The Sunday hunt was over, the hunters had returned from the reefs, one was richer by a $1000 which was the prize for the hunter with the biggest bag and the prey were having their venomous spines scissored off and prepared for the grill.
The lionfish, which was introduced accidentally most likely when some escaped from home aquariums in hurricane Andrew, is a very successful ambush predator and is changing the population of the reefs in the Caribbean. So these sponsored hunts turn the apex predator, man in Lycra with speargun, loose on the reefs to do a little to redress the balance.
WRECK SNORKEL
The Andes with her cargo of Trinidad pitch came into Deep Bay after being refused permission to enter the commercial harbor in Antigua. The harbor authorities rightly suspected that as there were plumes smoke coming from the hollow masts on the Andes there might be a fire on board. The crew opened the hatches after they had anchored and the fire which had been smoldering below got going in earnest, the Andes burned out and sank in Deep Bay. The stump of the main mast is still visible above the surface with the hull just under the water so it is a great snorkel spot. The gulls like to perch on the stump too.
It is amazing how well the wreck has held it's shape but the sea is slowly reclaiming the iron and the wood will go too.
There were fewer fish species than usual but the Sergeant Majors were abundant,
After our morning's exertions we treated ourselves to lunch ashore which came with two hungry young cats. It was with some difficulty that I restrained myself from shanghaiing the black one into a life Elephants Child.
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