Lionfish

Conquering the Seas

Eighth Annual Lionfish Challenge Shatters Records

The 2023 Lionfish Challenge was a showstopper that shattered all expectations, raising the Reef Rangers bar to new heights in numbers of participants and lionfish harvested! From June 1 through Oct. 1, a fleet of 281 fearless and ambitious divers removed 30,494 invasive lionfish from Florida waters, protecting our precious marine resources. This year’s top competitors really brought the heat! The 2023 Lionfish King, Baye Beauford of Jacksonville, reigned supreme in the Recreational Category with the 1,514 lionfish he harvested, and the 2023 Commercial Champion, Jerry Butler of Jacksonville, removed a staggering 1,208 pounds of lionfish, equivalent to approximately 1,331 fish, securing his spot at the top of the Commercial Category. This year also marked the inaugural inclusion of a Military Prize to be presented to the top Active Military or Veteran competitor. Eric Larson of Gulf Breeze took home the prize with an impressive harvest of 591 lionfish. A salute to our military heroes who protect and serve both on land and in the water!

We would like to extend a special thanks to the 55 shops that served as checkpoints for recreational submissions and our primary sponsor, ZooKeeper, for supporting the Lionfish Challenge and designing and providing tournament shirts. Without their invaluable support, the Lionfish Challenge truly wouldn’t be possible.

To learn more about the Challenge, other Reef Rangers programs, and ways to get involved visit FWCReefRangers.com. For questions, email [email protected].