17-year-old Nate Jaensch reeled in estimated 160cm goliath grouper at Mandorah Jetty, NT

There are plenty of fish in the sea, but not many quite as large as the giant goliath grouper reeled in by a young Territory fisho and his mates. Find out how big it was.

There are plenty of fish in the sea, but not many quite as large as the giant goliath grouper reeled in by a Territory angler and his mates just west of Darwin. Picture: Supplied

There are plenty of fish in the sea, but not many quite as large as the giant grouper reeled in by a young Territory angler and his mates.

About a fortnight ago, 17-year-old Nate Jaensch was out fishing at the popular Mandorah Jetty with his brother and three friends when he reeled in a massive grouper, thought to be at least 160cm long.

After hours of reeling in nothing, Nate said he and his friends were almost ready to pack up.

Nate Jaensch with his grouper. Picture: Supplied

“We had the lines in for probably about fours without anything,” he told this masthead.

“We were just getting ready to pack up and go, then the line went off.”

Nate said he was glad he and his friends decided to stay a little bit longer.

“All I could think was how happy I was because I finally had a big fish on my line,” he said.

Nate Jaensch was fishing at the popular Mandorah Jetty with his brother and three friends when he reeled in a massive goliath grouper. Picture: Supplied

“It was my first time shark fishing so I was just happy at the thought it could have been a shark; I didn’t even think it could be a grouper.”

“It was crazy … we fought it for probably half an hour.”

Nate said he and his friends could not believe it.

“We were the only ones out there … so when we finally pulled it up we all started yelling, screaming and freaking out and said ‘We can’t lose this fish’,” he said.

The Mandorah Jetty. Picture: Deb Beaver

“Luckily it was the perfect tide for it; there was just enough water that we could pull it onto the platform, not sure what we would’ve done otherwise.”

Mr Jaensch said he doubted he could catch a fish quite as large again.

“I’ve never caught an actual good trophy fish like that, so I was stoked.”

“Honestly, a 77cm barra is probably the only other thing I’ve caught that was actually good.

“That’s a once in a lifetime fish, I don’t think I’ll catch something like that again.”

Originally published as 17-year-old Nate Jaensch reeled in estimated 160cm goliath grouper at Mandorah Jetty, NT