Would you buy a fishing license just to hunt lionfish?

[tahqa]

If you have a fishing pole in your hand you are fishing, if you are in the water with a spear/speargun you are spearfishing, whether you catch anything doesn't matter, you need a license.

Aye, that is true, but some of my crazy friends have been known to kill lion fish with just a knife.

 

[Carol202]

If you have a fishing pole in your hand you are fishing, if you are in the water with a spear/speargun you are spearfishing, whether you catch anything doesn't matter, you need a license.

Not true for lionfish right now! You are allowed to use small poles to kill lionfish, and keep them if you wish, without a license in the state of Florida. Here is the link to the FWC web site: Harvesting and Reporting Lionfish . Here is what the site has to say:

These changes are currently in effect through Aug. 2013 and include:

• A recreational fishing license is not required for recreational fishers targeting lionfish while using a pole spear, a Hawaiian Sling, a handheld net or any spearing device that is specifically designed and marketed exclusively for lionfish.
• There is no recreational or commercial harvest bag limit for lionfish.
• A recreational fishing license (unless exempt) is required for all other methods of harvesting lionfish including hook and line.
• The sale of commercial harvest of lionfish requires a saltwater products license.

Divers should know the rules for using spears. Spears may not be used:

• Within 100 yards of a public swimming beach, any commercial or public fishing pier, or any part of a bridge from which public fishing is allowed;
• Within 100 feet of any part of a jetty that is above the surface of the sea - except for the last 500 yards of a jetty that extends more than 1,500 yards from the shoreline;
• In Collier County and in Monroe County from Long Key north to the Miami-Dade County line;
• In any body of water under the jurisdiction of the Department of Environental Protection, Division of Recreation and Parks (Florida Park Service). Possession of spearfishing equipment is prohibited in these areas, unless it is unloaded and properly stored.
• Harvest by other means, such as hand-held nets, is allowed in all of these situations.
• There are general saltwater regulations that apply to the harvest of all marine species, including lionfish. These regulations prohibit the use of certain gear such as explosives, fish traps and certain nets, and prohibit the harvest of fish while using a rebreather.
• A permit is required to harvest lionfish in the no-take zones of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Permits are issued by the Sanctuary following training given by the Sanctuary and the Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF).

[h=3]Handling lionfish[/h]Lionfish should be handled carefully; they have venom glands on the dorsal, pelvic and anal spines.

• NOAA recommends treating a puncture wound by immersing the wound area in hot (not scalding) water for 30-90 minutes and to seek medical attention as soon as possible. The Poison Help Hotline, 800-222-1222, is available 24 hours a day, every day.
• Unless a person is allergic to the venom, lionfish stings are very rarely fatal. Stings can be very painful, cause numbness, swelling and even temporary paralysis.

[h=3]Reporting lionfish[/h]

• Call the nationwide reporting number (877-STOPANS) sponsored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) or fill out an online report on the USGS website.
• NOAA is particularly interested in receiving information about sightings in the Gulf of Mexico. It would also like to receive specimens. An instruction sheet on how to collect specimens and contact information for NOAA
  
  is available online."

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Aye, that is true, but some of my crazy friends have been known to kill lion fish with just a knife.

LOL. I will ask my contacts in FWC to consider adding dive knives to the next revision of the lionfish rules just for your crazy friend.

 

[Kronek]

Triggerfish are the worst invasive species up here. So I don't know much. But when you kill them, do you just leave their bodies on the floor? Or do you take them with you? Seems risky taking them since they are venomous.

 

[tahqa]

Triggerfish are the worst invasive species up here. So I don't know much. But when you kill them, do you just leave their bodies on the floor? Or do you take them with you? Seems risky taking them since they are venomous.

Properly prepared they are quite tasty. However, a lot of divers down here will kill them, remove the spines, and then leave the carcass on the bottom. They hope that this will train the other fish that the lionfish are good eatins.

 

[Kronek]

Properly prepared they are quite tasty. However, a lot of divers down here will kill them, remove the spines, and then leave the carcass on the bottom. They hope that this will train the other fish that the lionfish are good eatins.

All I can think of is the Simpsons episode where Homer gets puffer fish and the chef is saying "Poison fish, Poison fish, Poison fish, tastey fish, Poison fish."

 

[Tigerman]

Fugu!
A tasty way to die?

 

[tahqa]

Lionfish Hunter: CATCH CLEAN & COOK LIONFISH