The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s 2024 Lionfish challenge broke records, removing 1,785 pounds of the invasive fish from Florida’s waters.
According to FWC, the challenge wrapped up on Sept. 2 and competitors shattered records from 2023 with 285 divers submitting their lionfish harvests. The divers took more than 700 trips throughout the state during the challenge and removed 31,773 lionfish from the waters of Florida.
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This is the highest tournament total since the challenge began in 2016.
The winners of the 2024 Lionfish Challenge are:
- Lionfish King (First Place Recreational Division): Baye Beaford (Duval) – 915 lionfish
- Second Place Recreational Division: Dale Wolber (Duval) – 866 lionfish
- Third Place Recreational Division: Tim Robinson (Broward) – 726 lionfish
- Commercial Champion (First Place Commercial Division): Matt Myers (Duval) – 1,785 pounds of lionfish
- Second Place Commercial Division: Jerry Butler (Duval) – 1,426 pounds of lionfish
- Third Place Commercial Division: Isidoro Bedoya (Duval) – 845 pounds of lionfish
“We’re grateful for the Lionfish Challenge participants who worked hard to shatter the previous year’s record in removing these invasive species,” said FWC Commission Chairman Rodney Barreto. “Congratulations to our 2024 Lionfish King and Commercial Champion; your exceptional efforts are helping defend our precious marine ecosystems.”
According to FWC, the challenge is a summer-long tournament open to all Floridians across the state.
Lionfish are commonly found in offshore waters. They are harvested using a pole spear and a containment device.
To learn more about lionfish and the challenge, click on this link.