A fisherman had a surprising experience after coming face-to-face with a “sea monster” in a viral video.
Dean Silvester, from Queensland, Australia, has been fishing for over 35 years and shares his sea adventures on social media. With more than 135,000 followers, he’s caught some impressive fish over the years, including barramundis and Giant Trevallys, which can grow up to 6 feet long.
But recently, he encountered something even bigger. In a video that has gained over 3.3 million likes, Dean was teasing a group of Giant Trevallys with bait on his fishing line.
The Giant Trevally is a large, strong fish found in tropical waters, especially around reefs in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. They are fast and powerful, hunting prey like smaller fish, squid, and crustaceans near the surface.
As Dean fished, the clear water showed the frenzy happening below, which eventually attracted larger predators. Suddenly, a much bigger fish appeared and grabbed onto his fishing line.
“Fun until this monster showed up,” Dean wrote in the video. In the caption, he added: “Was teasing some Giant Trevally until this actual GIANT of the ocean turned up!”
The massive fish was believed to be a Goliath Grouper, a large, slow-moving species found in warm waters like the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. These fish can grow over 8 feet long and weigh up to 800 pounds.
Goliath Groupers are known for their wide bodies and strong jaws. They feed on fish, crustaceans, and octopuses and are often found near coral reefs and shipwrecks. Because of overfishing, they are a protected species in many areas.
People on TikTok were amazed by the encounter, calling the fish a “monster” in the comments. One user said, “Omg that was insane I can’t get over how big these fish are,” while another wrote, “Excuse me? What sea monster did you lure up from the depths?!”
A third person commented, “GREAT GOOGILY MOOGILY,” and someone else added, “Groupers scare the s**t out of me. I didn’t even know Goliath groupers exist.”
Some were surprised to see a Goliath Grouper so close to the surface, as they thought these fish only stayed at the bottom. However, these groupers are commonly found in shallow tropical waters around coral and artificial reefs. Their range includes the Gulf of Mexico, the Florida Keys, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and much of the Brazilian coast.