Join REEF for an evening of eating and entertainment at Piccolo Ristorante. The event will include a four course tapas style lionfish dinner, complimentary wine and beer, lionfish education, filleting demonstration, and cooking instruction by Piccolo's very own Chef Andres Avayu.
Join Portofino Diver Academy for their first annual Lionfish Hunt in partnership with REEF Environmental Education Foundation!
The Lionfish is an invasive species that is decimating native fish in Florida waters. Join us on December 11, 2016 for a special workshop, hunting dive and a delicious lionfish cookout.
Join REEFs 2023 Florida Keys Lionfish Sweeps!
Steady removal of Lionfish from our local reefs can help protect native fish species & ensure a balanced ecosystem
Participants can remove Invasive Lionfish from April to June 2023 for entry into cash raffles & final cash prizes and donate the fish to REEF's Education & Outreach Programs
To Participate Drop off lionfish between April 1 to June 30, 2023 at:
REEF Campus, Key Largo, FL 9AM-5PM Monday-Friday each week
Announcement - Derby Cancelled due to Weather
Lionfish Public Culinary Tasting at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium still on as scheduled
Join us July 12-14th, 2019 for REEF's 6th Annual Sarasota Lionfish Derby
hosted by MOTE Marine Laboratory & Aquarium
Fort Lauderale Derby POSTPONED until a later date still TBD
REEF's 16th annual Florida Keys Lionfish Derby will culminate on Sunday April 27, 2025 at the which will include a lionfish weigh-in and awards and conservation science and arts festival open to the public at the REEF campus.
Please contact lionfish@REEF.org with questions
Information for the 2025 Florida Keys Lionfish Derby & Arts Festival will be posted soon!
REEF's 15th annual Florida Keys Lionfish Derby will culminate Sunday August 18, 2024 at the lionfish weigh-in and awards at the REEF campus.
Please contact lionfish@REEF.org with questions
Unfortunately, REEF’s Winter Lionfish Derby Event at Sharkey’s Pub and Galley for April 4, 2020 has been cancelled. We have exhausted the options of hosting a remote competition where teams can just drop off their fish, but at this time we are going adhere to the recommendations worldwide and encourage social distancing.
We will try to reschedule the Lionfish Derby competition in some capacity if possible in the upcoming months.
2021 Florida Keys Lionfish Derby & Festival
REEF's 12th annual event will include two full days of lionfish fishing culminating in a family-friendly festival at picturesque Postcard Inn Resort & Marina. The festival is open to the public and will include Lionfish scoring, fillet and dissection demonstrations, Lionfish tastings, Lionfish games and crafts, raffle prizes, and other activities and products from 30 environmentally-minded vendors. Chefs will be providing lionfish cooking demonstrations and special dishes and drink special will be available.