Very interesting, Wes. As a fisherman in southeast Florida, I am aware that there are quite a few fish that command respect when removing from the hook. Most of these are due to their ability to puncture your skin with their fins & causing anything from irritation to extreme pain with the accompanying slime on their bodies. The article tends to make one think that fish such as the lionfish cause damage by biting. Not the case. I have not encountered any lionfish yet, but have released dozens of scorpionfish, which are common on our reefs. A friend who was a captain on a party boat once slipped up when releasing one & had a sore swollen thumb for almost a week. The pain is apparently much like the bite of a crotalid.



We also have fish that can cause bodily harm with their teeth without the need of venom, either when being un-hooked or even afterwards. Sharks, barracudas, kingfish & other mackerels fall into that category. Also, billfish such as sailfish & marlin are capable of killing people by spearing them if allowed to come to the boat too "green".



~~Greg~~

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