Fillet Lionfish like a Professional

[@PwNn00bzFTW]

I got a friend that moved to South Florida....all he does is spear fish these and sells them for like $2/carcass...makes like $300/day fishing, enjoying life and doing great work for the environment

[@briannadickson2884]

150 fish in a day! I wouldn't even be able to get hip deep.

[@hoosierman6665]

Good for them. Living their best life.

[@Rogyman]

Your friend is making money and saving the ocean, nice

[@jordanchen23]

They're an invasive species. Apparently researchers have traced the original source of the invading population to only consist of 11 females. From here, it's not hard to imagine a single merchant illegally dumping their inventory into the local environment without any regard for consequences.

[@Aloysius10]

I know in Bahamas there are efforts to make recipes with them as they are invasive.

[@jif.6821]

I learned a new word today at age 64 "Envenomate". Old dog, new tricks. 😉 My dad got barely poked by one in Japan while climbing back in his boat after spearing one of these, and it wiped him out for several days. We always clip all the spines off before we do anything else. Mahalo for promoting these as a food fish. They are a delicacy in Japan. Our Hawaiian variety are tiny, but at least they are native here, and naturally controlled.

[@jaredf6205]

Haha, I came to make the exact same comment about hearing envenomated for the first time.

[@olliefoxx7165]

En-ven-o-mate- envenomate I just learned it as well. It's fun to say. Envenomate.

[@briannadickson2884]

What do you have that controlls them naturally? Perhaps we could breed something larger for ours.

[@arcare001]

Ven-enamate?

[@joshuaperry4112]

I see the SAT was a lost cause.

[@yugoyankoff-vh7in]

Probably the best fish for tacos 🌮 ! It’s also a great fish to blacken for fish and grits. YUM YUM 😋 !

[@reedthefishmonger]

They are killer! It’s so white it tastes like whatever you put on it. To pick up in the subtle sweetness you’d have to season minimally. 🤙

[@BrandonBilker]

666

[@uncreative5766]

I went to Mexico earlier this year, and I had a fried fish taco and the restaurant used rockfish. If lionfish has that white fish taste that everyone says it does, then it'd be a good alternative to the rockfish tacos or fish and chips. As a Californian, I'm dying to see what it tastes like.

[@kevinviel6177]

Definitely check, but I remember that a FL license was not required to fish for lionfish. I do, however, encourage a license, which funds conservation and protects fisheries.

[@reedthefishmonger]

I have yet to meet someone that goes out spearfishing without a fishing license. You do however need a commercial license to sell them to markets.

[@adamyoung480]

Aloha. In Florida, you need a license to fish.

[@markchatham6313]

@@adamyoung480 duh!

[@adamyoung480]

@@markchatham6313 Aloha. I was responding to the original comment. No need to be nasty.

[@kevinviel6177]

Thanks for fact checking and correcting my comment. I should have mentioned that I was trying tor recall from years ago. Some mention still exist: A Florida saltwater fishing license is not required to harvest lionfish from Florida waters if using handnets, pole spears, Hawaiian slings, or other spearing devices created and marketed exclusively for lionfish collection. floridakeys.noaa.gov/permits/lionfish.html (Feds and state may have different rules and jurisdictions!) Most fishermen appreciate a well-regulated fishery. Sadly, although my ex-GF owns a house on 30-A, I have only fished on a party boat out of Destin. I have bought plenty of fish, including pompano in NH last week that I filleted follow Reed's stellar videos.

[@DarthGandalftheBlack]

The ONLY thing I would have done differently is the first step. Get those toxic spikes off as soon as possible. Why risk it, even if it’s not as bad of an envenomation after they are dead.

[@reginaldgreen6221]

Exactly

[@timdake]

You are correct, for the first step. As for the second step, the venom/toxin is still extremely potent, even after the fish have been dead, for months.

[@drivebyquipper]

They aren't toxic when they have been iced.

[@denniswiegman1128]

Hunted and ate loads of those in my time on Curacao! Really amazing fish! Both beautiful to see underwater and plain gorgeous on a plate when properly prepared!!

[@DeeB17]

quickly becoming my new favorite youtube channel! Love the fish variety and recipes. Never thought id be this excited for summer and fileting fish!! keep it up Reed!

[@reedthefishmonger]

Thank you so much!! I’m honored brotha! Where are you fishing this summer!?

