Miami Diving- What to do with the Lion Fish

Capt.B · 05/07/2013, 09:16 PM

I went diving out of Miami on Saturday 5/4/13. Had a great day. Sunny and only 1-2' seas. We went free dive spearing on patch reefs up to 30' in the vicinity of Boca Chita Key--great conditions and caught grouper and snapper for dinner and some specimens for the tanks. Then we went on scuba dives in 60-80' off of the deep side of Triumph Reef. To my dismay there were lion fish on a good amount of the coral heads down there. I easily saw a dozen of them. Sometimes I euthanize a few for the good of the reef ecosystem, but it takes a while to do so while making sure they don't sting you. This wastes a lot of dive time, especially when you're at 60ft+. My question is, what is the most efficient way to exterminate this invasive species (humanely of course!) and/or does anyone capture them alive to put into predator tanks?

-B

Reeferz412 · 05/08/2013, 11:05 AM

Eat them! I hear they are very good.

billsreef · 05/09/2013, 05:05 PM

The most efficient way we have is to spear them and eat them for dinner. However, considering they are found thriving in much deeper water than recreational diving allows for (at least down to 400' that I know of), us scuba divers can only barely scratch the surface of the problem. They are also found doing well in low salinity estuarine areas. One research I know has found them in nearly fresh water up the Loxahatchee river. I'm afraid they are here to stay, like many other invasive species

johnike · 05/09/2013, 05:17 PM

Bill, want to trade some Lionfish fillets fore some Morels?

I've heard you have none.

You could have CT4 deliver them.

billsreef · 05/09/2013, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnike

Bill, want to trade some Lionfish fillets fore some Morels?

I've heard you have none.

You could have CT4 deliver them.

I might have to take up Bikram Yoga first

Capt.B · 05/21/2013, 05:11 PM

Thanks guys. I have eaten them before and they're tasty--but a lot of work for a small amount of meat. I guess the good old spear is the way to go.

-B

Capt.B · 05/21/2013, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnike

Bill, want to trade some Lionfish fillets fore some Morels?

I've heard you have none.

You could have CT4 deliver them.

Are you serious about trading Morels or is this an inside joke? I happen to love Morels and often and fresh fish. This weekend we landed a half dozen tuna, along with mahi-mahi, sailfish, and kingfish.

-B

billsreef · 05/21/2013, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capt.B

Thanks guys. I have eaten them before and they're tasty--but a lot of work for a small amount of meat. I guess the good old spear is the way to go.

-B

Got to go for the big ones

Though even those are small compared to tuna and such.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capt.B

Are you serious about trading Morels or is this an inside joke? I happen to love Morels and often and fresh fish. This weekend we landed a half dozen tuna, along with mahi-mahi, sailfish, and kingfish.

-B

John actually does collect morels in his woods, though I'm too sure of his morels

It's a lounge thing...

Out of curiorsity, where do you usually go fishing out of?

Adam13 · 06/03/2013, 03:11 AM

If you throw them in an ice chest the venom on the spines is no tonger toxic to us. Makes cleaning them a little more relaxing. A local in the Exumas demonstrates this by sticking himself with them after they have been in the ice chest water for about 45 min. You won't catch me doing it but I have seen it in person.

billsreef · 06/03/2013, 04:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adam13

If you throw them in an ice chest the venom on the spines is no tonger toxic to us. Makes cleaning them a little more relaxing. A local in the Exumas demonstrates this by sticking himself with them after they have been in the ice chest water for about 45 min. You won't catch me doing it but I have seen it in person.

I have not heard this before. I expect it's more a matter of the venom in the spine tips having washed out in the ice chest water and not being replaced.

Adam13 · 06/03/2013, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billsreef

I have not heard this before. I expect it's more a matter of the venom in the spine tips having washed out in the ice chest water and not being replaced.

It is temp related. He used to throw them right in the deep freezer when we spear fished off the big boat and it still worked. Let me look through some hard-drives and turn up a video of him doing it.

hperkins · 07/03/2013, 09:19 AM

spear them. When I lived in Belize, there was a big lion fish problem. Speared at least 10 every dive. People were catching big ones in 300+ feet of water though so not sure what the longterm answer is.

MacWilliams · 07/11/2013, 11:35 AM

There really is no long term answer. We arent even scratching the surface of the problem by killing a few every dive. Either way they will find a way to survive.

Pieface · 07/15/2013, 10:15 PM

Here is a link of a news story about these living a greater depths then what was first thought. This is what Bill was talking about.

http://www.foxnews.com/science/2013/...reaking-havoc/

michael_cb_125 · 07/17/2013, 03:28 PM

These fish are quickly becoming an issue up the entire East Coast.
We have a house in Kure Beach, NC and we catch Lions very frequently. They are typically found in the Gulf Stream, but in the summer months they move inshore.

Here are a few that came 30 miles off the coast of NC in 180' of water.

They are very good eating!

