Divers in Florida shattered records this year, pulling 36,187 lionfish out of the water during the 2026 FWC Lionfish Challenge. That’s over 5,000 more than last year. The challenge ran from late May to mid-September and brought in 533 registered divers, who racked up nearly 1,500 dive trips for the cause.
Why so much effort? Lionfish aren’t supposed to be here. They’re invasive and wreak havoc on Florida’s native marine life. The entire event is about giving local fish and the reefs a fighting chance.
FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto put it best: this year’s numbers show just how much people can do when they work together. Every lionfish snagged means less pressure on Florida’s fragile marine ecosystems.
Some divers exceeded expectations: Hunter Ledbetter in Monroe County caught 1,541 fish and earned the title “Lionfish King,” while Helen Rodney in Broward County caught 1,488 and received the title “Lionfish Queen” this year. On the commercial side, David Garrett landed the “Champion” title by hauling in 1,136 pounds of lionfish. The top junior? Meagan Huffman from Texas, netting 185 fish. Hunter Ledbetter, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, also took home the Veteran Champion title. Dive Pros in Pensacola topped the checkpoint list, collecting over 5,000 lionfish tails alone.
So, thanks to hundreds of determined divers, Florida’s underwater world got a little safer this summer.
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