[@DeeB17]

Im in Wisconsin so lots of lakes and rivers! yellow perch or bluegill is what i go after. Scaled or filleted its hard to beat! Had a little vaca in FL a couple weeks ago and im missing the grouper, snapper, pink shrimp etc so badly haha@@reedthefishmonger

[@kamlando3089]

Pro-tip for dealing with these fish, get Kevlar gloves! Cut the barbs off first thing when cleaning them. Seriously that should have been the first thing this guy did. Remove the gills first? How about getting rid of the parts that can land you in a hospital first!

[@JarrodFLif3r]

Considering Reed has processed thousands of lionfish, he knows how to handle them....

[@josephn364]

Trying to give a pro tip to an actual professional lol.

[@annethysbe8277]

He states almost 2 minutes in that for Lionfish that have been dead for some time there is no more venom produced that could give you lasting harm. But yes not poking yourself is good regardless of the fish you're filleting

[@zanaros2606]

There is no such thing as a perfect professional in life. Better to remain humble and careful, even when you are a "professional". That's what I would always do. Unless you want to end up like Steve Irwin, who has spent his entire life dealing with animals, and thought stingrays will never actively attack people. (Very rare, but happens.)

[@zanaros2606]

Examples of unforeseen accidents are: Due to some unforseen mistake/miscommunication a professional thought a lionfish he is handling is completely dead and filleting it...only to be surprised it is still alive, and quickly jabbed him at the last minute while handling it. Or having a lionfish slip out of your gloves, and in a jerk reaction to re-grab it you accidentally pricked your hand on one of the spines. Etc etc.

[@DrBlood-cq2cm]

ER doctor 1: “How bad was the patients lion fish envenomation?” ER doctor 2: “It was a gnarly envenomation”.

[@doriancoreyscloset421]

New word for me! 😁

[@janeenschultz8502]

Just makes me think of Catch Me If You Can. "Do you concur?" lol

[@annawing770]

@@doriancoreyscloset421 Which one? Gnarly or envenomation.

[@doriancoreyscloset421]

@@annawing770 who hasn't heard the word "gnarly"?

[@annawing770]

@@doriancoreyscloset421 Who hasn't heard the word envenomation?

[@spood87839]

Shouldn't STEP ONE be clippling those spikes off?

[@killercat241]

Only if you're not extremely confident in your skills

[@BradiKal61]

Damn right

[@davidkim9898]

2:26 just watch the damn video. Step one is to preserve in ice for a few days for texture and quality

[@kamlando3089]

YES

[@daleshelden8394]

Spines

[@Tentin.Quarantino]

5:18 That reminds me of something best left unspoken.

[@D3an02k7]

The forbidden Fishussy?

[@vincentnguyen3068]

Look up the slang term for butterfly in Vietnamese LMAO

[@alexcook9925]

​@@vincentnguyen3068 fye dorra sucky sucky? Me wuve woo rong time

[@highdesertsunset3011]

yes, my favorite thing to ear

[@Bdawg71692]

I should call her...

[@alanratay4583]

Reed took special care on this one. It must be pretty difficult to fillet. I love 💕 this guy.

[@reedthefishmonger]

Thank you! They’re easy to clean but there’s not much meat and they’re expensive so you have to get every drop!

[@lewis376]

Fisherman here....Your knowledge amazes me, true professional in your trait. Glad I found your channel.

[@peterc2697]

Would have loved to see the butterfly fish cooked and presented on the plate. Great video.

[@melhawk6284]

Butterflies looks MADE for a shrimp and crab stuffing!

[@apocratos0174]

as soon as people start eating this thing more regularly, it will stop being a problem to biomes... all we have to do is spread the knowledge and preparing good dishes with it

[@shanekeenaNYC]

If there's one fish you want extinct or close to, it's this one.

[@apveening]

@@shanekeenaNYC In the Atlantic and Mediterranean I concur, in its native habitat I don't.

[@robert_starling]

I generally won't kill anything I won't eat and passed on spearing lionfish for a long time. Then one of my freedive pals offered to clean and filet some if I got them. I have to say they tasted amazing and I know it's good for our marine ecosystem so as long as he's willing to clean and filet them, I'm all in. I've seen a few people get pricked by them and it doesn't look like any fun at all. \

[@richardf9443]

Love it! I live in south Florida and hunt these fish regularly! Great video! These fish are horribly invasive but amazingly delicious too! Great for fish tacos and ceviche!

[@pableauxsporch7511]

As a marine biologist, this was a great presentation. Thank you.

