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Here on St Croix anybody can carry a spear with diveboat permission. Most of the DM's do, and there's usually another diver or two carrying per boat, usually a local known to the crew. Not uncommon to see shoredivers with spears as well. We are in the midst of of a lionfish spike. After...

Thanks for the video. That's a serious speargun you have there. Most of the guys here are using shorties with coil lanyards on the spear. So would you say that those Reef Balls are definitely attracting the LF on a regular basis? Is there any other natural structure nearby?

Comments: I seriously doubt reef sharks eat LF. The LF generally stay very close and protected in the reef. Many times I have kilt a LF and left them...not seeing anything come after it except a few tiny fish/small yellow snappers, and then only after the guts hanging out. Yet I have often seen...

Let's get back to the OP's subject: FOOD :beerchug: How many ounces of filet are you getting off of the average LF? (avg here is around 9 inches) btw... Anybody wondering about ciguartera poisoning from eating a thing that voraciously eats reef fish? LF are gluttonous. You might say I'm...

This question was posted elsewhere and I responded there too... A dive knife works just fine. Don't need a big one, just need to pay attention to where you're cutting the fish. Right behind the head across the spine, in front of the barbs, is where I like to do my dirty work. Then I usually...

I think most people in these parts would agree that St Croix's diving is much better than St Thomas'. We got "The Wall", wrecks, and sundry spectacular reefs. The Wall is where the ocean plunges thousands of feet. It's right off the northshore of STX. You can kick out to it from the shore in...

I agree with the others: BARBS are a must. I've had LF pull themselves right off even a barbed trident tip. Some are docile, some are fighters, and you never know which is which. The local LF response groups on STT, STX and STJ have had a 6 point barbed trident tip manufactured for them by...

Thanks Lionfisher. I like your concept of "gateway". In a word, it says a lot. A comparison to hunting and hunters is worthwhile: Many hunters have become conservationists. I want to say that I think our BEST hope is when money and efforts are channeled through groups like REEF, and...

I am a subscriber to Under Currents, and was Under Whelmed by the article. It was mostly a rehash of what you can read here or in other reports. Wish they would interview some of the scientists, or organizations that are actively working in the water and on the land. "Futile" is what happens...

I like the "weeding" analogy one poster used here. Suppression IS working here in certain areas here the USVI. What's in question is whether the suppression can be sustained for the long-haul. And now a DM friend tells me that they have found groups of LF in 'caves' at 200+ feet here while...

Kwik, you may have a point. I have a friend who dives with a tinted mask and he says it helps him pick out the small stuff much easier, which he likes to photograph. Light conditions and the surrounding color and complexity of the reef (which varies) can affect how well they stand out. What...

The consensus choice of weapon among the three organized LF hunting groups here in the USVI (STT, STX, STJ), is that slings and small spearguns are the way to go. One problem with the two handed spearing devices is that you often need one hand FREE to balance off the reef, or hold your...

Training is always a good thing. The most egregious safety issue with spearguns is not an underwater one. It's people who mishandle them while on the boat. This scares off the tourists and veteran divers alike, and the operators would be wise to require some sort of certification. The biggest...

Here on St Croix we currently do NOT recommend eating Lionfish due to ciguatera. The local LF hunting group has been sending their catches to the local university and some to the FDA. Some have ciguatera. Makes sense since LF eat reef fishies, and that's where ciguatera is concentrated.

Here on St Croix, a trained group of Lionfish Hunters hits the water as a group about every two weeks. In-between, LF divers and local scuba shop personnel are bagging them as they see them, or when they're called out by other divers to hotspots. Control efforts, mostly volunteer led at this...

That's big! Good job. Check out the CORE Foundation's FB page. They are reporting on catches, equipment, techniques, and results of their dissection program. From their May post: We removed 49 Lionfish that day and our research team dissected 38 of them for stomach content and more. The 38...

It is startling, but it's diving. I sometimes like to cup the air with my hands to modulate the sound in order to annoy a family member or hungover divemaster.

I've been diving the Aeris EX200 for about 7 months now. It's very nice and well built. It's not a jacket style, rather, more of a hybrid with back inflate and side pockets. Love to have me pockets!

I have posted a set of observations, experiences and questions over in "the other LF discussion" at http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/5846651-post58.html Would appreciate some responses to my questions, observations. re: Hixon's LF papers ...are they online? I haven't found them. While I...

Lionfish suppression on St Croix seems to be having an effect. We are seeing fewer and fewer on the northshore thanks in large part to the diligence of spear-toting divemasters and local divers. 4 months ago we'd see 3 or 4 on a northshore dive. But lately it's not uncommon to only see one...