NEW 2010 - Lionfish SMASH!? or put some Volatins in your Vodka?
This just in from Kent. Big happenings over in Bimini, the guys got the lionfish's number and want to punch it.
http://www.fksa.org/albums/album384/Lionfish_smash.jpg The first lionfish I ever saw in the Atlantic was under two miles north of this spot on North Bimini almost two years ago (see below). It was followed by way too many more. No known natural predators in the Atlantic, as of yet uncertain impact on existing fish stocks, juvenile snapper and grouper, etc.. Lionfish are super common in the family islands now, wonder what is now less common as a result? Why not try to give the Atlantic waters back to native Atlantic species? Worth a try. http://www.fksa.org/albums/album292/Lionfish_7_s.jpg Volatins poaching way out of Pacific waters in a foreign sea, our Atlantic. Not good. |
Who has seen these in Florida?
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I caught one with a little kids fishing net a few years ago in south beach. It was floating under some sea weed and they were gonna grab it, it was a baby...so yes i have seen one
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I've done quite a bit of spearing in the Bahamas and had never really seen one until this year. Actually, unless you are really looking, you probably wouldn't see them because they are actually kind of hard to spot at first. My last trip over I saw at least 10-15 of them in around 50 feet of water. They were hanging around a great grouper spot and weren't really afraid of anything.
On a guess I'd bet that at least 300 of them will meet their end at the Bimini event. I understand that they will even have someone there showing how to prepare the tasty little critters for dinner. I'm definitely going to this event just before the Nationals in Corpus Christi, TX. The nice thing is that I'll probably even get some kiting in as well. Should be fun. |
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I think your guess of a few hundred is in the ballpark. If guys tune into to where they are most likely found, they might even go past that point. Maybe tow around likely spots to scout prospects in advance. It is good the organizers are going to give tips on how to approach and deal with lionfish to avoid getting stung, nasty venom there. More about the little buggers at: http://coastalscience.noaa.gov/docum...ionfish_ia.pdf http://fksa.org/showthread.php?p=39347#post39347 http://keysnews.com/node/11058 Some limited medical considerations: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/770764-overview http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/770764-treatment |
It was only 3 or so inches a really little guy. I'm not sure what the potency of their venom is when they are that small, but if they are like snakes then it can still be very painful. Kids don't know any better either and they were trying to play with it. At that size I remember that the spines/frills were not very pronounced but none the less it really stood out and was 100% a lion fish.
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Interesting story, thanks for posting it. Yours is the first story I've heard about them hanging out in sargassum mats. Fry of numerous species are distributed all over in that fashion. Do they even have sargassum mats or equivalent in the Indo Pacific? Or has our boy Volatins adopted not only a new ocean but means of distribution in their invasion? Anyone going to Bimini? Thinking about it myself. http://www.fksa.org/albums/album392/...p_Lionfish.jpg This one was cruising along in about 15 ft. of water off Great Stirrup in the Berrys last year |
I'm heading over if the sea conditions allow. Boy, if that little bugger is swimming that close to me on May 2nd, he'll be dancing on the end of my spear!
They actually have a chef coming over to teach us how to cook these guys. I guess that they taste pretty good. It's different from Blow fish for example in that the poison is only in the barbs and not actually in the fish. May is a great time for the Bahamas, I can't wait. |
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May have posted this before, it is pretty amusing and I usually avoid cooking shows like the plague. Still, it shows one means of culinary conquest of the Volatins. Somebody wrote lionfish taste like grouper?! Could be a whole new market. Hey Kent, they got zombie powder at Bimini Bay for guests? Bomba Shack has full moon mushroom tea, could start a fad. |
The contest was delayed due to weather ... too much wind, ha! We know what to with that right?! Anyway, it was held over Memorial Day and Kent fills us in on what went on complete with some great photos from the scene. Can you say "Volatins Sashimi?"
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