[@ciganyweaverandherperiwink6293]

I'd watch these sorts of videos even when I was still a strict vegetarian. I'm just fascinated by everything on the planet. Thanks for this random but thrilling educational video, loved it! 🐟🎣🤓

[@N1120A]

I met a guy who was a vegan for the environment, so he ate lionfish because of their invasive nature.

[@ciganyweaverandherperiwink6293]

@@N1120A Hahah! They're my favourite kind of nutty vegan. I especially like the vegans who eat avocado and highly processed junk like oat milk. The ones who rail on and on about the environment but then go and collect ugly, useless rubbish like non-recyclable plastic gachapon toys when on holiday in Tokyo. Love 'em! Their sanctimonious, underdeveloped brains are a mess. Most of them mean well and have good intentions, but the way they rationalise their own selfish decisions but froth with rage over the decisions of total strangers is really funny. This is me putting it all nicely you understand. There's a far less good natured way I could talk about social justice crusaders.

[@ciganyweaverandherperiwink6293]

@@N1120A Ha! I'm also amused by the kind of dweebs who actually yearn for 'the aliens' to make contact with humans, y'know, land on Earth somewhere. Imagine being so unaware of how loathsome your own species is. Look, if aliens landed here they'd scan the terrain to ascertain what could be harvested from Earth and then they'd suck whatever substances of value could be vacuumed out of humans and leave our skins on the streets like discarded Capri Sun packets. Humans are nobodies friend. Aliens would treat us exactly like how that guy treated lionfish-- possibly for similar reasons too.

[@inse0380]

5:18 Looks very appetizing already

[@claudefraud3796]

If there is a hole, there is a goal.

[@lataviorsmith1734]

😂

[@smokingun710]

lmaooo

[@shoegurl8849]

I came to the comment section just for this comment. Thank you for not disappointing me. 😂😂😂😂

[@ianwilkie8455]

You are an excellent communicator. Your voice and fiction are great. I enjoy watching a master of his craft in action.

[@Ry4n_gilga]

I like the way you cut the fish. And the results are really amazing

[@reedthefishmonger]

Thank you! 🙏

[@christophercharleston9453]

5:27 I should call her! 🥴😂🤣😂

[@iliketurtles4463]

Your mother?

[@XerathMTA]

@@iliketurtles4463no, he means your mother

[@woodshed_moments]

I'm telling you, this kid has developed his own tagline: "... so, we don't miss out on any of this delicious [insert your fish] meat" 😆

[@mr.dahliaking.202]

whenever I see or hear this fish anywhere in the world, I always immediately think about Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo movie LOL

[@stovepipe9232]

I was envenomated in the 90s from a specimen in my 125 gal tank. It cured me of keeping saltwater fish😮

[@reedthefishmonger]

Ooph! Sorry to hear that! Glad you found a cure though 😂

[@alanratay4583]

That and how difficult saltwater tanks are to maintain. We had African cichlids when I was a kid. Extremely aggressive, yet fun fish.

[@albertbell7120]

I leave the fish in water for a while and the skin pulls of easy … we fish these often in North Cyprus they are delicious … the smaller ones we kill get fed to the grouper who follow us around while diving, they are starting to catch and eat themselves now so hopefully the Lionfish will have a natural predator … great video 🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@GPgundude]

It looks like about 4-6 of those fillets would make a good meal for one person! Thanks for Sharing!!

[@dancignarale9554]

I hope you're making a million bucks off this channel. It's awesome. I would have never thought watching someone clean fish would be so entertaining and satisfying. Great job, Reed

[@savmitch1798]

Reed, can you demonstrate how you sharpen your knives?

[@reedthefishmonger]

Absolutely! More videos coming 🤙

[@recifedepeixes]

That would be great

[@gradybrowning3976]

One of My Favorite for Ceviche!

[@reedthefishmonger]

Definitely great texture for ceviche!

[@b.vonschnauser207]

Thorough explanation. Awesome video. I encourage everyone to try lionfish. I first became a fan of it when I had lionfish ceviche. Outstanding!

[@jamesmicca]

You’re a good man Reed. Great channel

[@reedthefishmonger]

Thank you so much brotha!!

[@ScottSettle-w2v]

Hey Reed, You should do a clean and cook for another invasive fish Carp. Carp are prized quarries and are valued (even commercially cultivated) as both food and ornamental fish in many parts of the Old World. They are about every where in the US and are a blast to catch, but most people treat them as trash fish. It would be great if more people would eat them to help the invasion problem. If you can't beat them then eat them.

