A fisherman thought he was reeling in quite the catch — until another creature saw an opportunity for an easy meal.


While on a fishing trip off the coast of Bonita Springs, Fla., in Aug. 2014, YouTube user Gimbb14 managed to hook a 4-ft. shark at the end of his line. While reeling the shark in, however, a goliath grouper launched itself out of the water and devoured it in one bite. All the fishermen could do was watch with nervous laughter as the gargantuan fish swam away.
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According to National Geographic, Atlantic goliath groupers can reach nine feet long and 800 pounds, earning their name with their epic proportions. The massive fish are the topic of a heated debate because of their status as a legally protected species — conservationists want to protect goliath groupers' dwindling population while the fishing community is exasperated at how frequently the enormous fish snatch their catches right off the ends of their lines.