Yummy Reef Fish

I saw something on another site that showed the spines being picked off by the diver. I guess that because there aren't any natural predators on the coast they are really easy to catch.
 
Even in their natural range Lions are not a difficult fish to catch. They are slow methodical swimmers.

I have caught juvenile lions in the keys with just my hands.

~Michael
 
The venom gland is at the base of the spines, so you would need to do more than just snap off the spines to rid the body of it, but with the spines snapped off there is no good way for it to be injected into you. The toxin is heat labile, so cooking will denature it.

Lions don't have much in the way of natural predators in their native range, either. They are at the top of the food chain, at least the part that has fins, and have no fear of people.
 
humaguy- I love triggerfish. We typically catch grey ocean triggers not queens, but they taste the same, sweet flaky white meat.....Yum.

sacremon- Do you know if the fish needs to be alive to cause invenomation? While cleaning the fish I did manage to get stabbed one time, but it was no different feeling that getting spined by a bream. I assume I was not invenomated...

~Michael
 
michael...I have had ocean trigger sushi and also cooked...it was tasty...whenever I watch Survivor I cringe at what they spear fish and eat...most of it would look great in my tanks!
 
I have read that people have gotten envenomed from dead fish. I suppose that if you jab yourself hard enough to push the venom from the sac at the base of the spine into you, it doesn't matter if the fish is live or dead. I gather the mechanism while the fish is alive is largely propelled by the force of the jab, not anything the fish actively does to pump the venom.
 
I've seen spear fisherman just cut the spines off with scissors. At least that way they can't poke you.

18 pound queen is huge, I haven't caught walleye that large
 
Killed two in the gulf last Thursday in 105 feet of water. 25 miles off of apalachicola. These are becoming very prevalent it's not a good thing so eat up let's create a market we need the Japanese to like them though just imagine if you could sell them for what the tuna sells for we would all be rich.
 
they should leave the groupers so they can eat the smaller ones!!

i heard they were tasty, but never knew anyone who tried them!
 
I don't know how you Atlantic folks do it, but these would be perfect for fish tacos!

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Thanks for sharing the pics.
 
Man you had to go there. I love fish tacos there is a place on the beach down in panama city that has the best I have ever ate.
 
Cabo Fish Taco, Anyone? :) This place has some of the best fish tacos I have ever eaten.

As for my fish, I deep fried the last batch, but this evening I do believe I am going to go Asian and break out the Wok. ;)

Can anyone say szechuan fish?

~Michael
 
Well darn, no lions available in Northern Virginia. :(

Adrienne,

The local Wamas club has looked at doing a lionfish fry. It's been on the backburner for a little while but would be a great way for us to do something fun that actually has a benefit ;)
 
When I cleaned these fish I was very surprised at what I did not find in them.
Any time I clean a fish I inspect the stomach. I find it fascinating to learn what fish feed on in the wild, plus it lets me know what sorts of baits to try.

All of these fish had empty stomachs.....

~Michael
 
Adrienne,

The local Wamas club has looked at doing a lionfish fry. It's been on the backburner for a little while but would be a great way for us to do something fun that actually has a benefit ;)

Huh, I've been absent from the forum for quite some time. I'll have to look into that.
 
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