We launched the Hobie 16 in a hole in the mangroves between the Boat Club and Fisherman's Village in Punta Gorda for the Hibiscus Cup Regatta.. It is shallow and there is a line of old pilings underwater a couple of hundred yards offshore.

As we were coming in I was standing on the tramp looking for the old pilings when I spotted a large rock 4 to 5 feet long dead ahead. The tide was high enough so I started to sail over it. Looking closer I saw that it was yellow and brown in a mottled pattern. Just then I saw it move. As the boat sailed over it it spooked and bounced its back off the bottom of the tramp that shook the boat and gave us a good splashing. It swam off behind us leaving a large wake.

It was a Golith Grouper. Probably 200 to 300 hundred pounds.
I was really surprised to see that fish in that shallow water location. Usually they live around structure.