http://www.facebook.com/pages/Eat-the-Lion...48658354?ref=ts

Hey Divers,
I did a dive last Wednesday off Charleston, SC on some live bottom in 100' and the Comanche Wreck. Vis was around 30', bottom temp was 64. Ran on a sweet ride, and soon to be charter dive boat for Lowcountry Scuba, called "Chaos." The grouper were thick in the live-bottom, and my buddy Nate snagged 5 slippy lobsters, I failed the boat; way too discouraged I wasn't slaying grouper. I saw at least 15 Lionfish that kept me from pursuing enough dark holes in the ledge. I killed every Lionfish I saw, and I know I hardly scrached the surface. Comanche was the same story, there were Lionfish on an artificial reef! Thats bad news for anyone that likes salt on their lips. My dive partner and friend Nate, in cooperation with Lowcountry Scuba, are running a "Lionfish Spearfishing Summer Slam," to help give our reef systems some much needed backup, and give Lionfish the predator they HAVE to fear. This will be a 4 month, interstate tournament (dive shops are monthly weigh in stations), divers from FL, GA, SC, and NC will compete simply by a 1 point per fish, with an extra point awarded if the fish is over 12" (FL) system. The final "weigh" in AND COOK OUT will be here in Charleston, and attendees will receive double points for their final weigh in. As we work to make the website for this tourney, we will operate out of a facebook group. I will do my best to keep us updated here if there is interest, but here is the link, please join the group, the more support we have now, the more sponsors are willing to make the winnings top of the line products, $$, ect: Facebook Link
The tournament and prizes are described on the Facebook page.

Lets make this happen! The worst case scenario is we do some some awesome diving and Lionfish continue to ravage our fragile bottom, best case scenario we become the MUCH needed U/W predator our grouper need to help them out compete Lionfish all together, and STILL do some awesome diving! The Website and sign up/registration is coming soon, we will keep you updated!

Thanks,
Vic + Nate

All for the tourney! Where do we sign up?

I can guarantee that nobody want's their "fragile bottom" ravaged by a lionfish!!! Thought they just ate small fish, and didn't do that kinky stuff... If Vic said it, it must be a risk. Lets go kill some lionfish!!! Save your bottoms, before it's too late!

Well, it has been over a month and he is still with me, but he still only eats about once a week. he has a brown film on his body. it is almost like he changed colors from his gills to just before the edge of his tail. Someone on another forum suggested he might be blind, but he seems to move around and will go into defense mode when i get near him with the prongs. he ate some crab tonight. he won't touch the ghost shrimp or the silver sides. he will occasionally eat scallops and tonight he ate some crab. i have changed the water, the filters. i have not done a water bath lately. the manager at the fish store said i should not put him in a water bath for more than 2 minutes.

Hey guys, I am putting together the website for the Lionfish Summer Slam, and I need as many pictures of Lionfish you guys have, if your willing to share them! Anything will be helpful, if you want to send e-mail them to me at lionfishsummerslam@gmail.com that would be awesome. Credit will be given, and this page is going to get hit hard. Also, I am trying to plan a dive for this weekend on a nice winterized ride if anyone is interested, I have 2 people, including myself, and I need 3 or 4 more. If we get 4 people it will be $125.00 per person, were doing three dives, and all i want is Lionfish and lobster. Give me a call (610-620-4146 (T/R) or 843-884-1500 (M-W-F)) if you want to get on board, were going Fri, Sat, or Sunday, which ever looks the friendliest come Thursday night at 9:00pm. Leaving Shem creek public ramp at 8:00, meeting at the dive shop at 7:20 to load the boat. I'll bring drinks and snacks. Bring your lobster gloves...