Lionfish invasion?

[S. Haynie]

Got the first one finished.

I made a material/design change that will help costs but the first one looks a bit down town. Works wonderfuly! I stabbed a 6 lb Asian carp at close range and got a complete blow through.

However At a slightly greater distance the barbs spread and I was able to hold the fish in the air easily with out it sliding off. Then sliding the push stick foreward it came right off and the barbs returned to their normal position.

Even at realy close range if the barbs go completely through a fish it will not be able to slide up the shaft to a dangerous proximity to the users hands.

Now to find testers that will use it on lionfish. Any takers?

 

[DebbyDiver]

I'd be happy to give it a go. I dive frequently in SoFla. Although I didn't see any lionfish today, another buddy team saw three.

 

[S. Haynie]

I'm making a few more. Slight design change. PM me and we'll talk further.

 

[nelligoon]

Check out the Lionfish Killer at cheap scuba online. com
It is a 2' polespear with a barbless paralyzer tip. Only $34.99 with free shipping. I used mine two weeks ago and it works great. They have some great prices on tanks too!
Their website is Cheap Scuba Tanks, Scuba Cylinders, Discount Scuba and Accessories

 

[mike_s]

I doubt I'd ever buy anything from CheapScubaonline just because of all the fake accounts they set up here to do nothing but push their website for.

 

[DebbyDiver]

Isn't that the truth, Mike! They are a regular spam factory.

 

[Gamgan]

I would like to test out your new device, I saw 5 lionfish today in my regular dive spot, each time I go I keep seeing more and more, they are not skittish either you can swim right next to them and they wont move , I pushed one today with my flashlight before it actualy budged. I dive in Puerto Rico, at the Escambron beach in San Juan

 

[Texas Torpedo]

I realize the entrepreneur was last seen here early August and may have moved on to other interests, but if not, send me a PM and we can talk about giving your 'invention' a real-world beat down on lionfish here in Cozumel. I rarely finish a dive without taking out a few.. Yesterday, I pulled out 43, with many others being fed to eels, anemones, etc.. I own a foldspear, a number of travel spears with three prong heads, mini spear guns, etc.. My favorite right now is a Beuchat mini with the trident tip on it.. Depending on what I am doing (collecting, or killing and ditching), I'll go for barbed or barb-less tips.. We also have homemade (small) pvc spears with wires on the end for the smaller ones..

For the travel spear, this one is most popular on Cozumel right now:
http://www.scubatoys.com/store/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=5_5TravelSling

 

[FredT]

This is a reasonable alternative, small, easy to handle, and fairly inexpensive.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLGt1EDWQew&feature=player_embedded

 

[RRDAVE]

I run a boat in S. Fl. and we see them all the time. we spotted 5 on one dive on Sunday but were unable to get them because of having students with us. we do have three different types of killing devices on board every trip and I have a small Mares gun that I carry. (when I get to dive) I do ask all my guides to carry something to kill them with on every dive except O.W. student dives. I would like to suggest using a set of shears to cut off their spines and their spinal cord (just behind the head) before you remove them from your spear. If you want to eat them they are VERY TASTY and are considered of sushi grade fish. Also there is no poison glands their venom is a bacteria on their spines that can also be removed with a torch. Hope to see everyone killing them in the near future.