Destin lionfish tournament sets record haul
![Tournament officials check out a 17.32-inch lionfish, which was the largest lionfish caught at the tournament and worth $5,000 to team Killer Bees. [HEATHER OSBOURNE/DAILY NEWS]](/gcdn/authoring/2019/05/20/NTNH/ghows-DA-8956e4d8-469a-4eee-e053-0100007f89f1-6de71e99.jpeg?width=660&height=441&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
DESTIN — A new fishing tournament made history with a record-breaking number of catches at a single event.
The inaugural Destin Lionfish Removal and Awareness Day Festival and Tournament concluded with over 14,119 removed over the weekend, according to a press release from Okaloosa County. This record is in addition to the 5,048 lionfish removed during the pre-tournament competition that started Feb. 1 and ended at the main event.
Lionfish hunters from across the U.S. and Caribbean descended on Okaloosa County for the tournament, hosted the by Emerald Coast Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Approximately 190 fishermen competed for over $48,000 in cash prizes and $15,000 in gear prizes. The event was headquartered at AJ's Seafood and Oyster Bar along HarborWalk Village.
The winning team, Florida Man on the Destin-based dive charter Dreadknot, caught 2,241 and won the $10,000 top prize for most lionfish. Only 189 fish separated the second-place winner, Fear the Spear.
The largest lionfish prize of $5,000 was awarded to team Killer Bees who brought in a lionfish that was 17.32 inches long. The smallest lionfish, which also commanded a $5,000 prize, was just under 3 inches caught by team Diamond Divers.
