2024 St. Croix Lionfish Derby

2024 St. Croix Lionfish Derby FAQ/Event Info

May 17th - 19th, 2024

Awards Ceremony will be held at Leatherback Brewing Company
12pm - 2pm, May 19th, 2024

What has changed from last year's derby?

The Captains Meeting is now taking place at a different location, Virgin Islands Orthopedic, at the Queens Quarter Villas, across from the hospital.
Team limits are up from 4 to 6 hunters.
32% and 36% Nitrox is now allowed.
Teams can choose to keep their catch after it has been weighed, recorded and finned.
Lionfish tastings at the Awards Ceremony are now included in the registration price.
Rules have been clarified regarding the start time.
The awards ceremony has been shortened.
Weigh Stations have been consolidated to one location at La Reine Fish Market.
Prize weightings have been changed to reflect a higher importance for the Most category.

When is the Derby?

Hunting takes place on Saturday May 18th, starting at 6am.

When is the Captain's Meeting?

The Captain's Meeting will take place on Friday May 17th at 7pm AST.

Where is the Captain's Meeting?

NEW LOCATION ALERT: The captains meeting will now be held on the deck at Virgin Islands Orthopedic, overlooking the pool. Google and Apple maps have a location pin for the VI Orthopedic office. Please contact Matthew at 340-208-0738 if you have any questions.
The previous listed location was Leatherback Brewery, but due to scheduling conflicts, we were required to find an alternative location.

Is the Captain's Meeting mandatory?

Yes, the designated team captain is required to attend. For other members of the team, the meeting is optional, but recommended to ensure all the paperwork is in order. If one member of your team does not sign a waiver, they will not be allowed to participate in the 2024 St. Croix Lionfish Derby.

When is the Awards Ceremony?

Sunday, May 19th, 12pm - 2pm at Leatherback Brewery.

Do I need to register?

Yes, registration can be completed here.

How do I register?

Use the registration form here, and complete the information to register your team.
Ensure you have your team members names, a designated team captain, and all dive certification numbers handy.

What is the cost?

$50 per person. Each person will receive a SPF 50 long sleeve sun shirt with their registration, along with a token to redeem for one free meal at the awards ceremony. These will be distributed at the Captain's Meeting.

Do I need to sign a waiver?

Yes. Each member of your team must complete a waiver, as well as any spectators that will be on the boat.
Waivers can be filled out and submitted here.

How can I pay my registration fee?

Credit Cards will be accepted after completing registration at our new online shop.
Cash and Check will be accepted at the Captain's Meeting on Friday.
Venmo @CORE_Foundation | Please include your team name in the memo.
Paypal: paypal.me/COREUSVI | Please include your team name in the memo.

What are the rules?

Please review the rules page to familiarize yourself with the smaller details.

Can I keep my catch?

During registration, if you want to keep your catch, please designate your intention with the drop down box. After the event organizers have weighed and measured your catch, you are free to take it home in your own coolers. We will collect all of the data and ensure it is accounted to your team for prize awards.
Fish that are donated to the event will be cleaned and donated to our food vendors who will cook up dishes to try during the award ceremony on Sunday. In a change from last year, anyone who registered will receive a token during their registration for one free dish.

Where is the weigh station?

La Reine Fish Market
P6HG+F3J, St Croix 00820

When do the weigh stations close?

Weigh stations will close at 4pm. Please have your catch in before the cutoff.

What if I want to free dive?

Free diving is allowed within the rules of the 2024 St. Croix Lionfish Derby. You will still be required to fill out a waiver and pay the $50 dollar non refundable registration fee.

How do I know if I am in a protected area?

Use this map from ArcGIS to determine if you are in one of the EEMP's Protected Areas or No Take Zones.
Use this map from the NPS to determine if you are in Buck Island National Reef Monument or Salt River National Historic Site and Ecological Preserve.

Can we have a Boat Captain / Surface Support that stays topside the entire derby and does not hunt?

Yes, they will be considered a spectator of the event and will still need to register and sign a waiver. Please include their information during team registration.

Can we have other spectators on the boat?

Yes, you may have additional spectators on the boat who are not participating in the hunt. They will required to complete the waiver here.

What is the prize distribution? (subject to increase with additional late sponsorships)

Commercial
- Most
  1st - $1500
  2nd - $500
  3rd - $300
- Largest
  1st - $500
  2nd - $300
  3rd - $100 + $50 dollar gift card to Molly's
- Smallest
  1st - $500
  2nd - $300
  3rd - $100
Recreational
- Most
  1st - $1500
  2nd - $500
  3rd - $300
- Largest
  1st - $500
  2nd - $300
  3rd - $100 + $50 dollar gift card to Molly's
- Smallest
  1st - $500
  2nd - $300
  3rd - $100

Can I win first, second and third prize in a single category?

No. Per the tournament rules, each team is eligible to enter one fish in the Smallest category, one fish into the Largest category, and their total catch number will be used to determine their place for the Most category. The two fish submitted to Largest and Smallest will be counted in the Most entry.

Does that mean I can win first in three categories?

Yes! If you have the most, the largest, and the smallest fish, you will be taking home $2500 cash plus more.

What if I have more questions?

Please email Matthew at [email protected] and he will be happy to assist you and your questions about the derby!

Join the Caribbean Oceanic Restoration and Education Foundation (CORE) this spring for a one day Lionfish derby. CORE aims to bring this event back to St. Croix to help mitigate the invasive lionfish problem surrounding the island. Lionfish (Pterois spp.) are a species of fish native to the indo Pacific Ocean and are classified as an invasive species in this area. This year we have quite the prize pool available, and the t-shirts are pretty cool too. They come free with your registration!