish with no value at the docks.

I have eaten grouper many times in Mexico and never had a bad experience like you did. I agree with jellybear I think they pulled a fast one on you. I have also been diving many times around grouper and never have I experienced an agrressive grouper. Of course I wasn't spearfishing either.

quote:

Originally posted by dgschroeder

I have eaten grouper many times in Mexico and never had a bad experience like you did. I agree with jellybear I think they pulled a fast one on you. I have also been diving many times around grouper and never have I experienced an agrressive grouper. Of course I wasn't spearfishing either.

I found this on gooogle:

Danger to Humans
Very large goliath grouper have been observed to stalk divers and even conduct unsuccessful ambushes of the same. Large individuals of this species should be treated with caution.450 pound goliath grouper caught in by Buddy Jenks at the Big Indian Rocks Fishing Pier, Florida (1976)
Donated by Kenneth Krysko

I'm sorry to hear you had some less than satisfactory grouper. I've always been lucky -- I've eaten in in Cancun and on St. George Island in FL. Always delicious. Can't wait to enjoy a grouper sandwich on St. George in two weeks when I visit.

Cindy

I was just speaking from my personal experiences scuba diving around grouper. And of course I believe everything I read on the internet too.

Grouper, along with catfish are at the top of my list for favorites.Went fishing a long time ago off Murrells Inlet SC and caught a few King Mackerels- no Grouper though.We were out about 20 miles.My thing with Grouper is the size of the serving.Some places give you alot and next time it's little.Good meaty fish.I love it.

quote:

Originally posted by NYNM

I just returned from Montego Bay Jamaica, where I ordered grouper twice. The first order was delicious, but the second order (from the same upscale hotel) was awful, having sort of mushy "fat" deposits or something. Is grouper this variable?

Did you complain?? IMO most Jamaicans who work at the resorts are eager to please. If they pulled a fast one on you as has been suggested, it hurts the image of the resort that you stayed at. Most resort employees realize that their livlihood is based on repeat business, and they would deal with the cook who tried to slip you a trash fish.....if only they knew.

Grouper is one of my favorite fishes and very delicious but they're kinda in bad shape right now (overfished) so we should probably not eat too many until the stocks recover. A lot of the groupers are protected in US waters but outside the US they are not.

quote:

Originally posted by Sundancer7

I know nothing about grouper except there are many different species. I only know this caused I Googled it. They range fom 20lbs to 450lbs. They also change from male to female at some age. The larger ones are now considered endangered. They have been know to be aggressive with divers. Apparently the smaller ones are easy to spearfish as they are approachable.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

I think the larger ones are called Jewfish..
There is a jewfish creek in the Keys............
http://www.landbigfish.com/fish/fish.cfm?ID=57

That is one of the most common fish in the Florida Keys (grouper) found on most restaurant's menu's.. Aside from Dolphin (NOT Flipper)...
I would say most restaurants use both equally for fish sandwiches there...
Most places that I worked down there gave you a choice.. grouper or dolphin for your sandwich, fried or grilled.

editing here...

I love to have fried grouper sandwiches when I'm in the Bahamas. That is, when I'm not enjoying conch. I've never had a bad one there and it sounds like the original poster got a substandard filet or a "sub".

Andrea

Roossy90:

You are correct when you state the Jew fish is a member of the grouper family. They are one of the larger fish that inhabits the area of Bahamas and Florida. It is illegal to harvest them but several years ago, it was documented that a 750 lb one was caught. It is estimated that since they are illegal to harvest now, they are quite a bit larger.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

quote:

Originally posted by AndreaB

I love to have fried grouper sandwiches when I'm in the Bahamas. That is, when I'm not enjoying conch. I've never had a bad one there and it sounds like the original poster got a substandard filet or a "sub".

Andrea

I love conch ceviche...

The Goliath grouper is also known as a Jewfish. And they are protected in Florida waters.

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Hoffman

The Goliath grouper is also known as a Jewfish. And they are protected in Florida waters.

quote:

Originally posted by dgschroeder

quote:

Originally posted by AndreaB

I love to have fried grouper sandwiches when I'm in the Bahamas. That is, when I'm not enjoying conch. I've never had a bad one there and it sounds like the original poster got a substandard filet or a "sub".

Andrea

I love conch ceviche...

Ooooh ME TOO!
http://www.spaindex.com/CUISINE/ConchSalad.htm
drooling at the photo.... yum...they outta lose the cherries for the garnish though..or are those small habeneros?...lol

We ate a lot of grouper sandwiches n the past to weeks. Some of the best were Mid Peninsula Seafood, Philthy Phils, and Woodys - all in the St Pete area. Actually, I've never had a bad grouper sandwich - I think that particular fish is "bad chef proof". I'm told that some species are better eating than others, but I've never sen the exact species ever listed on a menu in the St Pete area.

Cheers, John

quote:

Originally posted by jeepguy

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Hoffman

The Goliath grouper is also known as a Jewfish. And they are protected in Florida waters.

I 2nd that!

Fish ? I thought this was going to be a thread about the Governator, Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Oh yeah, that's groper.

I had a fried grouper sandwich yesterday at a place called Pete's on the Beach, here in Long Beach. Mild yet tasty, with a Cajun tartar sauce and onion rings, it was a really good sandwich.