Pufferfish - has anyone come across these beauties in the Med?

[Irish Rover]

Meter-long pufferfish caught has become hot topic among Aegean fishermen - Turkey News
From the photo I think we can take it that the half kilo weight is a typo.

 

[sailorman]

Years ago Son had one, made the mistake of putting it in with his Piranha, as food ,the Puffa won

 

[rotrax]

Caught plenty in both Florida and NZ.

Look really funny when they come in hooked all blown up!

Never seen a big one, all my catches were about ten inches long.

 

[Skylark]

I thought that they were warm water fish. I’ve seen plenty of them while diving the Red Sea, Indian Ocean, Barrier Reef etc. Generally quite small. Never seen one in The Med but I haven’t done a lot of diving in those waters as they hold little attraction.

 

[Neeves]

We have them in Oz, highly toxic if eaten though are edible if the poisonous parts ere removed. Considered a delicacy in Japan and much sought after.

Jonathan

 

[Irish Rover]

We have them in Oz, highly toxic if eaten though are edible if the poisonous parts ere removed. Considered a delicacy in Japan and much sought after.

Jonathan

Is it true the Japanese call it kamikaze stew?

 

[Baggywrinkle]

Is it true the Japanese call it kamikaze stew?

Not sure it would go in a stew .. but it is lethal.

To eat fugu is to put your life on the line. That's why Japanese chefs must train for years before serving the notoriously poison puffer fish to the public. For more than 45 years, chef Sasaki has served this potentially lethal delicacy to patrons in his Tokyo restaurant. Feeling hungry?

Japanese Chef Delicately Prepares Very Poisonous And Very Delicious Puffer Fish - Digg

 

[tudorsailor]

Been a problem for a while it seems. In this article with video l Greek Marine Scientists Warn of Highly Toxic Fish Spotted in the Aegean (video) | GreekReporter.com It says that
a researcher at the HCMR, said the presence of the fish was first recorded in 2003 off the coast of Turkey.
TS

 

[V1701]

Global warming, they got lionfish in the med now as well. Your Caribbean, Red Sea, SE Asia & Great Barrier Reef all will be too hot for coral and exotic acquatic life if it carries on...