A large dead fish has washed ashore at Coral Cove along Barolin Esplanade.
The decomposed remains of the fish were more than a metre long and nearly as thick.
Observers initially believed it was the remnants of a dead whale, but others suspected it was a Groper.
Environment Department authorities are on their way to investigate and identify the species.
UPDATE: The fish has been identified as a Groper.
The Queensland Groper is the largest bony fish found in coral reefs, and it's the aquatic emblem of Queensland.
It is found from near the surface to depths of 100 metres at reefs throughout the Indo-Pacific region. It also enters estuaries.
It reaches up to 2.7m in length and 400kg in weight. Giant groupers feed on a variety of marine life, including small sharks and juvenile sea turtles.
Due to overfishing, this species has declined drastically in many regions, and if accidentally caught, has to immediately and carefully be returned to the water.
Cod fish
Comments are closed.