Nice little lionfish article

[flounderer]

Here is a cool little article about the lionfish study that has been going on off our coast. Goes into the diving they are doing to study these guys. It's getting scary how prevalent they are.

http://www.uncwil.edu/nurc/lionfishdocument.pdf


Pat

 

[BigWhiteSquare]

There's something I've been wondering about with respect to Lionfish. What are everyone's thoughts on spearing these things? I mean, on the one hand it's a neat looking fish, and by all accounts non-aggressive. However, it is an invasive species, which I can only guess is supplanting some native species. In addition, it can be very dangerous to humans, at least those foolish enough to touch it.

The article seems to indicate eradication isn't a viable option, but I'm wondering if controlling the population is an option.

I don't spearfish myself, but I'm curious to hear from some of you that do.

Frank

 

[flounderer]

People are telling others to spear them but I don't think it will have any effect. They've really become thick below 140' in areas not dove to much. I think the base population will always be around to keep producing more lionfish. A friend working on the study shot over 50 on one wreck last summer and this summer there are just as many on the same site. The problem with asking people to shot them is the danger thats involved with removing them from the spear, I know two guys that have been stung trying to do so. On the other hand my friend ate a few and said they taste like grouper so maybe it would be worth it.

Pat

 

[BabyDuck]

thanks, pat, that was a cool article! you have the best info on stuff & i appreciate your posts, buddy. but shouldn't he say they taste like chicken? doesn't everything taste like chicken?

 

[flounderer]

thanks, pat, that was a cool article! you have the best info on stuff & i appreciate your posts, buddy. but shouldn't he say they taste like chicken? doesn't everything taste like chicken?

He started to say that before he went into convulsions.

 

[Scubamedicjoe]

Well we seen several of them this last week even at depths of 45 feet at frying pan towers and then again at the gill at depths of 85 feet, they are reproducing at an alarming rate. What is the answer?!!!!

 

[flounderer]

Time to list them in the Atlantic Coast Fishes Field Guide. The current thinking is the fish in the deeper water stay year round while the guys who migrate inshore die off in the winter. They do not have the natural instinct to move offshore to warmer water when the temp starts to drop. Their brain may be hardwired to think like a fish in the Indo-Pacific where there is not a huge temperature swing into the lethal zone. As long as they are well offshore reproducing I think they are here to stay.

Pat

ps. BabyDuck, Thank you.

 

[Warthog]

Well we seen several of them this last week even at depths of 45 feet at frying pan towers and then again at the gill at depths of 85 feet, they are reproducing at an alarming rate. What is the answer?!!!!

Our DM warned us about one in a wreck off Bermuda, but I never saw it. Max depth on that dive couldn't have been more than 45fsw. I had 59 minutes bottom time on an aluminum 80. It was a very good day

 

[archman]

Kill the lionfish!! Kill, kill, kill, kill...

friggin' exotics.

 

[Scubamedicjoe]

Kill the lionfish!! Kill, kill, kill, kill...

friggin' exotics.

well hear one from my Aug 16th dive with capefear divers .
is this close enough for ya !!!!
http://www.wilmingtondiving.com/photos/displayimage.php?album=search&cat=0&pos=0