ANTIGUANICE YACHTING INSIDER NEWSLETTER

Lion Fish caught in the water surrounding Antigua on Sunday, June 2, 2013.  Photo by Jason Pickering, jasonpickering.com.

Jason Pickering reports on Antigua's first ever Lion Fish Hunt, organised by Eli Fuller and sponsored by several interested parties as described in Jason's story below.

3pm on Sunday 2 June at the Antigua Yacht Club Marina Dock saw the successful culmination and weigh in after the first ever Antigua Lion Fish Hunt. This hunt was organised by Eli Fuller and sponsored by the St James's Club Hotel in association with seven local diving and fishing boats, the Fisheries Division of the Department of Agriculture and Antigua Yacht Club Marina. Seven boats took part and a whopping 70 fish were speared and landed. First prize went to Mamora Bay Divers who landed a very impressive 28 Lion Fish. Second place went to Soul Immersion with 20 fish and runners up were Tin Tin with 9. Winning boat's haul is pictured laid out for all to see.  Why Lion Fish? The Lion Fish, a native of the indo pacific region, is thought to have been introduced into Caribbean waters accidentally some 20 years ago but appear to have only just arrived in Antiguan waters within the last two or three years. These non-native fish are a big problem not only because of their poisonous spines, which can cause very severe injury if you touch or tread on them, but also because as voracious predators they are a massive threat to our own Antiguan fish stocks. The Lion Fish hunt, which it is hoped will become a regular tri-annual event, was conducted as a way to control the numbers of these dangerous invaders.