Lionfish Hunting: Everything You Need to Know

It’s no secret: lionfish have to go. They’re literally causing death and destruction to our coral reefs in the Western Atlantic. Turns out too, hunting lionfish may be our only option to solve the problem. The fun part? It’s super easy for you to get started!

Follow along as we teach you everything you need to know about removing this invasive species!

Welcome to our first series, “Lionfish Hunting: Everything You Need to Know”!

This article is part of our continual series, Lionfish Hunting: Everything You Need to Know. Follow along as we take you through every step on how to start hunting this invasive species with confidence!

New to the Lionfish Hunting Scene?

If you’ve stumbled upon this article and you’re a bit confused, here’s a few articles we recommend you check out first:

– 18 Facts You Should Know About Lionfish

– Your Complete Guide to Hunting Lionfish

– The Gear You Need to Hunt Lionfish

– 8 Reasons Why You Should Start Hunting Lionfish

Our favorite activity while scuba diving? Hunting lionfish, of course. And we believe it could be yours too!

We’re two dedicated ocean conservationists with a passion for sustainably sourced fish, coral reef restoration, scuba diving adventures, and hunting our own food. You know what checks all those boxes? Catching and removing lionfish!

The whole process is an eco-friendly adventure for scuba divers, free divers, or those simply seeking an ocean thrill. Are you up for the challenge?

What is the purpose of the lionfish hunting series?

By the end of this series we hope to inspire lionfish hunters all over the Western Atlantic, Florida, Bahamas, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and beyond. We love our oceans and the health of our coral reefs are literally depending on people like you to remove this invasive species!

Ultimately, our goal is for you and your dive buddy to feel comfortable and competent entering the water to catch lionfish!

speared lionfish on hammerhead reef in fort lauderdale

But first, what is a lionfish?

Lionfish are an invasive species originally from the Indo-Pacific. And somehow, someway they ended up in the wrong ocean – and the impact couldn’t have been more devastating.

Why?

Lionfish eat anything and everything, gobbling up native fish populations faster than a speeding bullet. The result? Collapsing fish stocks and dying coral reefs.

The worst part? Lionfish have no natural predators! Leaving people look you and me as the only barrier between healthy coral reefs and complete devastation. Just one of the many reasons as to why we need to remove lionfish ourselves.

How do you remove lionfish?

Scuba diving with a pole spear is the typical means of lionfish hunting. The spear is pulled back, aimed at the fish, and flung forward piercing your prey. A simple, yet exhilarating, process.

Watch out!

Once speared, to protect yourself and others from the 18 venomous spines on lionfish, you’ll insert your catch into a containment system. This tube is quite possibly the most important piece of your lionfish hunting gear setup.

The whole process is a fun, challenging experience that’s both rewarding for you and for the environment. And once you become a pro, be sure to step up your game with tips to catching more lionfish.