Lion Hunting in Africa vs Cozumel

[JFS]

Atleast here it is welcomed. Plus we give you a bad ass T shirt.

 

[tomfcrist]

You can eat lions in Africa too....evidently just not the ones that bring in tourist dollars. #zebralivesmatter

 

[Dave Dillehay]

Actually, lion fish is probably one of the best tasting fish I have ever eaten, and it has nothing to do with doing the right thing. The fillets are not large, even for the bigger fish but if you have ever had fresh lion fish ceviche you will never take a bite of grouper again! My refer has 2 quarts of that and the restaurants are going to miss me.

Dave Dillehay
Aldora Divers

 

[ggunn]

Actually, lion fish is probably one of the best tasting fish I have ever eaten...

I enthusiastically second that. The coconut lionfish at La Perlita is some of the best seafood I have ever eaten anywhere, any time.

 

[tomfcrist]

The fillets are not large, even for the bigger fish but if you have ever had fresh lion fish ceviche you will never take a bite of grouper again!

Have you ever filleted a 16" lionfish? There is plenty of meat to work with...maybe even enough for a sandwich.
As far as never eating grouper again...horse manure. If I'm cooking for more than me, I'll take the ease of filleting 1 grouper over 12 Lionfish all day long.

 

[gopbroek]

I have eaten a 16" I took last November (second chamber up from the S. End of Columbia, 1 minute into the Dive) great meat but I think the medium to Juvenal size has a finer grain and better taste. Plus when you kill them in their youth they have done less damage to the reef. Lion fish have girth, a 10 -12" will yield a couple filets around an inch thick and provide 2 meals.
As to Grouper, regardless of taste, it is like eaten the friendly naiborhood dog who followed you home, just can't do it anymore.

 

[Skittl1321]

I enthusiastically second that. The coconut lionfish at La Perlita is some of the best seafood I have ever eaten anywhere, any time.

The coconut lionfish at la perlita is the only fish I've ever taken a second bite of. It was excellent!

 

[Chugwhump]

I am Lion Fish killing specialist.
They are the only species of fish that I target now specifically.
I no longer take Grouper very often.
Maybe one every three years or so, and really only for my dad, who JUST LOVES fresh Grouper.
Compared to Lions, I think Grouper is lousy.
I keep off the Hogs these days also for the most part, unless they are over 18"-20".
The same for the Muttons.
So while here in Florida, the legal size for hog is 12 inches to the fork, and 16 inches overall for a Mutton, I guess you could say I'm a "Trophy Hunter" nowadays.
I mostly have no objection if others are hunting accordingly, and with respect to the game laws.
I have not been to Mexico as yet.
But I would very much like to go and dive in Cozumel.
I am told that the way it generally works is you dive the south end in the park for pretty pretty.
And then you go north out of the park and pound the Lionfish.
I don't have to kill anything to have a good time.
But I definitely do enjoy whacking Indo pacific lionfish in the Atlantic basin.
And I have never eaten so much fish in my life as I have in the past 5 to 6 years.
I was at one time a ferocious deer, quail, duck, bunny,t urkey, and tree rat hunter.
For me personally it is all about sustainability of a fishery, a herd, as it were.
Big game trophy hunting/wall hangers/Boone and Crockett points are not my thing.
But I also respect that a great deal of good comes from auctioning off hunts and firearms and whatnot through worthy and worthwhile organizations like the Safari Club, Ducks Unlimited, bunny rabbits unleashed, and pheasant for all.

I think the dentist from Minnesota got suckered really bad by some bad guys in Zimbabwe.
And I am reading today that there is the chance that he could be extradited to Zimbabwe.
And I am completely opposed to this.
Robert Mugabi and his minions are scumbags.
And if you don't know a lot about Zimbabwe, you need to do some reading.
This poor bastard cannot get a fair trial.

Chug
Thinks that golf and trophy hunting are mostly for people who are afraid of sharks and cannot swim well.

 

[tomfcrist]

I have eaten a 16" I took last November (second chamber up from the S. End of Columbia, 1 minute into the Dive) great meat but I think the medium to Juvenal size has a finer grain and better taste. Plus when you kill them in their youth they have done less damage to the reef. Lion fish have girth, a 10 -12" will yield a couple filets around an inch thick and provide 2 meals.
As to Grouper, regardless of taste, it is like eaten the friendly naiborhood dog who followed you home, just can't do it anymore.

I hunt them on wrecks...so no damage to the reefs...since they aren't as big or abundant there....
NC grouper aren't friendly...nor stupid...it's actually quite a lot of fun to hunt them. The Lionfish are like shooting turtles with a machine gun...too easy.

 

[drrich2]

As to Grouper, regardless of taste, it is like eaten the friendly naiborhood dog who followed you home, just can't do it anymore.

You mean dog tastes like grouper?!?!? Oh, wow, this could be life-changing...

Joke. Of course. I wouldn't. Even if they're…delicious...

Richard.