Stock Island charter boat captain and Marine Corps veteran Hunter Ledbetter has won the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s 2026 Lionfish Challenge after removing 1,541 lionfish from local waters over four months.
Ledbetter, 65, speared the invasive fish near reefs and structures from May through September. The FWC named him Lionfish King and also awarded him the competition’s Veterans Division title during a Sept. 27 ceremony in Pensacola.
More than 500 fishermen and divers took part in this year’s challenge, removing more than 36,000 lionfish statewide, according to the source. Ledbetter said he averaged 35 to 40 fish per day during the contest and caught 101 in a single day at his peak.
Lionfish are native to Indo-Pacific waters but have spread through the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. In Florida waters, they are considered invasive predators that consume more than 70 species of native reef fish and invertebrates. Their venomous spines also help protect them from predators.
Ledbetter, who also works as a scuba instructor, uses a pole spear while diving and places each fish in a containment unit worn on his shoulder to avoid being stung. He said the removals can help native fish populations survive and thrive around the Keys.
For the overall victory, Ledbetter received FWC merchandise and equipment including a GoPro camera, spear guns and dive gear. He operates his charter business from Stock Island and said winning for the Keys was an honor.
