Caught a Puffer fish off LAFB in Hampton VA.

Discussion in 'All Things Boats & Boating' started by sdowney717, Sep 23, 2013.

  1. sdowney717
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    sdowney717 Senior Member

    That seems like a rare fish for that spot.
    Likely the first and last one I will ever catch.
    Used squid for bait.
    Fun to watch it inflate.


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  2. hoytedow
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    hoytedow Carbon Based Life Form

    They are very numerous here. Most run for office. :D
     
  3. philSweet
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    philSweet Senior Member

  4. SamSam
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    SamSam Senior Member

  5. michael pierzga
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    michael pierzga Senior Member

    Those lionfish are a nightmare. i read that they have moved as far north as cape cod. Kill everyone you see and report to the authorities. Google lionfish and there is probably a hotline near you.

    puffer fish are or were common when i was a kid growing up on the chesapeake bay. When the chesapeake was clear water , you would see them when poling thru the grass flats looking for shedder crabs.
     
  6. sdowney717
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    Location: Newport News VA

    sdowney717 Senior Member

    First one I ever seen alive here.
    Someone on the boat asked if it was edible, and I recalled enough to tell them it was poisonous.

    Have not seen any Lionfish.

    I am also not seeing any Flounders. I am surprised, where are they gone?
    Mostly caught small black sea bass, pin fish, whiting, croakers, small sharks, rays.
     
  7. troy2000
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    troy2000 Senior Member

    http://www.pine3.info/Blow Toads.htm

    According to the above link northern puffers (also called blow toads and sugar toads) are safe to eat, unlike the fugu in Japan - and delicious. But he recommends you avoid the skin, roe and liver, just to be on the safe side. I also read that they used to be plentiful up through the sixties; almost disappeared after that for unknown reasons; and seem to be making a come-back. So that may not be the last one you catch.... :)

    Here's another site with a couple of recipes, and more about whether they're safe:
     
  8. El_Guero

    El_Guero Previous Member

    How in the world would lionfish get from the pacific and indian oceans into the atlantic?
     
  9. troy2000
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    troy2000 Senior Member

    Aquarium owners dumping them. Eventually lonely, abandoned boy lionfish meets lonely, abandoned girl lionfish, and they start reproducing with abandon....:(

    According to genetic testing, all those Atlantic lionfish trace back to about a dozen females.
     
  10. El_Guero

    El_Guero Previous Member

    That is CRAZY.

    Why would all of the environmentalists and scientists in America let ANYONE have such a dangerous fish to let loose in the Atlantic?

    Next you will tell me the environmentalists and scientists let loose Pythons.

    I will NOT believe it.
     
  11. troy2000
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    troy2000 Senior Member

    I doubt most lionfish or snake owners are environmentalists and scientists. I'd say they're more likely to be folks who believe big government has no business interfering with their constitutional right to own any critter they want....:)

    But I'll admit I was surprised when I looked up lionfish, and found out they aren't illegal even here in California. Fortunately, our piece of the Pacific is mostly too chilly for them.
     
  12. khaos
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    khaos Infusion Padawan

    Ah, the flounder here are elusive I have been able to get them on flat sandy bottoms near structure. You can get them by the bay bridge pilings with 4"-6" croaker for bait about now. They 'disappear' soon until next summer.

    hth,
     
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  13. sdowney717
    Joined: Nov 2010
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    Location: Newport News VA

    sdowney717 Senior Member

    very interesting about eating the northern puffers.:p

    I will try it IF I ever catch another.
     
  14. El_Guero

    El_Guero Previous Member

    let us know if you live ....
     

  15. Mr Efficiency
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    Mr Efficiency Senior Member

    I would not risk it. At least some are toxic, it could be like Russian roulette. If fish are in such short supply as to be tempted to resort to puffer fish, things are pretty bad.
     
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