You Speared a Lionfish Yet?

smart but not about being prey. They have venomous protection, great camouflage, rapid growth, and breed like rabbits. They can wipe out 90% of all life on a single reef. First seen offshore of SE Florida, where hundreds of exotic tropical fish were released. The lionfish is native to Indo-Pacific and the Red Sea and the infestation has spread throughout the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and way up the Atlantic.

have DEEP SIX DIVE & WATERSPORTS it’s good to VERO BEACH • 772-562-2883 416 21st St., Vero Beach, FL 32960 STUART • 772-692-2747 2525 NW Federal Hwy., Stuart, FL 34994 www.deepsix.com

In 2010 I shot my first lionfish diving in the Tortugas. After stoning him, 6 more of his buddies were trimmed of their 13 dorsal, 2 pelvic and 3 anal venomous spines. I ascended with the last one intact on my sling, which slid down and almost stuck me. Single flopper tips are not good at protecting your hands, even with dive glove. Lionfish are ravenous ambush predators,

Organizations now have lionfish derbies widespread because they have no marine predators. Divers are one of the few effective means of reducing the lionfish population. The largest lionfish I heard was speared in Florida and was 48.8 cm / 19.213 in. My largest lionfish is 17 in.—pictured with me in my Bucs shirt! Lionfish taste like hogfish and is high in lean protein and Omega 3 fats. The Reef Lionfish Cookbook is sure to make your mouth water. The book is full of fantastic recipes!

Moderately short polespears with paralyzer tips work very well to shoot and pin lionfish, and easily slip them into a container. Divers fish as alternatives!