Lionfish Challenge 2024

Lionfish Challenge

Goal

• To encourage and reward recreational and commercial divers to remove lionfish from Florida waters.

Timeline

• May 22, 2026 to September 14, 2026

Overview

• Statewide program
• Recreational and commercial participant categories
• Checkpoints located statewide for harvest submission
• Tiered prize system to encourage continued harvest

How to Register

Instructions For Commercial Divers:

• After harvesting your lionfish, sell them to a licensed wholesale dealer and get a copy of your trip ticket verifying the commercial sale
• After obtaining your trip ticket, complete a Commercial Trip Ticket Submission
• Commercial Submissions must include a photo of the catch including all lionfish visibly represented with the participant in the photo Instructions for Recreational Divers:

Instructions for Recreational Divers:

• After harvesting your lionfish, remove tails leaving a bit of meat attached and place in a plastic sandwich bag(s)
• Label bag(s) with harvester name, phone number, date of harvest and number of tails
• Bring tails and a tail verification form to a local checkpoint for verification of
• The Checkpoint will count your tails, sign your verification form, and return the form to you.
• Checkpoints will keep the tails for our records
• Checkpoint locations and verification forms can be found on our website: reefrangers.myfwc.com
• After verifying your tails at a checkpoint, you may complete a Recreational Tail Submission
• Tail submission is completed through an online tournament app on Fishing Chaos
• Recreational participants must submit a photo of the catch which must include the participant, date, and number of lionfish being submitted (Lionfish must be whole in the photo)

Rewards

Prizes will be awarded in a tiered fashion – the more lionfish you submit, the more prizes you receive! The requirements for each tier are as follows

• Tier 1 – Harvest 25 lionfish (recreational category) or 50lbs of lionfish (commercial category) Tournament Dri-Fit shirt & Challenge Coin
• Tier 2 – Harvest 50 lionfish (recreational category) or 100lbs of lionfish (commercial category) Changing Robe & Hat
• Tier 3 – Harvest 100 lionfish (recreational category) or 200lbs of lionfish (commercial category) Pole spear & gloves
• Tier 4 – Harvest 200 lionfish (recreational category) or 400lbs of lionfish (commercial category) Zookeeper, dive knife, dive light
• Tier 5 – Harvest 400 lionfish (recreational category) or 600lbs of lionfish (commercial category) Custom cooler and tumbler
• Tier 6 – Harvest 600 lionfish (recreational category) or 800lbs of lionfish (commercial category) GoPro Dive package

Resource-based incentives:

Those who reach Tier 1 will be awarded a commemorative 2026 Lionfish Challenge Coin. This coin allows the harvester to retain 1 extra spiny lobster each day during the 2026 Sport Season (July 29-30, 2026)

• Harvester MUST have commemorative 2026 Challenge Coin in possession to harvest and possess extra spiny lobster.
• Only 1 coin may be used per harvester.
• Coins from previous years are not eligible for the 2026 Sport Season

Giveaway Prizes:

• Harvesters who reach Tier 1 before the giveaway drawing date are automatically entered into the giveaways.
• Harvesters can only win one giveaway during the 2026 FWC Lionfish Challenge
• Giveaway prizes will be announced as items are donated.
• Giveaway drawing dates:
  • June
  • July
  • August
  • September

*The July Sport Season date is for Florida residential saltwater license holders and recreational license-exempt Florida residents only. See Executive Order for more information. *