Where are the Lion Fish

[mi000ke]

Same situation in Cayman Islands. Last October we routinely saw several on every dive. But I have been diving here regularly since February this year (down to about 100') and usually do not see any on most dives. Saw just one last week and one this morning. And the restaurants were out for a couple of weeks as well. I agree they make great eating, but I suppose it's good that they are in that short a supply. Cayman runs a regular lion fish cull competition, and that seems to be working.

 

[Pelagicsal]

Lots across the channel, Dave. I thought of that after you left yesterday.
Trimix guys said they weren't seeing many of them 150-200' on this side...

The cooperativo agrees with less lionfish in their areas, too. Previous yields were around 700kg/ month. Now they're in the 300-400kg range.

 

[JFS]

I hunt them down past 100 ft regularly and they are all fairly big. I can say that I am probably the only person on Cozumel who has a wood smoker that loves to get filled up with the tasty critters.The decline here in Cozumel can be attributed to a few factors. Lots of people are hunting them and also when the females lay their egg sack near the surface, it gets carried away in the currents elsewhere. There are lots of lion fish on the mainland still. We have limited our lion fish hunts now to divers with deep experience.

 

[Jayfarmlaw]

They were everywhere in Roatan. Everywhere. So many that several of us who had never hunted before took several each. The DM's were as excited as we were with each harvest, and laughed at us through their regs when we missed. I missed the Moby Dick of Lionfish under a reef ledge. Not only was he big.....he was fast. We saw dozens on every dive and one of the DM's was always hunting.

While I love the Coconut Crusted LF and ceviche at La Perlita, the amount of aquatic life on the reefs in Cozumel is vastly greater than what we saw in Roatan. The reefs appeared to be in better shape with more fragile types of coral in Roatan. That must be the trade. Lots of hunters bouncing off the reefs means fewer LF, better fish populations, but an less of a reef.

I would not be surprised if someone has died from a lionfish sting. The problem with Anaphalaxis and lionfish is that I'm sure very few people would know that they're would be allergic to lionfish venom. What you don't know can kill you. I doubt many diveboats carry an epipen either. Allergic reactions can happen fast. Remote location, unknown allergy, compounded by the diver could be having trouble by the time they surfaced....all add up to an easily fatal event.

Either way, I look forward to looking for the little boogers next Monday! see you then, Dave! Hopefully a birthday dive on the 18th to Barracuda and a Bohemia Obscura at The Thirsty Cougar when we get back. One of the few reasons to look forward to being one year older!

Safe travels,
Jay

 

[Dave Dillehay]

Lots across the channel, Dave. I thought of that after you left yesterday.
Trimix guys said they weren't seeing many of them 150-200' on this side...

Dear Sal,

Is that anyplace on the mainland? Could be worth trips over on Aldora V or VI if we can bring back barrels full.

Dave

 

[Pelagicsal]

That I don't know, Dave. I've hunted a bit just south of Playa, and buckets came back with us. Wish I had coordinates or firmer ideas, but...
Worth a look anyway?

 

[boulderjohn]

It has been several years Since I have dived Cozumel, but when I was there last, I did several technical dives. The lionfish were then most plentiful in the 160-220 foot range. There were not many deeper than that, probably because there was nothing much to hunt deeper than that.

 

[deepsea21]

If only we could get the Chinese and Japanese to take to Lion Fish as they did shark fins and giant Tuna - I mean, with a name like Lion Fish it has to be have some libido-building medicinal quality right? Accomplish that, get the dock price to about $20/lb and selling for about $60/lb in restaurants and they'll be hunted out of existence in no time.

 

[boulderjohn]

If only we could get the Chinese and Japanese to take to Lion Fish as they did shark fins and giant Tuna - I mean, with a name like Lion Fish it has to be have some libido-building medicinal quality right? Accomplish that, get the dock price to about $20/lb and selling for about $60/lb in restaurants and they'll be hunted out of existence in no time.

They would do it mainly in the Pacific, where they are not a problem and are integral parts of the ecosystem.

 

[ccannon707]

I heard from a local DM that Lion Fish can be had around the Cruise Ship piers - on Sunday only of course.