[@jackson12802]

This comment section is so much clearer than I had expected

[@HiTechDiver]

I dive in the Gulf of America off Panama City Beach FL, with my son, and hunt these bad boys all the time. Love a good ceviche dish with lionfish.

[@jamesmicca]

The Lion fish is an invasive fish in America and taste damn good. Florida needs to make a deal with spear fisherman and everyone win. Lion fish population goes way down , fisherman make an income and great food source.

[@reedthefishmonger]

Already happening brotha! No bag limit, no size limit, high market value, and no license needed (in Florida) to catch them. 🤙

[@ninjafrog6966]

you don’t need a license in florida to catch lionfish

[@drivebyquipper]

​@@ninjafrog6966 Don't confuse the Yankees. You do need a license for hook and line. A recreational fishing license is NOT required for recreational fishers targeting lionfish while using a pole spear, a Hawaiian Sling, a handheld net or any spearing device that is specifically designed and marketed exclusively for lionfish.

[@JarrodFLif3r]

A few years ago, the FWC let you keep an extra lobster if you kill a lionfish while out lobstering, from 6 to 7 per person.

[@bohemianharpsicord4294]

Bonus safety fact venom has to venom injected in order to have an effect, even if there was some way the venom entered the flesh of the fish it wouldn't do anything if eaten. You still shouldn't eat venom on purpose tho, if you have a cut in your mouth or an ulcer somewhere before the venom is digested, it can still enter your blood stream and cause harm

[@chrischaralambous286]

Thank you for this tutorial video. Very well explained.👍👌

[@noreenelizabeth6617]

Great video. My kids and I learned a lot and we appreciate the effort put into creating this video!

[@Briguy1027]

You're like a surgeon, very impressive!

[@watrgrl2]

I wish there would be someone processing these fish for frozen filets. I would buy them out here on the west coast.

[@reedthefishmonger]

Fortunately there’s not enough to keep up with demand 🤙

[@psalm302]

Bro the way he handles that thing at the start of the video is freaking hilarious

[@chefcc90]

Great knife work!

[@BBB_025]

Love the video! Nice to hear a shout out to Dry Age fish guy

[@RoSharma]

As soon as a I saw the finished product had to come here for comments. Fish tacos right out of the gate...

[@reedthefishmonger]

😂😂😂

[@BasicFishingNZ]

that scaling method is great haha

[@denverc1962]

Reed... You are a True Professional. I admire & respect you! Keep up the great videos.

[@michaelbyrne8860]

Nice work! I'm thinking? An egg/milk/dab of mustard mixed for light rinse then drop the filets in some Louisiana Catfish Mix right into some hot oil fried until it floats, fish then onto paper towels, toast up whole wheat buns, spread some catsup & horseradish mixed on both buns, the a slice of American cheese then the still hot lion fish fillets lettuce, a whole slice of a large beefsteak tomato, sea salt, cracked pepper and the other bun! And ice cold beer! Damn I'm hungry! I grew up on the Fox in Illinois, we would catch large sunfish, bluegills and crappie just scale & gut them, take their heads off, drop them in an egg/milk rinse right into a brown paper bag with flour/cornmeal salt & pepper and drop them into a large Dutch Oven sitting right the the coals with the Crisco almost ready to catch fire and ease those fish in until floating! Hell I thought the crunchy skin & tail were the best parts! Nothing like fresh caught fish being cooked in hot oil! Until crispy! Great work on cleaning the fish and no waste! Sweet!

[@toomnLP]

Very impressive! We need more butterflied fish imo. Fishmongers just don’t sell it in this part of the world.

[@reedthefishmonger]

Thank you! At my market my mongers can clean anything any way 🤙

[@dgaoyamaat]

My dad would make some good soup with this. Everybody loves his fish soup.

[@PhillipPahinui]

Thank you for showing these less popular fish. As usual, great vid.

[@absfinal]

This fish can cure world hunger.

[@kostasvakis1485]

I'm in love with your skills!!! I'm also in love with that delicious delicious delicious fish!

[@reedthefishmonger]

Thank you for watching!

[@speedbuggy16v]

I still miss her

[@mariosolognier714]

I love Lionfish!! Greetings from Aruba!!

[@BlueLantern2815]

5:18 ok hear me out...

[@prajwalsoni2457]

😂

[@mcstabbins4501]

No

[@jamescooper2618]

This is really cool! I didn't know about how the venom works on a lionfish. I hope to try lionfish some day.

