Fifteen-year-old Giannis Tsouktouridis, a student at the 5th Gymnasium of Palaio Faliro, won first place in the children’s category of a lagocephalus fishing competition held as part of a 10-day environmental initiative.

The teenager, who has been fishing since the age of nine, received first prize—a fishing rod—thanks to his impressive performance in the “hunt” for the lagocephalus, an invasive species threatening Greek seas.

“On my last trip I caught 158 lagocephalus”

Speaking today on the show Action Tora, he said his involvement in lagocephalus fishing began two years ago.

“Two years ago I caught my first lagocephalus. I knew from a young age that they harm nature,” he said.

He also revealed that on his most recent fishing trip he caught a total of 158 lagocephalus at the Nautical Club of Amfithea.

“The last time I went fishing I caught 158 lagocephalus,” he said, adding a clarification on a common concern:
“You can touch it; you won’t get poisoned unless you have an open wound.”

“The initiative will continue”

The initiator of the campaign—amateur fisherman and chef from Rhodes, Michalis Karpodinis—said on the same show that the initiative will continue.

“We will continue until August 30. Every week we hold raffles. There are categories for shore fishing, boat fishing, and a children’s category, which our friend Giannis won,” he said.