Lionfish tournament on the horizon

The Emerald Coast Reef Association is hosting a Lionfish Tournament, Sept. 14 - Oct. 13. 

Tournament registration is $25 per team of two. Grand Prize is $2,500. First place is $1,000, second is $750 and $500 for third.

Video Contest is free to enter with the winner taking home $300.

Lionfish are marine fish that are mainly red, brown and white and have a striped, zebra-like appearance. They grow to approximately 12-15 inches in length. Lionfish are an invasive species that threaten Florida’s saltwater fish and wildlife and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission encourages people to remove lionfish in Florida waters to limit negative impacts to native fish and wildlife. Lionfish can be speared, caught in hand-held nets or caught on hook and line.

A free lionfish workshop will be provided by ECRA on Sept. 12 at Discovery Dive World in Valparaiso.  

For more information or to register, go to www.ecreef.org