[@denvercolorado811]

You're a pro

[@Asthartisify]

Two min in and he already said two times narly. That always reminds me of Jamie Oliver. Filets look great! Would love someone to cook lionfish for me.

[@Pierce0420]

Started watching on IG, now I can't get enough lol.

[@cristobalvillalpando7451]

Great video

[@horatiohuffnagel7978]

The end result of the butterfly does look like something.....😂

[@walterbates1654]

You are so good at what you do. Thanks.

[@saulguzman80]

Another great video!🫵👌👍😎

[@dassgood6638]

5:27 looks just like one of my favorite things to eat!

[@cntrolman1]

Maybe the spikes can be used as toothpicks for after dining?

[@jesuschrist-alphaomega]

Appreciate the education

[@pompommania]

Hell yes, grilled and eaten with a side of sticky rice and a glass of wine 😙

[@jvjoe4376]

Good stuff..!! Thanks for posting...

[@ausername7470]

Ceviche with lion fish is delicious

[@yettekovjrwilson4216]

Just found your videos and they are great. I would like to know if I could order some Lionfish filets from you and have them shipped?

[@Ferrelhuman_grows]

Thanks for being my friend on tik tok. You are the best on there

[@frownyclowny6955]

Observing this like a caveman learning how to make fire for the first time

[@JWH-01]

We saw a lot of those while SCUBA diving in Key Largo a few years ago. We may have to bring some back for dinner the next time we are down there. Thanks for the video. I am a fresh water angler. I have a lot to learn about salt water techniques.

[@drivebyquipper]

It's not that much different. You will still be a slay daddy.

[@FF_AlohaEdition]

Lion Fish is like the chicken of the sea. Can grow fast because it overeats. If we ever ran out of land animals to eat lionfish is the next on our list.

[@jammy46235]

I had one in My salt water tank it pretty much left the other fish alone but once it rose from the bottom to the top and spread it spins out all the other fish were running high into it. Settle down my snowflake that was way too big for eat. Would hose too lol

[@AlejandroFlores-vi8tl]

5:19 god I should call her back

[@marcusgonewild]

Please tell us how you sharpen and maintain your knifes !!!

[@Rkenton48]

Lionfish - The aphrodisiac of the ocean.

[@dragonier8133]

It's a nice fish to eat. Sturdy meat. I catch it from time to time spearfishing. Usually smaller ones than these.

[@markcrume]

Thanks so much! Excellent!

[@scottpastor1]

Would it not be safer to remove the spikes first, before doing anything else?

[@franklincord2812]

I'm wondering how the sales of invasives are doing for fish-mongers. I've heard of several fish-mongers on the Gulf coast of Florida that are offering cleaned lionfish, cichlid and snakehead.

[@batmantiss]

5:30 woah. Looks like my other favorite thing to eat.

[@wrongtiming8837]

Lionfish❌ Real Porcupinefish✔️😆

[@penitent2401]

That's a new way I've ever seen of removing scales, just hose it off.

[@ihopetospeed1]

A master diver I was diving with clips those spines off with scissors while still underwater.

[@FKITMANE]

Two words man, fish taco

[@currie10]

More lionfish content!!!

[@barbarawilder2956]

Fascinating!!

[@wawowii5640]

5:31 Really 😂? That reminds me of something very delicious!

[@haroldsfishingadventures754]

Just subbed, thanks for the informative videos

[@scottwatts3879]

I always enjoy a face to face with my meal....

[@austinbernestine3719]

I knew you were messing with me when you tossed it in the air.

[@PietroCaporaso1957]

Molto bello.

[@reedthefishmonger]

🙏

[@JS-bf9dw]

I love the thumbnail, glorious creature

[@reedthefishmonger]

Thank you! They are pretty

[@paulhamilton9411]

What does lion fish taste like? Is there a discernable difference?

[@andiman45]

can you buy this at a fishmonger or is this right off the boat??

[@colinm8200]

Oh woah. As a Floridian i thought Lion fish would be like that Japanese puffer fish. Fugu. Like you're rolling the dice to eat them. But thanks for explaining how its only in the barbs. Not like actual organs INSIDE like the Fugu. I'll never try Fugu i dont care how qualified of a chef you are.

[@gyppygirl2021]

Lionfish venom is also denatured by cooking, while pufferfish toxin isn't. It's one of the common differences between venomous and poisonous animals, although not surefire.