Posted on 03/15/2021 1:49:16 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Dead arapaima washes up in Cape Coral
The Burmese python, green iguana and lionfish are, by now, well-known invasive species that have established a dangerous foothold in Florida.
But a fearsome new invasive predator has emerged in the state: the arapaima, a monster fish that can grow up to 10 feet long and weigh hundreds of pounds. A dead one recently washed ashore in Cape Coral’s Jaycee Park along the Caloosahatchee River, which runs from Lake Okeechobee west to the Gulf of Mexico.
The arapaima is native to the Amazon River in South America and is one of the world’s largest predatory fish. Its scales are said to be as impenetrable as armor.
SNIP
“I think it’s kind of cool,” said Captain Josh Constantine, who has been fishing the waters near the Caloosahatchee River for more than 20 years, and has been a guide for his business, Caloosahatchee Cowboys Charters, for more than a decade.
(Excerpt) Read more at clickorlando.com ...
Outdoors/Rural/wildlife/hunting/hiking/backpacking/National Parks/animals list please FR mail me to be on or off . And ping me is you see articles of interest.
Outdoors/Rural/wildlife/hunting/hiking/backpacking/National Parks/animals list please FR mail me to be on or off . And ping me is you see articles of interest.
But ya got to know how to clean um
I pictured it smoked, and being nice and flaky once dried
My northern Yankee arse is gonna help keep it conservative whn I get down there!
Very good eating from what I see. Cod like flesh with no pin bones. Skin is tough and makes good leather. Actually heavily over-fished where they are from because they are so tasty. Even the scales are useful in that they make great nail files. A lot more useful that pythons or iguanas.
Florida is awash in invasive species that are permanent members of the environment. The arapaima is the top fresh water game fish in the world. Nearly extinct in its native habitat, its meat is highly sought after and its capture is an act of extraordinary prowess. I can think of no other animal I wish to see achieve a niche in the Florida aquaculture greater than the magnificent arapaima. This is very, very good news, especially for habitat desperately in need of top predators.
I wonder how many pounds of largemouth bass one of those things can eat in a day?
Do they eat pythons and iguanas?
Thanks for that fascinating link.
SADLY, the nitwits of PETA pressured the FL authorities enough to STOP immigrant Asians from killing/eating the pythons/iguanas. = Snake & lizard species were (in SE Asia) a routine part of their diet.
(FYI, I’ve eaten iguana OCONUS. - It reminds me, in taste/texture, of dark meat of turkey.)
As to the HYSTERIA about “invasive fish”, remember the SCARE about “Snakeheads”, AKA: Frankenfish, of several years ago. = Turns out that both the native catfish & bass LIKE to eat them & Snakeheads have NOT “taken over the lakes”, as the LOONS of the “mainstream press” & self-appointed “experts” claimed.
Yours, ex-cadet
Another outcrop of Globalism. The ships and everything that is being shipped back and forth around the world.
Even Wiki says its an important food fish. Lots of recipes online
That thing is huge!
This is very, very good news, especially for habitat desperately in need of top predators.
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By your logic more Burmese Pythons should be introduced into the Everglades because it is an apex predator.
Tarpon is a great sport fish. How does this compare?
Jeremy Wade, Jeremy Wade, please pick up the white courtesy phone...
This fish are also being farmed. That’s a good way for them to escape into the wild.
Imagine bumping into it while swimming.
No thanks.
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