~Michael

rpjaws74 · 07/28/2013, 05:56 PM

wow and to think people pay here up to $85 for them

dinwiddie90 · 08/12/2013, 08:17 PM

We killed a bunch in marathon key diving. Very good to eat

huricaneredbone · 09/10/2013, 09:27 PM

At this point i don't think there is anything we can do to stop them. They are invasive because they are so successful. Dont think of it as trying to erradicate them, think about it as a delicious fish to put on the table that doesnt require any guilt to put a spear through its face...

05/07/2013, 09:16 PM	#1
Capt.B Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Miami Posts: 12	Miami Diving- What to do with the Lion Fish I went diving out of Miami on Saturday 5/4/13. Had a great day. Sunny and only 1-2' seas. We went free dive spearing on patch reefs up to 30' in the vicinity of Boca Chita Key--great conditions and caught grouper and snapper for dinner and some specimens for the tanks. Then we went on scuba dives in 60-80' off of the deep side of Triumph Reef. To my dismay there were lion fish on a good amount of the coral heads down there. I easily saw a dozen of them. Sometimes I euthanize a few for the good of the reef ecosystem, but it takes a while to do so while making sure they don't sting you. This wastes a lot of dive time, especially when you're at 60ft+. My question is, what is the most efficient way to exterminate this invasive species (humanely of course!) and/or does anyone capture them alive to put into predator tanks? -B __________________ Love and Respect the Ocean -Capt.B

05/08/2013, 11:05 AM	#2
Reeferz412 Coral Hoarder Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 2,247	Eat them! I hear they are very good. __________________ Alex FMAS Member Current Tank Info: 400 Gallons of frags... 30 gallon Deep Blue mixed reef ... 70 other tanks throughout south FL

05/09/2013, 05:05 PM	#3
billsreef Moderator 10 & Over Club Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Long Island, NY/North Miami Posts: 36,538	The most efficient way we have is to spear them and eat them for dinner. However, considering they are found thriving in much deeper water than recreational diving allows for (at least down to 400' that I know of), us scuba divers can only barely scratch the surface of the problem. They are also found doing well in low salinity estuarine areas. One research I know has found them in nearly fresh water up the Loxahatchee river. I'm afraid they are here to stay, like many other invasive species __________________ Bill "LOL, well I have no brain apparently. " - dc (Debi) Current Tank Info: Far too many tanks according to my wife, LOL.

05/21/2013, 05:11 PM	#6
Capt.B Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Miami Posts: 12	Thanks guys. I have eaten them before and they're tasty--but a lot of work for a small amount of meat. I guess the good old spear is the way to go. -B __________________ Love and Respect the Ocean -Capt.B

07/17/2013, 03:28 PM	#15
michael_cb_125 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 3,358	These fish are quickly becoming an issue up the entire East Coast. We have a house in Kure Beach, NC and we catch Lions very frequently. They are typically found in the Gulf Stream, but in the summer months they move inshore. Here are a few that came 30 miles off the coast of NC in 180' of water. They are very good eating! ~Michael __________________ "People are too durable, that's their main trouble. They can do too much to themselves, they last too long" The more I learn, the less I know. Current Tank Info: Elos Mini and 120

05/09/2013, 05:17 PM	#4
johnike Moved On Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bureau County Illinois Posts: 5,406	Bill, want to trade some Lionfish fillets fore some Morels? I've heard you have none. You could have CT4 deliver them.

06/03/2013, 03:11 AM	#9
Adam13 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 270	If you throw them in an ice chest the venom on the spines is no tonger toxic to us. Makes cleaning them a little more relaxing. A local in the Exumas demonstrates this by sticking himself with them after they have been in the ice chest water for about 45 min. You won't catch me doing it but I have seen it in person.

07/03/2013, 09:19 AM	#12
hperkins Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 8	spear them. When I lived in Belize, there was a big lion fish problem. Speared at least 10 every dive. People were catching big ones in 300+ feet of water though so not sure what the longterm answer is.

07/11/2013, 11:35 AM	#13
MacWilliams Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 410	There really is no long term answer. We arent even scratching the surface of the problem by killing a few every dive. Either way they will find a way to survive.

07/15/2013, 10:15 PM	#14
Pieface Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Reno Nv Posts: 73	Here is a link of a news story about these living a greater depths then what was first thought. This is what Bill was talking about. http://www.foxnews.com/science/2013/...reaking-havoc/

07/28/2013, 05:56 PM	#16
rpjaws74 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: El Paso, Texas Posts: 1,340	wow and to think people pay here up to $85 for them __________________ rpjaws Current Tank Info: 500 glln system/ Reef

08/12/2013, 08:17 PM	#17
dinwiddie90 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 71	We killed a bunch in marathon key diving. Very good to eat

09/10/2013, 09:27 PM	#18
huricaneredbone Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: North Miami Posts: 171	At this point i don't think there is anything we can do to stop them. They are invasive because they are so successful. Dont think of it as trying to erradicate them, think about it as a delicious fish to put on the table that doesnt require any guilt to put a spear through its face...