Toxins in Culebra?

[JBierm44]

So I finally get the woodworking done on my first speargun (http://forums.deeperblue.net/homemade-spearguns/76017-1st-build.html) which I'm planning to take with me on my Summer break from university in Culebra. I'm a scuba diver but I've never free dived or gone spearfishing, and I heard Culebra was a great spear-fishing spot (outside the reserves of course). But a pal of mine over dinner remarked that you couldn't eat the fish off Culebra due to some toxin. I dd a web check and a bunch of sights recomended it's spear-fishing and only one mentioned anything about a toxin. Anyone else heard anything or have the skinny on Culebra?

Cheers,

Biermann

 

[settingsteel]

Are you sure its "Culebra" which in spanish means serpent or are you referring to Ciguatera poisoning. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, vertigo and joint pain, muscular pain, some serious diahrea. In the most serious cases, neurological problems can last for months or even years. Ciguatera is common in fish living in tropical and subtropical regions, including the Caribbean Sea, the South Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean. Some common fish carrying it prevalant Florida include Barracuda, Amberjack, Horse-Eye Jacks, Yellowfin grouper and Cubera snapper (some reported cases)...the truth is any fish (especially reef fish) can have it, generally, and I use that loosely, if it puts up a fight it probably doesn't have cig