Next weekend, divers will gather in gulf waters on a mission: to capture as many lionfish as possible.
Any invasive fish caught during this Lionfish Safari, hosted by St. Pete Beach’s Guy Harvey Outpost alongside Reef Monitoring Inc. and the Fishing Rights Alliance, will be used for research and education about the fish’s threat to other species in the gulf.
To enter the fishing tournament, participants should fill out the registration form, pay $35 and attend (or have one member of their team attend) the mandatory captain’s meeting at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 9. The following day, Sept. 10, registered divers, with shears and a guide to surrounding reefs in hand, will depart from their starting-points-of-choice in search of lionfish.
As early as 10:30 a.m. Sept. 11, divers will then drop off their catches (which should remain on ice until surrendered) to Guy Harvey Outpost, where the tournament weigh-in and Family Fun Day celebration will take place. Here, cash prizes for the largest and smallest lionfish will be awarded at 2:30 p.m. Drink specials, lionfish fillet tastings, music and an educational seminar are also planned.
Proceeds will benefit the nonprofit Reef Monitoring.
