A dangerous predator lurking in Florida waters has made its way into the Bay area.

The invasive lionfish targets native marine life and posing a serious threat to local ecosystems. Bay area fisherman Charlie Hill caught one recently in the canals behind his Apollo Beach home.

"These animals eat so many small fish, they’re a top of the chain predator," Hill said. "They’ll have a definite impact."

More common in the Atlantic or Gulf, the lionfish appears to have now made its way to Tampa Bay.

Pacific red lionfish showed up in southern Florida's coastal waters some 25 years ago and have spread throughout the Caribbean.

They are at the top of the food chain, eating just about any fish, and they multiply rapidly.

"They don't have any known predators," said Amanda Nalley, with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. "They are voracious eaters. They are very good breeders, so they spread and populate very rapidly."

The problem is so severe, the FWC held a Lionfish Summit last year.

“The major effect is preying on small fish," said Eckerd College marine science professor Bill Szelistowski. "And when I say small fish, I mean the juveniles of reef fish (like grouper and snapper) that later grow up and become big reef fish."

Lionfish can grow up to 22 inches long, but are usually less than 15 inches. They are found in the open ocean up to 900 feet deep and researchers said they are moving toward river mouths, bays and estuaries.

The FWC is acting.

FWC officials want fishermen to not only catch lionfish but report it. That's why they created an app to collect information about the fish and where they are locally.

The FWC wants fishermen to enter the information on how many fish were collected, where they were caught and a photo of the fish.

The data is collected and used to create a map showing where the fish are prevalent.

FWC officials said the information is key to determining where the dangerous fish are headed next. At least two other sightings in the Bay have been confirmed.