Weapons of Lion fish destruction!

[firstdive2005]

My Hawaiian sling by JBL just got to me. Along with needle proof gloves. I bought a few pairs for the dms at the shop. I bought the aluminum type instead of the fiberglass. I had not held the aluminum one before, it seems a bit bulky. The fiberglass one I use on Coz is like using the lower part of a fishing rod. Nonetheless I am now going to practice on my neighbors cat. lol.

 

[Jaeger45]

Excellent.... Happy hunting!

 

[garrett58]

the needle proof gloves are a great idea.if the spearpole is the gold toned aluminum with the tapered shaft you will like it compared to just the straight fiberglass ones.
strech the band to where you feel compfortable holding it and then wrap some grip tape for a hand hold makes for quik drawing and shooting

 

[mike_s]

didn't think you could wear gloves at Cozumel dive sites......

they were all paranoid that you'd touch the reef or something.

 

[cvchief]

Here fluffy.....

 

[SC_Hoaty]

Here fluffy.....

 

[robint]

video deleted....do a search on YouTube for "cat alligator".

robin

 

[scubawife]

didn't think you could wear gloves at Cozumel dive sites......

they were all paranoid that you'd touch the reef or something.

Within the marine park you can't. Also within the park boundaries I believe the rule still holds that only DMs are allowed to kill or catch lionfish, and when doing so they are allowed to wear gloves. Unless something has changed, park authorities don't encourage dive ops having their customers doing any of the catching or killing.

 

[Darol]

Mask Box and EEL.

 

[firstdive2005]

When the pez leon first arrived at Coz we where using mask boxes, plastic bags and even the onion bags with the holes in them to catch them. Then we started gaffing them that was safer and the park dudes where ok with that. They would not out and out endorse it but over a couple wobbly pops one night discussion led to us being told not to get hurt and dont hurt the reef. We where told that spear guns would not be tolerated but the hooks and slings where different. Then the park people as most dive ops know wanted some safety added to this because the lion fish where growing so fast and people where going to get hurt and they have. They had what would amount to a course for the dms but not all attended thats for sure.
I dont wear the glove all the time, only when I have the fish on and it is going to be cut up in the water. If it's fed to a critter then the glove isnt needed.
But the dive ops that I know for sure just dont let anyone on their boat with a sling. They really want to know the ability of the diver first as a diver then safe with the tool. I also know a few ops that are opposed to killing them. Whatever, thats their call.
I use shears in the park to cut them up, outside the park up north I take my leg knife, I can cut them faster with the knife and it is handy if we hunt other stuff up there.
It has been a very alarming time for the guys that make their living diving. A lot are worried about the lion fish devastating the reefs with their appetites. When you gut one IT IS ALARMING! Who knows if the process that is going on will help in the long run but my feeling is it will. I have killed at least 2-300 myself. Do the math as to how many juvenile fish that saved. Multiply that by the other people hunting them and I feel the reef is being helped.
I hope some dive ops pipe up in this discussion. Maybe even set records straight.