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Gulf Coast to Gulf Coast

December 9, 2022 By InTheBite Magazine

A Gulf Coast marina.

(Photo/Patrick Wilson)

By Steve Dougherty

From natural reefs, wrecks and rockpiles to salt domes and ancient karst formations, weather buoys, FADs, underwater pipelines and distant drilling platforms tethered to the seafloor, the diverse assortment of marine communities in the Gulf Coast offers abundant year-round angling opportunities. Just as unique as the multitude of different environments that exist offshore, there are a variety of elements that combine to define each of the five states lucky enough to border the Gulf of Mexico.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Featured Stories, Gulf of Mexico, News, North America, Places Tagged With: Florida, gulf coast, Louisiana, Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic, texas, venice marina

Satellite Tagging Reveals the Secrets of Swordfish

November 11, 2022 By InTheBite Magazine

Tagging expedition photo

(Photo/Steve Dougherty)

By Steve Dougherty

A highly migratory species that knows few boundaries, broadbill swordfish display a wide temperature tolerance and are capable of undertaking extensive vertical migrations. These fascinating predators have captivated fishermen since the earliest seafarers braved venturing offshore and possess unique physiological and morphological adaptations, allowing them to successfully hunt in the dark depths they routinely visit. Specialized gills allow for maximum oxygen extraction, with a cranial heater keeping eyes and brain warm to sharpen their vision when subjected to extremely cold temperatures

Determined to uncover the many remaining secrets of swordfish, a team of enthusiastic oceanographers has set out to explore the relationship between movements of pelagic fish and their environment through satellite tagging data-deficient broadbills and monitoring
the three-dimensional space of the open ocean.

Dr. Peter Gaube Talks Tagging

Tagging expedition photo

Daytime tactics afford the unique opportunity for researchers to study live swordfish up close and personal. (Photo/Steve Dougherty)

“We’re trying to figure out how swordfish populations all over the world vary their use of the surface versus deep ocean,” Dr. Peter Gaube, principal oceanographer at the University of Washington says. “Wherever in the world swordfish swim, we want to know where they are in the water column. Swordfish are an integral part of the largest migration on Earth, which happens every single day. With the setting of the sun, swordfish and countless other fish, squid and crustaceans rise to the surface to feed. The sunrise signals a massive migration back to deeper water in the ocean twilight zone.

“However, how deep swordfish dive, and why, is still unknown. By tracking the location and movement of swordfish, we have started to unlock their mysteries and also those mysteries of the uncharted depths. This is ultimately going to give us some valuable information about where all their food is. And that food source, those deep-sea animals that live in the twilight zone, is likely so incredibly important to the ocean, and we literally know next to nothing about it.”

The First Attempt

Tagging expedition photo

(Photo/Steve Dougherty)

Years in the making, the program’s initial swordfish-tagging expedition materialized in August 2019 and was wildly successful. “We came to South Florida to fish with Tony DiGiulian, R.J. Boyle and John Bassett because we needed a place somewhere in the world where we could reliably catch upward of 10 swordfish in four days on the water. We were just getting started with this project, and goal number one was to visit a destination where we knew we could get our hands on a lot of fish,” Dr. Camrin Braun, assistant professor in the School of Aquatic and Fisheries Sciences at the University of Washington says.

The bite was not red-hot, but in four days of fishing, the team released five tagged swordfish: Max, Simone, Anthony, Oliver and Rex. “The types of tags we used included the old workhorse pop-up satellite archival tags (PSAT) researchers have been using for decades, but we also had great success with smart position and temperature (SPOT) tags achieving real-time data on swordfish movements. We partnered with the world’s leading satellite tag manufacturer, Wildlife Computers, to build custom sensors to observe how these predators swim in three-dimension. Using these trajectories, we are transforming our understanding of swordfish migration. We also experimented using different attachment techniques, both dorsal fin and tether mounts, to optimize performance and maximize retention,” Braun says.

Strengths and Limitations of Tagging

Tagging with PSATs is expensive but highly efficient in gathering data through depth, temperature and light levels used to estimate location. While attached, PSATs do not transmit data. Their programming makes them detach after a specific period and float to the surface—180 days in this case. Fine-scale data sets are then transmitted to the Argos satellite network without the tag having to be recovered. For more accurate movement data, scientists pair the devices with SPOT tags that can track position with greater resolution.

