lionfish spearing

[REEF HQ]

We do NOT encourage feeding lionfish to other large predators for a variety of reasons:

1) Conditioned fish feeding can turn into dangerous situations for divers. Many have been attacked or harassed by predators (eels, sharks, groupers, barracudas) wanting a lionfish handout.

2) Lionfish CAN hurt these predators. Many of them do feel pain - we know this through observations where the animal is obviously showing signs of pain, distress, and increased respiration. There have been reports of green moray eels dead on the sea floor with lionfish lodged in their throats. (This occurred in an area where dive masters have been known to feed lionfish to eels.)

3) Teaching predators to receive mangled and mutilated lionfish from divers will not train predators to seek out fully armored and healthy lionfish.

"Training" predators to eat lionfish might seem like a good idea and it is well-intentioned, but it doesn't play out well.

- Keri, REEF Communications and Affiliate Program Manager

 

[ZooKeeper LCU]

Hi everyone,

Just read thru the thread. Thanks to all that mentioned the ZooKeeper LCU.
What is the safest and most efficient way to eliminate lionfish? The answer is........VERY CAREFULLY!!!!! (the picture CuracaoJ posted on this thread is actually my hand!!)

The ZooKeeper LCU allows you to eliminate more per dive without wondering if you are going to get stung.
Our website has a lot more info and links to other sites with information, such as REEF.org.

As an LET (Lionfish Elimination Team Curacao) member, I know that LET went from eliminating 15-20 lionfish per dive, to 40-60 per dive. In one month we took out over 2700 lionfish. (6 team members)
All Team members use the JBL pole spears. Some use the 6' spears, but most of us use the 3' purple colored JBL Pole Spear. When a lionfish is shot, there is less drag while turning the 3' spear to insert the lionfish into the ZooKeeper LCU (compared to longer spears). Ultimately, its the diver and what they are comfortable with.

Some helpful tips:
If you are going to stab it with a knife underwater, turn the lionfish around so you stab him from underneath. I have seen many divers stab them from the top and get stung by the long spines.
Make sure you have hot water, just in case you are stung.
Take a seminar or workshop on handling and collecting lionfish. REEF.org gives the workshop.

Our website is Home Page

New Project - YouTube

Allie ElHage
ZooKeeper Designer

 

[Randy g]

Just got back from this weekends dives out of Hatteras. My first thought when we saw all the lionfish on the Tarpon was, I'm gonna need a bigger opening on my tube. We had some HUGE 16-18" long lionfish on the wreck. Unfortunately I left the LF tube on the boat since it was our first dive of the season out of NC. We were on a deep wreck, scootering and filming. Decided I had enough sheit goin on.

Yesterday I rebuilt the top on my lionfish tube, opening up the top to 6" and used a cut funnel as a stopper. I also changed out my pole spear keeper to a fixed D ring. The little metal loop was a pain in the arse to clip a bolt snap to underwater with gloves on. The new D ring is easy peasy.

 

[8u88les]

best way is to use a long steel rod. when youve speared one you can just leave it on and use it to spear the next one. when you have a skewer full of lion fish just put straight onto the barbie! yumyum

 

[HalcyonDaze]

We do NOT encourage feeding lionfish to other large predators for a variety of reasons:

1) Conditioned fish feeding can turn into dangerous situations for divers. Many have been attacked or harassed by predators (eels, sharks, groupers, barracudas) wanting a lionfish handout.

2) Lionfish CAN hurt these predators. Many of them do feel pain - we know this through observations where the animal is obviously showing signs of pain, distress, and increased respiration. There have been reports of green moray eels dead on the sea floor with lionfish lodged in their throats. (This occurred in an area where dive masters have been known to feed lionfish to eels.)

3) Teaching predators to receive mangled and mutilated lionfish from divers will not train predators to seek out fully armored and healthy lionfish.

"Training" predators to eat lionfish might seem like a good idea and it is well-intentioned, but it doesn't play out well.

- Keri, REEF Communications and Affiliate Program Manager

Just to ask, what sort of critters normally eat them in their native Indo-Pacific range? I know I've seen photos from Indonesia of a frogfish gulping one down; as rabid as we beach apes might be at hunting lionfish down I imagine the outlook would be a lot better if some of the local predators would develop a taste for them.

 

[danvolker]

Just to ask, what sort of critters normally eat them in their native Indo-Pacific range? I know I've seen photos from Indonesia of a frogfish gulping one down; as rabid as we beach apes might be at hunting lionfish down I imagine the outlook would be a lot better if some of the local predators would develop a taste for them.

Pretty sure Coronet fish eat Lionfish in Indonesia....

 

[Fishspearit]

Lionfish can and should be put on ice for a few hours to neutralize the venom before handling. Even after the spines are neutralized they are still sharp as needles.....

I'm not so sure about this, I saw a guy get stung last week by a lionfish that had been in the cooler on ice for at least two hours.

 

[Scuba_Jenny]

Correct. You need to use heat to break down the venom.

 

[HalcyonDaze]

I'm not so sure about this, I saw a guy get stung last week by a lionfish that had been in the cooler on ice for at least two hours.

Yep, I had one that had been in the cooler over two hours nick me on Saturday. Wasn't bad, but I was impressed - it barely pricked the back of my hand and afterwards I couldn't find a puncture. About a minute later it felt like a sunburn or jelly sting and a bit later there was an ache in between my knuckles. The faucet in the tiki bar restroom wasn't very hot so I went and had a margarita. I think the discomfort was more from worrying it would turn into the "like a blowtorch" descriptions I've heard.

 

[MAKO Spearguns]

We offer a light weight, pole spear made from aircraft aluminum paired with a non-barbed tip that makes removal of the lionfish easy, fast and safe. Since we sell direct to the consumer, our prices are extremely competitive.

Please note that our aluminum spears will never begin to shed fiberglass splinters into your hand as they wear.

A pole spear ensures that the fish and the spines are no where near your hands.

Mako Lion Fish Killer Pole Spear

View attachment 156514

We recently posted a video about lionfish. Check it out:

[video=youtube_share;4iZ9BdKkgxU]http://youtu.be/4iZ9BdKkgxU[/video]