Kayaked Stonefish

While fishing for fluke off the coast of Montauk, this fisherman had a pretty good day, reeling in his first catch within 10 minutes and shortly acquiring several sizeable keepers. As this clip from FishAholic Fishing shows, this expedition yielded a diverse array of finds, including a nicely grown sea bass and then the surprise of the day – a spiny fellow that the fisherman identifies tentatively as a stonefish or stargazer. Either way, it’s likely that these sharp dorsal fins are toxic, and they require conscientious handling. Stonefish are members of the Synanceiidae family and can live in either marine or freshwater environments, where they pose dangers to incautious swimmers. If this fish comes in at the end of your fly fishing line, handle with care.