Beyond Burgoo: Lion Fish

Saturday June 20th

These fish are not native to the Caribbean. They prey on small reef fish and crustaceans. Reproduction wise they are the bunny rabbits of the fish world. A single female can lay up to 2 million eggs per year in the Caribbean according to Ocean Support Foundation. They have very few enemies (aside from man) to keep them in check and thus the Lion Fish population is out of control.

Jim giving a demo

The fearless hunters - Tom, Jim, Sharon

In the water they appear interesting or even pretty with what look like feathers but are actually really sharp, venomous spines. This of course makes them a challenge. However, some smart thinking person decided the best way to reduce the population was to make them food. Good food it turns out. Lion Fish were declared delicious and standards for catching and cleaning are now being taught throughout the Caribbean in an effort to reduce the population. They taste similar to grouper or snapper and it is much better to dine on a Lion Fish population that is out of control rather than an over fished population such as grouper and snapper.

Tom on the hunt - pic by Sharon

We first tried Lion Fish in Dominica when our friends on sv Somewhere went Lion Fish hunting there. They caught several and we were able to sample the fish at the Wednesday night PAYS BBQ. Sv Somewhere was hooked. They immediately bought their own Hawaiian slings for spearing the Lion Fish. Side note - Sharon needed a small one to better fit her petite hands. They looked and looked in several dive shops and Budget Marine but couldn't find a small one. Eventually they found one in the back of a small grocery store in Dominica......because of course don't all grocery stores have spear guns laying around in a back shelf. Apparently they do in the Caribbean!

Tom and Richard - pic by Sharon

When we arrived in Carriacou, we heard on the morning net that Lumba Dive would be hosting Lion Fish Hunt on Friday for $30 US dollars dive equipment included. Wow! "You should go." I said Tom. "Maybe." He thought it over, talked to vs Somewhere and the shop and decided to go.

Here Lion fishy fishy - pic by Sharon

Jim with the Lion Fish bucket - pic by Sharon

The haul - pic by Sharon

Friday at 13:30 I dropped Tom off at the Lumba Dive dock. Jim and Sharon were already loading their gear onto the dive boat. Jim gave Tom a quick lesson on spearing the fish and putting them into the custom made Lion Fish bucket (kitty litter bucket) so they won't escape. They dove in 15 feet off the north corner of Tyrrel Bay amongst some rocks. Two and a half hours later Jim dropped Tom off back at our boat. They three of them plus the dive master had speared 36 Lion Fish! "Get a bucket." Jim said. Then he dropped two Lion Fish (minus their venomous spines) into our bucket. Tom gutted, cleaned, fillet them up for lunch the next day. The rest of the haul was being prepped for a Lion Fish feast.

Tom cleaning the Lion Fish on the back of sv Honey Ryder

Lunch tomorrow

We cleaned up ourselves and headed ashore at 18:30 for the Lion King feast at the dive masters house. Dive shop owners Richard and Diane grilled up all 36 Lion Fish in foil packages. It actually took 2 grill sessions as there was so much Lion Fish it would not all fit on the grill at one time. Sv Somewhere (Jim and Sharon) sv YoLo (Michael and Jane) sv Echo (Jeff and Mary) attended as well with each boat bringing a dish to share - grilled potatoes/onions/carrots, pasta salad, coleslaw, and black beans. The Lion Fish were tender and mild. We wrapped dinner up by helping Michael celebrate his birthday with a chocolate cake his wife Jane made. It was a lovely evening. Thanks to Richard and Diane for hosting us all. Thanks to Jim and Sharon for introducing us to Lion Fish and Tom to the hunting of Lion Fish.