What's the latest on Lion Fish?

Baits Out · March 2016

Was just watching a couple guys on Shark Tank trying to sell a share
of their business catching and selling these fish as food.

None of the Sharks were willing to invest for various reasons.

As I remember, there are a couple local restaurants with
them on the menu?

Plus have heard of a couple dive clubs that have some sort of reward
for members killing as many of them as possible in a tournament scenario??

reel stamas · March 2016

One of the Local Fish Markets here sells them (when they can get them)... I assume they buy them from Commercial Divers... I have no idea what they cost (or if they're cleaned). I've eaten them & they're as good as any fish I ever tried (right there w/Hogfish/Scamp/BSB, etc), but the cost/pound to acquire & re-sell seems extravagant...

spydermonkey · March 2016

I think you were watching a re-run. I believe I saw that episode about 2 years ago. As far as the status right now I have no clue. I heard that if someone can figure out how to trap them that there would be a good commercial market for it.

Griz · March 2016

I think the state is now offering incentives for most caught, largest, etc.in an effort to try and at least control their numbers.

gandrfab · March 2016

They won't get removed totally, they live in shallow and deep water, all we can hope for is to keep the population down.

NBredfish · March 2016

The labor cost involved in cleaning & low yield makes them too expensive to be a viable product. Good eats though

abovebored · March 2016

Most that are commercially harvested are lobster trap bycatch

gandrfab · March 2016

NBredfish wrote: »

The labor cost involved in cleaning & low yield makes them too expensive to be a viable product. Good eats though

Need to label/market them as a delicacy and charge for that.
With the right price and no limits commercials will make then rare in short order.

Baits Out · March 2016

spydermonkey wrote: »

I think you were watching a re-run. I believe I saw that episode about 2 years ago. As far as the status right now I have no clue. I heard that if someone can figure out how to trap them that there would be a good commercial market for it.

That well could be. I have seen many repeats but this one was new to me.
Repeats are run in two to three hour stretches during the first part of the week.

In this area the new ones are broadcasted on Friday evenings.

Fletch · March 2016

A local restaurant asked me and a few other guys to bring some in a little over a year ago so they could try them out on the menu. I brought in a little over 300 lbs on my first trip. I would estimate somewhere around 400 fish. I did not have to gut them or trim their fins. He was sold out within a matter of a few days. Since this was the first delivery to that restaurant, the manager and owner did the gutting an finning themselves. And, I pretty much cured them from doing that ever again so now we have to gut and fin (but the price went up).

Since then, I haven't had much time to devote to them and have only dropped off smaller amounts here and there. A friend has brought in even larger hauls on several occasions. And as always, they sell fast. We've definitely thinned them down in the haunts we routinely dive but they are still out there in good numbers. A sub in Curacao has documented them at depths approaching 1,000 ft. With all the structure we have in the "un-divable" depths, it's a safe assumption that they aren't going anywhere. Localized reduction - yes to a degree. Outside of some lion fish specific disease, elimination is simply not going to happen.

Baits Out · March 2016

Good reply. Thanks!

Gardawg · March 2016

Lionfish fillets were $19.99 @ lb. at Key Largo Fisheries yesterday

They are very delicate fish and go great with a nice sauce such as lemon and caper or a shallot and white wine reduction