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Florida firefighter catches massive 409-pound grouper

By Daniel Uria
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Aug. 22 (UPI) -- A Florida firefighter blew the competition at a local spearfishing competition out of the water after catching a massive grouper.

The Suncoast Spearfishing Challenge shared a photo of James Taylor and his teammates Tom Mitchell, Mike Jeanes, Chris Williams alongside the enormous 409-pound Warsaw Grouper.

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"Congrats to Team Trident and Suncoast Underwater Club members on ruining the Grouper category in the St. Pete Open," a post on the challenge's Facebook page stated. "I guess a little 100 pound carbo won't do it any more!"

While the humongous Warsaw Grouper was not actually eligible to win the competition, Taylor is awaiting confirmation that the fish is the largest Warsaw Grouper ever speared.

Taylor, a firefighter in Bradenton, speared the fish 85 miles off shore at a depth of about 250 feet.

Sport Fishing magazine states the largest Warsaw Grouper ever caught with a rod and reel was caught in 1985 and weighed 436 pounds.

In addition to the potentially record-breaking grouper, Taylor and his team also managed to win first and second place for Hog fish and fourth and fifth place for grouper, in what would be his last tournament before becoming a father.

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"He sure did make it an epic one," his wife Michelle said.

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