Grouper ID help

[PurpleGold]

I went grouper fishing on Monday, 5-28 out of Carolina Beach, NC. I am new to grouper fishing but the guys I went with have been catching groupers for a while. We caught this fish and none of us had any idea what it was. It doesn't look like any picture I can find of a black grouper and one guy thought it might be a small Goliath but that was just a guess. I know there are a lot of good grouper guys on the board, have any of ya'll caught one of these? If so what kind of grouper is it and how common are they in this area?

*The mystery fish was released unharmed since we did not know what it was and none of us wanted to risk getting a ticket. I'm sure we will be wishing we kept it when we figure out what it was

We also caught three keeper scamps, a nice red, and had four dolphin swim right up to the back of the boat. Managed to put two of those in the boat for a nice little bonus.

[Tyson]

I do know its not a goliath, but other than thati cant help you. But how was it release unharmed with a gaff hole in it?

[bigoneslurk]

i was thinking the same thing about the gaff

[Green Machine]

Baby Jewfish maybe?

Did you really practice gaff and release?

[PurpleGold]

Gaff was under the gills being used as a "handle" to lift the fish. We almost lost him the first time we tried to lift him out of the water with just our hands and we wanted to get a picture so we could try and get an ID on him.

[PurpleGold]

Baby Jewfish maybe?:

Not sure, everything I see about those says they have vertical bars and the fish we caught didn't have any. It was completely black and had small lighter, greyish speckles all over it.

[Deep C]

Something in the "kitty Mitchel" family... Definately not black or goliath (jewfish). Not red, yellowfin, scamp, nassau... Has some of the characteristics of a warsaw but never saw one that color...

[Kodi's_Options]

still can't stop laughing about the 'gaff and release comment.' No idea what type of grouper it is, looks like like it would have tasted pretty good breaded fried and put on a bun with some mayo, onions and lettuce though.

[S.P.F.1]

Looks like a dark Warsaw to me Maybe even a Snowy but I have never seen one so dark.
Gills are to fish like ----- are to fish.

LUNGS !!! If you gaff em keep em.

[RANGER01]

looks like a warsaw