The very…. 9th option

My wish list
Target order (my preference)
1.Gag or Black grouper: Most numerous and often most elusive grouper we encounter. Best economic value. Most times will not stay in range once shooting starts. Often times never seen in the open. Must be hunted in “holes"
2. Scamp grouper. Also best value. Generally smaller than gag grouper and less elusive. Will sometimes stay in open when shooting starts.
3. Yellowfin grouper (aka Fireback) Only #3 because of limited availability. Best value. Very elusive, many times never seen in the open must be hunted in "holes"
4. Red grouper. #4 because of the availability. Good value. Not elusive most times. Will come right up and watch the shooting.
5. Hogfish, Great value. One of the most curious fish we encounter. Attracted by the shooting. Often come from long distances to see whats going on. Will sometimes loose interest and leave but usually too late and ends up on stringer
6. Mangrove snapper. Population increasing to become more of a target. Good value. Smaller fish are free swimming elusive targets. Fish over 10 lbs almost always in holes.
7. Red snapper. #7 because of limited commercial season. Good value. Free swimming mostly. Without a well placed shot the whole dive may be chasing a fish swimming with your shaft or un-tangling a shooting line. Easier to catch on hook and line during surface interval.
8. Misc grouper (aka junkfish) Rock Hind, Red Hind, Greysby, good value. Smaller fish sometimes taken as a last resort.
9. lionfish. #9 because of gear required to harvest safely. Good value. Not consistent enough to warrant taking specific gear unless targets 1-8 are closed season or if eye witnessed population by another diver.
10. Triggerfish. Good value. Dangerous to stringer through eyes. Will readily bite you wile carring stringer if not stringered through mouth. Easier to catch on hook and line during surface interval.
11. Spinney lobster.
We are limited to two spinney lobster per person per trip. You are not allowed to puncture the carapace so they must be captured by hand or snare. You are not allowed to have egg barring female lobster. This is not always apparent until the lobster is out of the hole. Our lobster are large and not always easy to capture by hand. A snare is cumbersome to carry for most dives. I engineered one that I can carry on my gun so that is not such a price to pay. Once captured they are difficult to put on a stringer, we usually use large zip ties. If the lobster is the first item on the stringer it can crawl away with the stringer, you do not want to have a lobster on a stringer clipped off to your person. They have a incredibly nasty bite and don't let go. If you have a fish on a stringer they will grab it for comfort and that is the best case. Depending on how many dives you have that trip and how deep you are on a certain dive you may use all your time on one lobster. Lastly, for the hassle their economic value is not as good as many fish.
12. Random encounters. Low on target value because of random availability. Varying value. African pompano, Cobia, Cubera snapper, Mutton snapper, Yellow jack, Yelow eye snapper, Hambone snapper, Dog snapper, White travally, Big eye toro, barracuda, king mackerel , wahoo, mahi, slipper lobster.

[@davidbrown5906]

Now THAT was some lion fish rapid sniping!! Can’t believe a lobster still fit!

[@ThatsStillUs]

It was a “FL” size lobster so….

[@jasonbihari]

Nothing wrong with a bag of lions. I’ve had a few dives here lately with a bunch out deep

[@ThatsStillUs]

Yes they became more random after the big freeze in 2018 here.

[@Florida_Adventures]

As always great video. Interesting pole spear snare combo, is this home made or available someplace?

[@ThatsStillUs]

It’s my creation

[@brandonbean7561]

How many lion fish and lobster are you allowed to keep just asking out of curiosity cuz man those lobsters are thriving lol

[@ThatsStillUs]

Thanks for watching. Lionfish are not regulated. Lobster are two per person per day here.

[@Rotor-m4l]

Have you done any videos on how to make the lionfish bag and/or how to put the cable in your polespear to catch lobster?

[@ThatsStillUs]

No the one in this video is generation 4 I think. I came up with the expandable “throat “ to make it possible to roll up so it about the size of a magazine. I got the material from another diver it’s known as ( turtle skin) and was developed for snake bite protection, needle sticks and knife cuts. I haven’t tried to buy any more. It’s from a company in New Hampshire I think.

[@tonygville2969]

Lionfish clean up aisle 9 😅👍

[@ThatsStillUs]

Thanks for the comment. My "Mr Prickles" video was the same day. Similar spot only in the dirty water. Had 40 lbs of lionfish between the two dives

[@Machampp]

What would I need to catch a bunch of lion fish? You mention it requires things for safety

[@ThatsStillUs]

First the understanding of what makes them dangerous. It is only the fins with spines. Primarily the dorsal but the pelvic and anal as well. The fin spines can be removed wile underwater by cutting with scissors but wile the fish is alive can be dangerous and slow limiting the time to collect more fish. Gloves help but puncture resistant gloves designed to prevent needle sticking are very expensive and limit dexterity. The gear I referenced is a pole spear like the one I use in my videos and most importantly a catch bag or some people use a plastic tube (search zookeeper). It is inevitable-you will get stuck if you target lionfish. Knowing how you will react to the toxins is important. I am not allergic to it but it is still incredibly painful for me for about 45 minutes after getting stuck. I have had times when it hurts so bad i can’t look at my hand because my mind says it must be smashed to bits because the pain is so bad. Outside of that thy are fun and easy to catch

[@Machampp]

@ThatsStillUs Hey thanks! So putting em all in a bag or tube, and them poking each other, does that make them any more dangerous to eat? I assume not seeing you collect them that way. Can't wait to try it!

[@ThatsStillUs]

No it’s a toxin not poison. Lionfish are not poisonous, they are venomous. The difference between poison and venom is the method of delivery. Venom must be injected into the bloodstream to cause injury, such as through a sharp spine or fang, but is harmless if drunk or eaten. Poison has to be ingested or absorbed to be harmful; lionfish carry no poison in the edible meat of the fish.