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Florida East Coast Spearfishing Let's talk here about spearing on Florida's Atlantic coast. Reports and other issues about this region belong here. |
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06-17-2018, 08:51 AM | #1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Melbourne, FL
Age: 59
Posts: 423
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Lion fish population declining?
Observation from my neck of the waters ( Sebastian Inlet): noticed significant decline of Lion fish population. When we started targeting them couple of years ago we used to get 75-100 lbs a trip. Over last couple of weeks we only got 5-10 lbs. We used to see them on every dive, now we see them every 2-3 dives and usually a couple of fish on the reef. Are our removal efforts so efficient or some other factors are taking tool on their population? I am posting in both, East coast and Invasive Species forums becasue I am interested in local observations.
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06-17-2018, 09:54 AM | #2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: stuart fl
Age: 37
Posts: 647
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Re: Lion fish population declining?
I see the decline as well. I lend it to the fact that they now have a decent price on their head.. im sure a couple native species are figuring out they can eat them as well, probably while the lionfish are small.
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06-17-2018, 11:40 AM | #3 |
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Northern Michigan/Key West
Posts: 745
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Re: Lion fish population declining?
I’ve noticed a decline in the Keys after the hurricane. I’ve also heard they’ve just moved to deeper water
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06-17-2018, 04:48 PM | #4 |
Big Time Bug Hunter
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Orlando
Posts: 3,097
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Re: Lion fish population declining?
We talk with commercial LF hunters in the keys, Panhandle and east coast. Everyone's numbers are down about 15 - 25%. More importantly is what's happening to the average size. It's down almost half. The FWRI and Sedar guys we're working with are getting tons of data. Come to the huge LF summit Oct 2 -4 in Cocoa, that's when the data and research summary will be released and presented.
If you really want to see something wild,,wait til you see the newest bug numbers {standard data, not the Monday July 2nd shocker coming up}
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06-17-2018, 05:00 PM | #5 | |
Naval gazer extraordinair
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 42,214
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Re: Lion fish population declining?
Quote:
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“If the natural tendencies of mankind are so bad that it is not safe to permit people to be free, how is it that the tendencies of these organizers are always good? Do not the legislators and their appointed agents also belong to the human race? Or do they believe that they themselves are made of a finer clay than the rest of mankind?” ― Frederic Bastiat, The Law |
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06-17-2018, 05:29 PM | #6 | |
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Location: Northern Michigan/Key West
Posts: 745
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Re: Lion fish population declining?
Quote:
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06-17-2018, 08:52 PM | #7 |
Big Time Bug Hunter
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Orlando
Posts: 3,097
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Re: Lion fish population declining?
The big secret for ALL FISH numbers is going to be published July 2nd. Now that they are doing rec survey's by mail/electronic instead of phone calls, it's a big jump. They have no money and time to hold new Sedar meetings and Magnuson-Stevens (M/S) mandates "best available" numbers which will be 7/2. The Eco's want to just plug in the new 7/2 higher catch numbers without changing the total ACL(annual catch limit) so it results in a smaller slice of the pie. They want the Rec's daily catch numbers reduced for ALL FISH. They know that 7/2 is a holiday week with few people online so hoping it will be a... quiet riot. Then just blame everything on M/S.
For lobster,,,it's the big hit of IRMA !!! But we really need to see the new updated numbers from the coming July 2nd publication and if they change it. Miniature baby lobsters that grow to legal aren't born in Florida and lobster larva released in FL doesn't stay in Florida unlike fish. So IMHO, Rec bugs should stay the same (but won't know until 7/2) Here are the bug numbers so far, look at the change last year:
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06-18-2018, 05:32 AM | #8 |
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Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Tequesta, Florida
Posts: 134
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Re: Lion fish population declining?
I've experienced the lionfish population decline from where I hunt also. I've fed small lionfish to goliaths, and they eat them just fine. I've noticed the larger lionfish are starting to get scared of hunters, they try to hide and swim away instead of just sitting there like a few years ago.
Johnoly, are you suggesting we will experience reduced rec bag limits because of the better rec survey data showing a higher rec landing? |
06-18-2018, 09:32 AM | #9 | |
Big Time Bug Hunter
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Orlando
Posts: 3,097
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Re: Lion fish population declining?
Quote:
Again there is no money or time to go back and study / increase total ACL. And MS mandates immediate corrective action by law. I'm not saying what the 7/2 numbers are yet, but there up.
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06-19-2018, 04:01 AM | #10 |
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Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Tequesta, Florida
Posts: 134
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Re: Lion fish population declining?
So every past rec landings data set has been under-represented because of inaccurate rec survey data? But the TACL remains the same, even though the data gathering metrics have changed and shown the past data and limits to be inaccurate. Great $cience.
And we are forced to accept this $cience because: the Law says so, and this governmental agency doesn't have the time/money to do the job it is supposed to do. How about we change the Law? Laws can be changed/amended/repealed the same way they are written, by writing words on paper. What is the name of this governmental agency that claims it doesn't have the time or money to do its job? This claim can be challenged. A look at this governmental agency's Financial Report will disrobe the Emperor's Clothes. What are the names of the elected officials of this Governmental Agency? Lets make the community aware of who is behind this fraud. These excuses of "but the Law says this so we can't do anything" and "we have no time/money to do our job" are political propaganda and fraud. |
06-19-2018, 07:36 AM | #11 |
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 74
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Re: Lion fish population declining?
I have noticed a huge drop in Lions in NE FL as well. Used to see a ton of them on ledges out of Mayport and St. Aug, this year there has been a noticable drop. Places I used to see probably 100 lbs on a single ledge, may hold 5 fish. I don't necessarily think its from pressure though. I think the two years of major hurricanes has more to do with it and has just pushed them away. The bugs seem to be in no short supply around here. I've been seeing just as many if not more than in years past.
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06-19-2018, 11:39 AM | #12 | |
Registered User
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Re: Lion fish population declining?
Quote:
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06-24-2018, 09:51 AM | #13 |
Bad Fish Must Die!
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Port St John, Florida
Posts: 660
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Re: Lion fish population declining?
Sorry to see this get derailed. OP, I have noticed a huge decline in numbers and size. The big ones are very rare where I spear. I used to take a lion hotel and polespear on every drop, and fill it, now that is a waste of time. $6.00 per pound and no reef permit required to collect fish = greatly reduced populations. JMHO.
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06-25-2018, 06:32 AM | #14 |
Licensed To Kill...FISH!
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Brevard County Florida
Posts: 348
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Re: Lion fish population declining?
Fewer, smaller and more wary of divers, out of Port Canaveral.
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06-25-2018, 07:06 AM | #15 | |
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Northern Michigan/Key West
Posts: 745
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Re: Lion fish population declining?
Quote:
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