Catch a Lionfish, Get a Shirt in New Contest

Lionfish are beautiful. They're also taking over Florida waters. These nonnative, invasive fish are aggressive and prey on native saltwater species. They also compete for food with some of our local food species, like grouper and snapper.Luckily, lionfish are also very tasty, though parts of the fish contain toxins.Clean Plate...

By Laine Doss

April 2, 2013

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Lionfish are beautiful. They're also taking over Florida waters. These nonnative, invasive fish are aggressive and prey on native saltwater species. They also compete for food with some of our local food species, like grouper and snapper.

Luckily, lionfish are also very tasty, though parts of the fish contain toxins.

Clean Plate Charlie recommends taking your catch to a restaurant or fish monger who will clean and prepare your lionfish properly.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is asking you to help by becoming a part of its "lionfish control team."

Next time you're out fishing and you catch a lionfish, snap a picture and post it on Twitter or Instagram, using hashtag #FWCLionfish.

The FWC will review all photos and the best 150 will win a "control team" T-shirt.

Photos have to be your own, and you can't use any editing software. The FWC is also requesting that the photos are taken in Florida and that they're recent. The contest deadline is April 30.

Follow @ CleanPlateBPB

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Laine Doss is the food and spirits editor for Miami New Times, covering the restaurant and bar scene in South Florida. She has been featured on Cooking Channel’s Eat Street and Food Network’s Great Food Truck Race. Doss won an Alternative Weekly award for her feature on what it’s like to wait tables. In a previous life, she appeared off-Broadway and shook many a cocktail as a bartender at venues in South Florida and New York City. When she’s not writing, you can find Doss running some marathon then celebrating at the nearest watering hole.

Contact: Laine Doss

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