Delicious Lionfish

[Reef_Geek]

A dive instructor I used to work with is now in Jamaica working on getting a dive operation started at the Rhodes Resort near Negril. From time to time, I get to live vicariously through his GoPro videos.

His latest... lion fish hunting with Hawaiian slings.
http://youtu.be/w9YwEpPFvZg

Before anyone gets too offended though, I will preface this with--

Lionfish, including Pterois volitans, naturally occurs in the Pacific and has never naturally occurred in the Atlantic prior to release and introduction by humans, almost definitely related to the live importation and trade activities of the aquarium business. Their establishment of breeding populations in the Atlantic has negative impacts on natural populations, especially due to the lack of predators (on adults and young) that are normally present in the Pacific.

Here are some scientific references on the issue.

http://www.vetofish.com/sites/vetofi...eef_fishes.pdf

http://www.int-res.com/articles/meps2002/235/m235p289

http://link.springer.com/article/10....-9795-1#page-1

If you take no offense to this, I'll let you know, apparently lionfish fillets are quite tasty. Hopefully I'll get to visit and try lionfish tacos one day.

[hillegom]

Thanks for sharing

[iceman86]

Awesome clip. I miss diving in Jamaica

[FishingGoalie]

Haha thats awesome we go to Grand Cayman every year a few times a year because my aunt and uncle live there, anyway we get to spearfish them then when we come up after our first dive the person who watches the boat will cook us Seviche with lion fish so when we finish our second dive we come up and get to eat it. IT IS SOO GOOD. For you guys who dont know what Seviche is it is when you cook a fish in the acids of fruits and Veggies.

[reefermadness]

They are hardy bass tards too.....they have been spotted as far North as long island New York.

[Reef_Geek]

lol! Lionfish ceviche sounds delicious.

Just a quick google search... and you get recipes for cooking lionfish!

http://www.lionfishhunters.org/Recipes.html

I wonder if anyone out there has tried making a spicy lionfish roll...

[FishingGoalie]

hehehehehe it is sooo good i dont know if i would eat tank ones though.

[Reef_Geek]

Originally Posted by FishinGoalie

hehehehehe it is sooo good i dont know if i would eat tank ones though.

yeah, unless I were looking for supplemental copper in my diet... maybe a boost in methylene blue levels...

[paddyob]

My cousin lives in Bermuda. He said they have an annual Lion fish competition and cook off.

As you mentioned, they are pests in the Caribbean and area. They obliterate natural species in the area. He said you can legally kill a lion fish ANY time you see one. Even on protected reefs.

And he said its very tasty.

[paddyob]

Originally Posted by FishinGoalie

Haha thats awesome we go to Grand Cayman every year a few times a year because my aunt and uncle live there, anyway we get to spearfish them then when we come up after our first dive the person who watches the boat will cook us Seviche with lion fish so when we finish our second dive we come up and get to eat it. IT IS SOO GOOD. For you guys who dont know what Seviche is it is when you cook a fish in the acids of fruits and Veggies.

I heard it takes many hours for ceviche to be prepared. Properly anyhow.