Grab a Fork: TPWD’s Tasty Call to Action Towards Invasive Fish Species

That's right; get to cookin'! The Texas Parks and Wildlife gave this announcement recently as more and more of these maned, marine menaces have been disturbing Texas coastal fisheries.

These Fish are Mean, and I ain't Lion!

One reason for the invasive qualities that these fish reflect is due to their nasty and aggressive nature.

Lionfish have a large selection of prey at their disposal while they also can reproduce eggs virtually all year round.

These guys are native to the South Pacific and Indian Ocean, having been found all the way from Australia to the coasts of East Africa.

It's believed that they were first introduced to the U.S. around the 1980s, and have been stirring the waters since.

They are also known to damage reefs and other coastal environments as they feed, further solidifying their title of "invasive species."

Tastes Like Chicken... Maybe

Lionfish are said to have flaky, white meat that can be similar to Mahi Mahi or grouper. It's important to avoid getting a boo-boo from their spikes, however.

If you ever come across these kings of the jungl-... I mean of the sea, then make sure you are aware of the risks.

Lionfish have toxic spikes on their bodies that they use to fend off predators and, I hate to break it to ya, but that's you. Luckily, the meat is perfectly safe to eat as it is separate from the toxins produced in the spikes.

Bon Appetit!