Nicknamed the, “Curse of Caribbean,” lionfish are reeking havoc throughout the Atlantic Ocean and Bimini is no exception. Reports claim the first fish were spotted in the Bahamas in 2004 with their range ever increasing from North Carolina to Venezuela and east to Barbados. On July 12-14, Bimini Sands Resort & Marina once again teamed up with the Woody Foundation for their 3rd annual Lionfish Bash, promoting the removal of as many of these fish as possible from the waters surrounding Bimini.
Spearfising while on SCUBA and the use of spearguns is illegal in the Bahamas, so anglers are required to freedive and can only use Hawaiian slings or pole spears to strike the fish. The fish can be found in shallow and deep areas, making it a challenge for expert spearos, but also fun for anyone trying their luck for the first time. Luckily lionfish are fairly easy to catch, but handling them once you have them on your spear can be quite tricky. The dorsal, pelvic and anal spines are venomous and cause quite a painful reaction if they come in contact with human skin. It is best to use gloves when spearing or handling the animal.
During the official weigh in, a spectator asked me why people were killing so many fish? I explained that although it may seem excessive, the damage these fish are causing to the reefs far exceeds the damage we could ever cause by removing as many as possible. I love when people are concerned about the amount of fish someone brings to the dock, but it is necessary for people to understand why an aggressive movement to diminish the lionfish population is critical. With no natural predators, a depth range of 300 feet, voracious appetites and the ability to reproduce year round, human intervention and eradication is the only hope for controlling the invasive species.
This year 338 fish were caught and the three-year grand total squeaked past 1000, hitting 1001. CJ Crooks from Team Sharklab brought in both the smallest (0.033 oz) and largest (38.65 oz, 2.42 lbs) lionfish, breaking previous records for both size categories. Returning champions Team G & R held onto their title collecting 207 fish and angler Gabriela Alvarez from Team G & R, held onto the junior angler title with her 27.95 oz (1.75 lbs) fish.
Bimini Sands Activities Directors Katie Grudecki and Grant Johnson once again played an integral roll in the smooth execution of the event; registering teams and doing the official weigh in and count. When asked why they help with the event, Katie Grudecki had this to say, “we love being a part of the Lionfish Bash! A charity event that is also good for Bimini’s environment! What could be better?”
Although their removal is vital, the fish caught do not go to waste. The larger lionfish were filleted and served at the awards banquet along with other Bahamian culinary delights from the Bimini Twist restaurant, while the rest were saved for the resort’s shark dives, led by Katie and Grant. The awards banquet capped off a great weekend with delicious food, amazing raffle prizes and lots of fun had by all. James, “Woody,” Beckham thanked the group for their continued support and participation in the event, despite the less than ideal weather. Woody grew up fishing and diving in Bimini and has not let a paralyzing 2011 rugby accident change this. This year’s Lionfish Bash a raised approximately $28,000.00 for the Woody Foundation, an organization created to raise awareness and money for spinal cord injury rehabilitation.
Woody Foundation Executive Director Lucy Foerster had this to say about the event, “the Lionfish Bash puts together a few of my favorite things: family, spending time on the water and giving back to a larger community. This weekend event provides such a large platform for a group of people to help wipe away an invasive species while also raising funds for a worthy cause.“
It was really great to see the community come together for competition, conservation and charity once again. Grant Johnson noted the positive impact the event is having on the waters surrounding Bimini saying, “we’ve now removed over 1000 lionfish from Bimini’s waters over the course of our first three Lionfish Bash events, and all of our divers are reporting that these invasive fish seem less common than a few years back. It’s great to see that this fun charity event is making a difference in Bimini’s waters.”
For more information www.woodyfoundation.org and www.biminisands.com.
