Posted on 06/22/2018 8:07:22 AM PDT by BenLurkin
Wanted dead, not alive: the lionfish. You can make $5,000 if you get rid of them
After the first 25, you have to submit tails for the chance to collect the top prize.
Tails can be submitted at numerous checkpoints throughout Florida, including in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, Islamorada, Tavernier, Marathon, Key West and Boca Raton.
Participants can also get a 2018 Lionfish Challenge T-shirt, commemorative coin and entry into the FWC Lionfish Hall of Fame.
...
Over the last five years, some dozen South Florida restaurants began serving lionfish on their menus because the delicate, flaky fish, often compared to hogfish and snapper, is a taste treat.
That's one way to help reduce their numbers.
(Excerpt) Read more at miamiherald.com ...
I used to see these a lot when I lived in the Philippines. Them and Stonefish.
Both I was taught to avoid.
But look out for the spines!........................
My son and I have had lion fish - but it is hard to find even in the best seafood restaurants - and very expensive. It is VERY good! It was not been available after the last hurricane season because the waters were so stirred up it made catching them too dangerous.
Lionfish are beautiful, but predatory. Had one take an unnatural interest in me when diving off of Okinawa. Got some nice photos of the beasty, until he came after me.
The first time I went diving locally was at 95 feet here in Brevard County, FL. The entire reef was swarming with lionfish. No grouper, hardly any trigger fish, no snapper. Then they opened lionfish year round, no limit, and started serving them in restaurants. Last fall, saw only four of them on two dives, and they ended up in a being served to someone. Lobster, Snapper, grouper all back.
Point is, the lionfishing and sale probably saved the 90 foot reefs here. Problem is, diving to the 180 foot reef, even on nitrox, is a little scary for sport diving. So, they wont be extinct locally, but progress has been made.
Wow, years ago I paid a premium to have one in a salt water aquarium. Fed him live goldfish. I was told with no uncertainty to avoid his spines. Never imagined you could eat the little buggers.
Have Spear-Gun - Will Dive.
They are hazardous to handle, but worthwhile catching as a food fish.
How hard are they to handle? Do you fillet them like normal?
They should focus more on the danger of those spines as they are very toxic and wounds require immediate treatment.
On my last dive trip to the Caribbean we hunted them with a vengeance. Lion fish is one of the best tasting fish out there, broiled or grilled. We would hold them down with our Hawaiian slings (that’s a type of spear) and someone would cut the spines off with surgical scissors.
Yes AFTER you cut the spines off. The person doing the cutting wore Kevlar gloves.
They should do the same for pythons and Nile Monitor Lizards all you can hunt all of the time!
What if you mess up and do get stuck with a spine? Are we talking bee sting, sudden merciful death or is it an agonizing lingering death ala John McCain where the whole nation must suffer?
One of the “girls” on the boat got stuck. It hurt like hell. She said it was like a bad wasp sting. She soaked it in hot water for awhile and the pain went away. Other that that she was alright.
The Lionfish started chasing you when you were driving your car?
That's aggressive!
Was your car fast enough to get away?
DIVING.
I'll type slower next time...
Darn, time for the eye doctor!
Was your car fast enough to get away?
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Nope, he died years before posting.
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