Lionfish Invades Florida

[tiggrr]

I was the first person to find them in the T & C's and have watched them expand in the Bahamas over the last three years! Here is everything you need to know about the Red Lion fish: Two Tanked Productions HD & SD Underwater Productions and video services

Hey Cool! Thanks Papa Bear!

That explains the lack of shrimp.


The guys on the boat told us that the Lionfish is the only fish you are allowed to hunt on Scuba where we were off of Freeport. Not sure where else but, they made it clear they want to get rid of them.

 

[weaponeer]

Last year I saw Lionfish in large quantity while diving NC wrecks. I think I'm gonna get a spear to carry when I dive the Keys this year, and bring up as many as I can.

Another, if not the primary way, Lionfish have spread to the US east coast is by catching a ride in freighter and tanker ballast tanks. When a ship leaves asian waters and takes on seawater for ballast, they suck lionfish into the tanks. When they arrive in the US, they pump the ballast tanks before entering port to decrease their draft, and discharge lionfish into local waters. That's why we are finding them all along the east coast, in any water temperature that will support them.

 

[cruiser]

I can see how lionfish gobbling up a favorite species would have a down side.

OTOH, I find the lionfish magnificent.

While I think they are making a (perceived) negative impact on the Caribbean ecosystem, I wouldn't kill one for sport, but that's just me, I'm not a hunter.

 

[scubadada]

Excellent website for background information and current sightings for Lionfish, some absolutley fascinating informaiton: NAS - Species FactSheet

Good diving, Craig

 

[geokr]

Interesting article, but I doubt they'll be able to stop or even really slow the spread of these fish. It's kind of like stopping dandelions from invading your yard when all your neighbors around you have crops of them in theirs. I've only been diving for 3 years & can't believe the way they've spread through the Bahamas areas. My first dive in the Bahamas I saw only 1 (Cool! a novelty), my second time there I saw 1 almost every dive (OK, somethings going on here), This last summer I did 2 live aboards in the Bahamas & was seeing a minimum of 3-4 per dive. It would be nice if there was a local species that would start preying on them (there has to be in the pacific, or they would overrun the reefs there, & yet they don't).

Just my opinion here but I don't think you can stop these or even thin them out once they're established. You're right - they are getting more and more used to being here and they like it here. Maybe better than they like it in their native seas. I think the populations are much denser here than over there but we won't know for sure until we get more data and compare it. I participated in two REEF surveys last year and could easily see 5-15 per site, in fact, we collected 56 on one reef during one dive. I only saw one during 15 dives on the Barrier Reef. So they're quite happy here and are thriving in this environment. Someone said they've found some in grouper stomachs which is true. But I think any fish that eats a lionfish will never try it again. They just have no real threats and the spread of them so quickly is showing that. The answer to controlling them to any extent, I think, is in some difference between here and the environment over there where they belong and I don't think it's a predator unless there's one over there that gets 'em while they're still in the egg sacs or are too young to ward off predators. If there is a regular predator over there we probably don't want it here, either. In the mean time - they're good eating! Take all you see home and fry 'em up!

 

[Orlando Eric]

I hear if you make soup out of them it is five times more potent than Viagra.

The venom removes wrinkles and makes you look ten years younger.

When added to your gas tank you get five more miles to the gallon.

The venom is also a great weight loss drug that works so well the FDA will not approve it because all the wieght loss companies would be bankrupt.

 

[Capt Scotty]

I hear if you make soup out of them it is five times more potent than Viagra.

The venom removes wrinkles and makes you look ten years younger.

When added to your gas tank you get five more miles to the gallon.

The venom is also a great weight loss drug that works so well the FDA will not approve it because all the wieght loss companies would be bankrupt.

Eric has the right idea. If we can make a video and post it on you tube supporting one of Eric's ideas.............

 

[LowVizWiz]

I've been wondering when they'd start showing up here. I did some dives in the Exumas last year and they were everywhere. Bahamain restaurants are placing them on their menus in an effort to encourage people to kill and eat them.

Chip. they spotted couple on the Capt. Dan and two more jut outside Hillsboro inlet at the beginning of the year.

 

[Law5Guy]

I hear if you make soup out of them it is five times more potent than Viagra.

The venom removes wrinkles and makes you look ten years younger.

When added to your gas tank you get five more miles to the gallon.

The venom is also a great weight loss drug that works so well the FDA will not approve it because all the wieght loss companies would be bankrupt.

From this article comes a suggestion:
Officials expect more lionfish in Florida Keys

One suggestion: Find a cooking recipe for lionfish, like the blackened-redfish craze that nearly depleted the redfish stock.

"They actually are very tasty. I've eaten a lot of them," said Purdy. "The problem is that a lionfish filet is about what you'd get from a small grunt."


And.. this shows how to catch, cook, and eat 'em:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hR-0zXnYMuc

 

[Orlando Eric]

From this article comes a suggestion:
Officials expect more lionfish in Florida Keys

One suggestion: Find a cooking recipe for lionfish, like the blackened-redfish craze that nearly depleted the redfish stock.

"They actually are very tasty. I've eaten a lot of them," said Purdy. "The problem is that a lionfish filet is about what you'd get from a small grunt."


And.. this shows how to catch, cook, and eat 'em:
YouTube - Lionfish Hunter 3/28

TASTE LIKE CHICKEN--- BOK Bok BOK!!

Okay I will now declare LIONFISH as a required dish to ANY Florida Conch Event! Any new members still have to bring the bottle of Rhum BUT SOMEBODY needs to bring the LionFish dish!