Dealing with lionfish while lobstering

[Nick Steele]

okay so I went out for lobster today and came across five lionfish that were too small to get caught up in my lobster net. When I exited I reported the sightings to NOAA and a spear fisher who was heading out.

On previous trips I've caught a few lionfish in my net and got them into my bad no problems but these were smaller ones and I felt bad just leaving them there. Are there any tricks to getting them when you only have a lobster net and tickle stick?

 

[iamrushman]

don't know any tricks for you ...but i have snared a few large ones with my lobster snare.

 

[SandyBramm]

We have a guy that scares them into a zip lock bag....these are the little 2-3 inch guys..so I am not sure what size you were seeing. He then puts them into a bag and brings them up, once onboard though he basically just kills them and throws them away, way to small to filet to eat. I worry about getting stung doing it this way, so I have a short pole spear that I just shoot them and leave them behind for a crap or eel to munch on. We've been running a lot of lion fish and lobster hunt trips this week, my guys today killed about a dozen and one of them was almost 20 inches...huge! Good luck...hope that helps a bit.

www.oceanquestscuba.com

 

[Fishspearit]

If you're using the tickle stick and net approach, just use a short polespear as your tickle stick or a Foldspear.

 

[Nick Steele]

Thanks you guys!

I might give the pole spear a try since I too am worried about getting stung with the zip-lock method. The few I have seen were all small 2-4 inches or so

 

[snowdog61]

lionfish polespear and a pair of trauma shears or a Zookeeper. Zookeeper if you are planning on harvesting a lot - it's a bit cumbersome but worth it if there are a bunch. I typically trim fins and just put them into the lobster hotel. you're already wearing gloves so grab them by the firmly eyeballs and trim with your free hand - easy peasy. If they are too little just cut the head off and move on.

 

[sheeper]

I just hang my lobster bag off my Zookeeper. and I have my polespear and snare attached to each other. It takes a little getting used to but the first meal of lion ceviche and lobster salad makes it well worth it!