Lionfish Derbies

New!! Monthly Contests - click here

Participate in a REEF Lionfish Derby to help protect the reefs
and have fun competing for great prizes!

What is a derby?

A lionfish derby is a team competition to collect as many lionfish as possible. Teams have between dawn-to-dusk and can use a variety of capture methods while either SCUBA diving, free diving, or snorkeling.  Prizes will be awarded to the teams with the most, biggest, and smallest lionfish caught.

Derbies are important venues for invasive species outreach and education.  Teams and spectators can learn how to properly handle venemous lionfish and why they are detrimental to ocean ecosystems, as well as taste several delicious recipes.  They also draw media attention to the Atlantic lionfish invasion and help promote the possible development of a commercial lionfish market.  These benefits all supplement the main goal of removing large numbers of lionfish from our delicate reefs.

Lionfish are a non-native species in this region with no known predators and large appetites for native juvenile fish! Removing lionfish from the reef therefore restores balance to the delicate coral ecostystem found in our coastal waters.

Upcoming Derbies

Thanks for a great season! More derbies coming soon!

Past Lionfish Derbies

Total lionfish count for all REEF-sponsored derbies in the Florida Keys, South Florida, and the Bahamas:
2011 - 3,542
2010 - 1,578
2009 - 1,408
Click here for detailed past derby results.

General Derby Participation Information

Lad Akins netting a lionfish: Photo by Stuart Cove

Friday Before Derby Day:

5:30 - 6:30pm: Late registration at derby location
7:00pm: Captain's Meeting* at derby location

*Captain's Meeting is mandatory  for the team captains, and all team members are encouraged to attend.  There will be a briefing on safe collection and handling procedures for lionfish.
*Each member of the team must fill out a liability waiver and submit it before or at the Captain's Meeting. 

Saturday Of Derby Day:  

Sunrise: Teams may begin collecting lionfish.
4:00 - 6:00pm: All lionfish must be turned in to the scoring station at the derby location.
5:30 - 7:00pm: Social and lionfish tasting open to the public.
7:00 - 7:30pm: Raffle and awards ceremony.
7:30pm: Banquet begins.