Posted on 11/06/2020 12:11:21 PM PST by Red Badger
New Florida record set for the longest lionfish caught in the Gulf of Mexico. Photo courtesy: Donald Vautrinot
==========================================================================
OKALOOSA COUNTY, Fla. (WEAR) — A new state record has been set for the longest lionfish in the Gulf of Mexico.
According to The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Donald Bautrinot snagged it off Destin Oct. 18.
The lionfish measured 18.19 inches, beating the former record of 18.07 inches.
A news release says Vautrinot was spearfishing for red snapper when he spotted the lionfish.
“I saw a monster lionfish and immediately knew I wanted to measure it,” Vautrinot said. “I got really excited because I knew the Gulf record was around 18 inches but I didn't know exactly and we didn't have a cell signal to check it out there.”
When Vautrinot got back to shore, he took the lionfish to Okaloosa County coastal resource manager Alex Fogg for an official measurement.
Bautrinot's Gulf record came in short of the overall state record of 18.78 inches.
FWC encourages removal of lionfish, which are an invasive species.
The FWC lionfish record program includes categories for both length and weight in spearing, hook and line, and junior (16 and under) divisions.
You can enter your record fish by visiting FWC's website and clicking on "State Records Program."
For state records on other saltwater fish, click here.
My lionfish is so long...
Now you’re just lyin’...
Just don’t be Toobin it.
These used to be marine aquarium fish when I was a kid, from the Indian Ocean. I used to think about getting one, but managing an aquarium with a floating stinging machine sounded like way too much hassle. I guess a few aquarium owners must have had the bright idea to dump them in American ocean waters.
Yes, they’re invasive, but I have heard Lionfish are very tasty.
They are now an INVASIVE SPECIES in Florida Waters and threaten native fishes with extinction..................
Yes.................
Disappointing. I was expecting it to be size of a ship!
I might just call that thing a.....Bidenfish!
Looks like first place photo from gay fishing derby.
That made me laugh. A lot. Which is hard to do these days.
I would skin dive off the Oman coast when I lived there years ago. The Lionfish were not aggressive but fearless. They knew an attack by other fish or even humans would end in great great pain for the attacker. You could get up close to them. DO NOT TOUCH THEM!
They are. In Roatan they’re the preferred fish fry species, not just because they’re tasty but because they’re wrecking some of the best reefs in the world.
Nasty creatures. The first time I saw one in the Keys years ago, it saw me and charged me. One little spine got me and it was pure fire. I grew up on reefs. Jellyfish, fire coral, nothing really ever bothered me except Portuguese man-o-war. The sting from that creature was as bad or worse than a man-o-war. It is the only time in my life I walked away from catching a keeper lobster because I was in pain.
You can thank the PETA people for your pain.......and the idiots who loosed these fish into our waters........................
Didn’t Capt Picard have a lionfish in his office?
In the fwiw department, those spines can rearrange your day.
5.56mm
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.