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03/01/2005: "200 kg of Queensland Groper .....now a protected species."

Timid or just wary, the big Queensland Groper swims off and into a blue world of coral.

A large injury from former times shows a healed cut. This groper is a regular at Beaver Cay off Mission Beach and for years was fed by Perry Harvey from aboard his charter boat(s) Friendship.

The giant fish would vanish from the scene for three months each year, often returning with a mate. Difficult to photograph underwater (perhaps it was a speargun wound?) the big fellow would 'shy away' when anyone entered the water for a better view.

This picture was with an 80mm telephoto lens - which increased the blue hue.