Our Underwater Adventure in Utila

[itsjustme0770]

Don't know about references to shed light on the population, but considering the pressure on Utila's other fish population, here's a link to Lionfish Recipes. They are actually a great tasting fish. Google "cleaning lionfish" for simple cleaning instructions. I'd like to think that this fish is a great alternative to grouper, redfish, snapper, etc.

http://www.lionfishhunter.com/Lionfish Recipes.html

 

[Robertcrockett]

If your boat captain at Laguna Beach was Kerry then you truly lucked out. Kerry is the most wonderful guy in Utila. He actually lives out on the Cays and his mother cooks like an angel. Kerry handled all my transportation needs when I rented Little Cay last year, knew when all the fresh fish came in and above all else became someone that I considered a real friend. Cant wait to get back this year

 

[tarponchik]

Wow, we did about 50 dives on Utila last year and never saw a single lionfish...Couple of questions I have, if there is a marine biologist in the house to answer:

1. Who preys on lionfish in Indo-Pacific?
2. Where do young lionfish live? Why is that we only see adults?
3. At what age their spines become poisonous?
4. Is there a predator in Carribean that would be likely to prey on young lionfish before their spines become poisonous?

 

[tarponchik]

Here's a link to my report report about our dive trip to Laguna Beach Resort in Utila.
Utila Trip Report

I am surprised you did not dive Haliburton wreck (or you forgot to list it?). It is pretty cool, with several large residential black groupers and puffers, and inside the wreck there are more BCSs than tourists in DC on a cherry-blossom day.

 

[Robertcrockett]

I am surprised you did not dive Haliburton wreck (or you forgot to list it?). It is pretty cool, with several large residential black groupers and puffers, and inside the wreck there are more BCSs than tourists in DC on a cherry-blossom day.

I don't think that Laguna Beach regularly dives the Haliburton (but probably will if enough divers on the boat are interested) Because of their location, Laguna boats generally head straight to the North Side.

 

[Scubagal]

Kerry was our captain and he was wonderful! When we went into town he shaved, and I went up to him and patted his cheeks and told him he cleaned up good. When we left the resort on the boat he was at the dock and I told him "you're the man". Seriously, we've been on a fair amount on dive trips and this was the best boat crew we've ever had.

 

[tarponchik]

I don't think that Laguna Beach regularly dives the Haliburton (but probably will if enough divers on the boat are interested) Because of their location, Laguna boats generally head straight to the North Side.

This is quite an odd statement considering that more than 50% of the dive sites in the report are in the S (11 out of 19, not to count Reggedy which is in the W). I bet Laguna follows the same strategy as DBR next door: N for the double morning dives (weather permitting), S for the afternoon and night dives. A simple answer to my question would be probably "not enough time."

 

[Sasquatch]

Great report. It was fun to visit Utila again even if it was behind my desk! I was there in March, 2005.

 

[dweissnj]

We were on the Aggressor 4/10-17 DMs were taking lionfish. 6-8 on some dives. They said they had OK for a pilot program.