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Puerto Rico

The current weather in Culebra

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safety of eating reef fish
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: brian roake (---.hsd1.fl.comcast.net)
Date:   06-03-11 12:00

was wondering about the safety of eating culebras reef fish. is ciguatera an issue with the grouper and snapper on the inshore reefs?

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Re: safety of eating reef fish
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: palmettoculebra (---.prtc.net)
Date:   06-03-11 13:18

Good afternoon,
There have been incidents of ciguatera in the waters around Culebra (& this area of the Caribbean).

Potentially ciguatoxic fish include (but are not limited to) barracuda, greater amberjack, kingfish, cavalli, mutton and dog snapper, sharks, large grouper, hogfish and moray eel.

Wikipedia:
Ciguatera is a foodborne illness caused by eating certain reef fishes whose flesh is contaminated with toxins originally produced by dinoflagellates such as Gambierdiscus toxicus which lives in tropical and subtropical waters. These dinoflagellates adhere to coral, algae and seaweed, where they are eaten by herbivorous fish who in turn are eaten by larger carnivorous fish. In this way the toxins move up the foodchain and bioaccumulate. Gambierdiscus toxicus is the primary dinoflagellate responsible for the production of a number of similar toxins that cause ciguatera. These toxins include ciguatoxin, maitotoxin, scaritoxin and palytoxin. Predator species near the top of the food chain in tropical and subtropical waters, such as barracudas, snapper, moray eels, parrotfishes, groupers, triggerfishes and amberjacks, are most likely to cause ciguatera poisoning, although many other species cause occasional outbreaks of toxicity. Ciguatoxin is very heat-resistant, so ciguatoxin-laden fish cannot be detoxified by conventional cooking.

Best,
Terrie
Palmetto GH, Culebra

http://www.palmettoculebra.com/

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Re: safety of eating reef fish
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Debbie (173.243.87.---)
Date:   06-04-11 09:31

Many of the inshore reefs are within the no-take zone. Be sure that you know where it's okay to fish.

Happy Diving!
Debbie

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Re: safety of eating reef fish
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Michael (---.nyc.res.rr.com)
Date:   06-05-11 08:00

What Debbie (I think) is saying, it might be safe to eat them, but not safe to catch them!

Enjoy Culebra!

Michael

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Re: safety of eating reef fish
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: brian roake (---.hsd1.fl.comcast.net)
Date:   06-05-11 16:43

thanks for all the replies. Still a little confused. let me restate the question.

If you were able to legally take some hog snapper from a "take" zone, would you personally eat it?

are all inshore areas no take zones? or are you allowed to fish from the southern part (near playa manzanilla) of the island?

thanks again for your info!

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Re: safety of eating reef fish
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: palmettoculebra (---.prtc.net)
Date:   06-05-11 17:34

Good afternoon,
There is are marine protected areas where you cannot fish.

I would not eat reef fish caught here in the Caribbean.

Best,
Terrie
Palmetto GH, Culebra

http://www.palmettoculebra.com/

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Re: safety of eating reef fish
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Doug (---.dsl.stlsmo.swbell.net)
Date:   06-15-11 18:21

Brian,

There is a fairly common nautical map of Culebra that hangs in many restaurants and other public places - I believe it is available in many gift shops.. The preserves are marked on this map, and have to do with Cayo Luis Pena and its sound, including the waters off Tamarindo, Melones, and Carlos Rosario Playas. On the north side, I know that the waters surrounding Culebrita are proscribed; can't remember how far west this extends. I can't give you a definitive answer on Manzanilla. I don't think it is preserve but would not fish there until verifying.

Pick up the map- it is a beautiful, frameable souvenier of Culebra.

Doug

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Re: safety of eating reef fish
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: DAVID BREWBAKER (---.sub-70-215-225.myvzw.com)
Date:   06-17-11 15:08

I went out deep sea fishing w/ Big Jerry on the Iguana back in March. We ate the yellow fin tuna, king mackerel and bonita tuna with no problem. However, we threw back all the barracuda as they invariability could carry the poisionous neurotoxin ciguatera, as our Captain Jerry can attest.

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Re: safety of eating reef fish
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Michael (---.nyc.res.rr.com)
Date:   06-26-11 07:02

on the other hand there is baby barracuda .. it is almost considered a different species by the locals, with a different name and all. swims in schools, not like the grownups and tastes delicious!

You can get the Culebra chart for free on the NOAA website.

Enjoy Culebra!

Michael

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Re: safety of eating reef fish
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Fishstick (---.gs.com)
Date:   06-29-11 12:48

Hello!
How about catch and release? Should I be worried about fishing restrictions?
Angler

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