Population explosion of Sharpnose Puffers

[XcalakSteve]

I have noticed over the last few months a huge increase in the Sharpnose Puffer population. The shop I work with covers the first 18 miles of the Mexican Caribbean starting at the Belize border. Every dive site in this area has thousands of these puffers now. Today I saw hundreds of them just laying in the sand. Has anyone else noticed this in the Caribbean?

Steve

 

[knotical]

Saw a similar thing in Bonaire several years ago. If you consider the spawning habits of many species, with huge numbers left to the mercy of currents, it seems reasonable to expect random local population explosions.

 

[XcalakSteve]

I have heard of large numbers of these puffers from cozumel to the Bay Islands in Honduras. Not just a local thing. Has anyone else noticed this where they are?
Steve

 

[archman]

Sharpnoses... the "cockroach" of the puffer family.

Ha ha.

 

[John_B]

I have heard of large numbers of these puffers from cozumel to the Bay Islands in Honduras. Not just a local thing. Has anyone else noticed this where they are?
Steve

I recently spent a week (Nov. 15-22) at Coco View in Roatan, these things were *everywhere*. Since this was my first trip to Honduras, I didn't realize their numbers were out of the ordinary.

 

[b1gcountry]

Don't you just hate it when you go to the Caribbean and can't even enjoy the diving because of all the stinkin' fish. My GOD!

Tom

 

[Doubler]

I say let's get some Lionfish to take care of these little rascals.

 

[dschonbrun]

I noticed an increase in population in both the keys and in the Caymans. Due to over-fishing of larger schooling fish, I am not surprised that species which do not grow to a size beyond 4 inches are becoming more prevalent, given that many competing species may be reduced in population.

 

[scubawife]

First 2 wees of December I didn't notice any significant increase in Cozumel. The following week diving off the mainland for 6 days we saw them everywhere. DMs told us that it had been worse a couple weeks before. We saw many that looked diseased, saw ones dead on the reef and in the sand and literally watched several die right in front of us. They were floating on the surface and washing up on the beach.

 

[scubawife]

I say let's get some Lionfish to take care of these little rascals.

There are reports of sightings in Belize earlier this month so it's just a matter of time before they make their way up the coast.