Lion Fish Questions

[AZdiver1279]

Some questions for Key Largo Divers

I'm arriving tomorrow for an extended weekend of diving and was wondering about killing and eating Lion Fish. I really would like to catch a few and eat them, not sure though about any local policies? Any help would be appreciated. The Lion Fish thread was much too long and full of hundreds of posts that had nothing to do with catching or preparing Lion Fish so I'm asking my own questions here.

1) Which of the local shops sell items needed to kill and collect LF?
2) Will the shops let you take them with you? When I was in CZM they wouldn't let you keep them.
3) Are the any local grills our restaurants that will prepare the LF for you?

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[Lobstah Slayah]

You can't spear anywhere in the sanctuary. Where do you plan on diving?
ps. you could have asked in the lionfish thread. We welcome everyone.

 

[AZdiver1279]

You can't spear anywhere in the sanctuary. Where do you plan on diving?
ps. you could have asked in the lionfish thread. We welcome everyone.

Good idea - I'll copy, paste and repost - thanks!

 

[PatW]

I was at Key Largo a month ago. I did not see any lionfish there. However, I was just at Little Cayman. There were lionfish seen on each and every dive.

Lionfish are pretty easily speared. All you need is a little hand spear. They usually sit in little crannies and crevices. They are sort of sitting targets.

 

[AZdiver1279]

I was at Key Largo a month ago. I did not see any lionfish there. However, I was just at Little Cayman. There were lionfish seen on each and every dive.

Lionfish are pretty easily speared. All you need is a little hand spear. They usually sit in little crannies and crevices. They are sort of sitting targets.

Thanks - I've spotted many of them and we've caught them in containment bags - I just haven't ever killed and ate them.....yet. I did an online search to find hand spears and couldn't find anyone selling them in KL.....thus the questions.........Thanks again!

 

[Jax]

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Huus, Kari. Do your civic duty: Eat this fish! Do your civic duty: Eat this fish! - U.S. news - Environment - msnbc.com 10 Aug 2010

Eilperin, Juliet. How to conquer the invasive lionfish? Saute it. 07 Jul 2010
How to conquer the invasive lionfish? Saute it.

Connolly, Norma. Pro divers may get spears to catch lionfish 22 Jul 2010.
cayCompass.com :: Pro divers may get spears to catch lionfish

DeFranza, David. Eating Lionfish May Be the Only Way to Stop their Caribbean Invasion. April 20, 2010.
Eating Lionfish May Be the Only Way to Stop their Caribbean Invasion : TreeHugger

TCPalm, Lionfish sightings continue to add up on Treasure Coast, July 9, 2010
Lionfish sightings continue to add up on Treasure Coast TCPalm.com

TCPalm, Divers: Look out for Lionfish April 9, 2010
Divers: Look out for lionfish TCPalm.com

Clark, Cammy. Invasion of venomous lionfish menaces the Keys. The Miami Herald. 08 Feb 10
Invasion of venomous lionfish menaces the Keys - Sun Sentinel

Aquatic Invasions (2010), Vol 5, Iss 2 Non-native, invasive Red lionfish 29 Jan 2010
http://www.aquaticinvasions.net/2010/AI_2010_5_2_Aguilar-Perera_Tuz-Sulub_correctedproof.pdf

Dornfield, Ann. Spreading Lionfish Invasion Threatens Bahamas. August 11, 2009. Spreading Lionfish Invasion Threatens Bahamas : NPR

Lionfish Response Management Plan, US Virgin Islands
http://fw.dpnr.gov.vi/Lionfish/09J30FinalPlan.pdf

Smithsonian article on "Invasion of the Lionfish" May 8 2009
Invasion of the Lionfish | Science & Nature | Smithsonian Magazine

CBS News "To Catch a Lionfish" Aug 25 2009
To Catch a Lionfish - Couric & Co. - CBS News

Lionfish Population Has Scientists Worried. AP. 03 Aug 2008. 3:03
YouTube - Lionfish Population Has Scientists Worried

How to prepare Lionfish (video)
Lionfish Hunters assure us that lionfish tastes just like chicken

How to catch and detoxify Lionfish (video)
YouTube - About time! How to catch detoxify and clean lionfish.

Safespear - Harvesting and Cooking Lionfish (13:45)
YouTube - Gregg Waugh - Harvesting and cooking Lionfish

Florida Museum of Natural History - Ichthyology
Florida Museum of Natural History Ichthyology Department: Red Lionfish

USGS Fact Sheet: "Pterois volitans / miles . . . lionfish" Sep 2009+
NAS - Species FactSheet

Animated Historical distribution map

 

[Lobstah Slayah]

Most spear fisherman go in the middle to lower keys. Around Key Largo is John Pennekamp where spearfishing is prohibited. This brochure may be helpful. http://floridakeys.noaa.gov/edu/spearfishing_brochure.pdf

 

[AZdiver1279]

Most spear fisherman go in the middle to lower keys. Around Key Largo is John Pennekamp where spearfishing is prohibited. This brochure may be helpful. http://floridakeys.noaa.gov/edu/spearfishing_brochure.pdf

OK - Thanks - so can't even just stab a lion fish huh? Too bad - I'll be staying in Key Largo and planned on diving there all 3 days. I was hoping to just help in the eradicate process and maybe get a taste of lion fish as a reward : )

 

[Orlando Eric]

Well -- you are not suppose to spear lionfish in the SPA areas.. unless of course you are Certtified in Dewey Decimal and have a Salt water fishing license.... and the big catch... are not caught. I have seen it done though.

 

[Scuba_Jenny]

Thanks - I've spotted many of them and we've caught them in containment bags - I just haven't ever killed and ate them.....yet. I did an online search to find hand spears and couldn't find anyone selling them in KL.....thus the questions.........Thanks again!

I picked up 4 skewers at Wally World for $1.98, took off the ring on the end, and sharpened the other end. Ta-da! 15" spear! Add a big rubberband and you have pole spear.. or get get a dowel with a hole (or sewing thread spool) to make a Hawaiian sling...