The McToob – a new lionfish container

The McToob is the latest lionfish containment device to hit the market. It was invented by James McVey who lives here locally on Grand Cayman, where I live. I got to test out a McToob recently on a couple of dives and I was most impressed. The McToob is a very sturdy containment device made from PVC. The rectangular box is 22 inches long and will hold 50% more volume than a 6.5 inch diameter, … Continue reading

Lionfish polespears

So what is a polespear? It’s an underwater tool for catching (spearing) fish. If you look at the picture of me above you will see the one I use.  A polespear is basically made up of a pole, a spear tip and a rubber loop. The pole is usually between 2.5-feet and 10-feet long and made of fiberglass, carbon fibre, aluminium or graphite. The longer versions often break down into several pieces that screw together. The … Continue reading

Killer robot to kill lionfish?

I was absolutely fascinated by this article from the Huffington Post, and to see what scientists from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) are doing with killer robots on the Great Barrier reef. Simply click on the picture below and the original article will open in a separate window. How amazing is that submersible robot, which the scientists at QUT  have named COTSbot.  Blown away that technology on this sort of level can operate underwater in a 3d … Continue reading

Zookeeper lionfish container

Top 15 lionfish hunting tips

If you like to own the best of everything in life and you are a lionfish hunter, then you should buy yourself a Zookeeper Lionfish Container. Better still get someone to buy it for your birthday or Christmas. The Zookeeper Lionfish Container unit is a high quality product that provides near puncture proof storage of your lionfish while diving. The back end has drains which will not allow spines to poke out and the back … Continue reading

Puncture proof gloves for lionfish hunting

It is very important to protect your hands from being stung by lionfish whether you are catching them underwater or you are removing their spines on the surface. I have been reviewing all the possible puncture proof gloves that are available on Amazon. Here are some of the best puncture proof gloves that you can buy today. I have paid special attention to price, spine resistance, comfort, the ones that received the best reviews and … Continue reading

Lionfish hunting and sharks

When I first came to the east end of Grand Cayman in July 2007 we did see the odd Caribbean Grey Reef shark, but they were always off in the distance. I would take a group of customers diving and the divers near the front with me would be the only ones who saw it, and then only for the briefest of moments. However, on some of our deep wall sites here on the east … Continue reading

Thermal-electric heater for sting treatment

Anyone who has suffered a lionfish sting knows that it hurts like hell. And sometimes hot water is not always available, or there isn’t enough for the long journey home to reduce the pain. Well technology has come to the rescue in the form of a gadget to help ease that suffering. Thermal-electric heater for sting treatment A portable battery operated heating and cooling device which is ideal for treating lionfish stings. Since the lionfish … Continue reading

Lionfish hunting. My top 15 hunting tips

Top 15 lionfish hunting tips

I have been catching lionfish since 2009. I do this from dive boats and some shore diving. The majority of the time I use air (sometimes Enriched Air) and I mainly only dive to approximately 60 feet where the mini wall is here in Cayman. Having caught over 10,000 lionfish, these are my top 15 tips for catching lionfish with a pole spear. Lionfish hunting. My top 15 hunting tips SAFETY FIRST.  Go with a buddy … Continue reading

Lionfish stings – first aid and treatment

It is said by those who know personally, that it really is not very nice at all to be stung by a lionfish. I have seen a number of my colleagues get stung and they were in agony. Their faces were contorted in pain. The lionfish venom itself is contained in glandular tissues that are located in the grooves of the spines. As the spine enters a victim the sheaf is pushed back which allows … Continue reading

How to make a lionfish container

How to make a lionfish container

  Before the zookeeper and commercially made lionfish containers came onto the market, we all started by making our own. If you have money to spend you cannot beat the zookeeper, but if you have more time on your hands than money then here is my step by step on how to make a lionfish container. Important features of a good lionfish container Puncture proof Strong and sturdy One way entry for lionfish which is … Continue reading