The limitation here is that the antenna must break the surface to facilitate the streaming of data, which is why Braun and Gaube developed a method and manner of dorsal mounting. The final design featured a robust nitinol antenna, with custom bracket mounted as high on the fin as possible to improve Argos transmission. Perhaps the biggest issue is calming ornery fish for long enough to attach the tags.

Looking Out for the Fish

“We’re doing everything we can to release these fish in the best possible health,” project coordinator Tony DiGiulian says. “That’s the objective of the project, but we caught a few that were deemed not eligible for release. The largest fish we set free, with an estimated weight of 300 pounds, was also the fish we felt might have the most difficulty surviving the encounter.

“When we first let her go, she had trouble regaining buoyancy and momentarily floated on her side. We contemplated aborting the tag if she had trouble swimming down a second time, but after pushing water through her gills she lit up and kicked off with a powerful thrust. We soon found out that this fish was active and very much alive, which is a perfect example of how resilient these fish are and also reiterates the importance of keeping large pelagic species in the water with their heads submerged prior to release.”

The Results

Tagging expedition photo

Dr. Camrin Braun readies a SPOT tag with custom dorsal mount. (Photo/Steve Dougherty)

The classic image of a basking swordfish is a visual that’s forever on our minds. However, fishermen in Florida do not encounter sunning fish nearly as often as in cold water climates. Considering that the SPOT tag’s antenna must be out of the water with clear access to the sky in order to transmit data, and the preconceived notion that swordfish in Florida do not need to exhibit surface dwelling behavior, the project delivered, and continues to produce, an astounding amount of data. The 300-pounder tagged on day one ascended to the surface mid-day less than one week after its release, sending a ping for a 15-second interval. This fish’s pop-up tag has since appeared again very close to the initial tagging site, which shows some residency.

Simone and Max

A spunky 90-pound sword we named Simone and had released on the expedition’s second day came to the surface and transmitted a signal about 60 hours later. Simone has displayed the most interesting dynamics, covering nearly 9,000 miles in a little over a year. As of press date, she is offshore of Sable Island, Nova Scotia. In the initial month after the tagging efforts, researchers received pings from all five fish at the surface, basking during the day or feeding during the night off the coast of Florida.

“The tag on Max worked so well that it eventually killed the battery. This particular fish followed the edge of the Gulf Stream and came to the surface a lot. We made an experimental tether for this towable SPOT tag, and it turns out it has produced the best data anyone has ever gotten from a swordfish. The dynamics of that fish where it was near the surface and that specific tag placement just worked. We should have programmed it so the battery would’ve lasted longer, but we wanted to take advantage of any opportunity for the tag to talk to the satellite. Turns out that this particular fish came to the surface so often that it talked to the satellite multiple times every day and the battery only lasted three months,” Gaube says.

What Research Remains

Electronic tagging has uncovered heaps of advanced movement information across many marine taxa, but swordfish present particular tracking difficulties. While there have been tagging efforts in southern California, tagging that seeks to acquire real-time movements represent a new realm for swordfish in Florida.

“We are trying to piece together and analyze depth and basking rates, dive duration and periodicity, but the data is still coming in. It’s incredibly exciting and the big picture goal for us and the reason why we study swordfish is because we’re really interested in the deep ocean. We are collecting the fundamental position and dive data from these fish in order to learn about the distribution of their food, which primarily consists of mesopelagic fish, the most numerous vertebrates on Earth.

“The deep ocean is the last frontier, and the cool thing about swordfish is that it’s one of the only species in the world that spends half of its time at the surface and half of its time in the deep ocean. It’s the only species that moves up and down in this manner every single day. So it’s almost a model predator that we can use to study this place that is otherwise so incredibly hard for us to access,” Braun reinforced.

Tagging expedition photo

(Photo/Steve Dougherty)

Future Tagging Efforts

Collaborating with like-minded scientists will increase the speed and rate of learning. These tagged fish have been populated to the OCEARCH Global Tracker, where they can be observed by the public in nearly real-time. The study has been more successful than any of us could have hoped, and the team is gearing up for their next expedition in the Gulf of Mexico, with new tags holding additional sensors.

“We recently had a project in Saudi Arabia to do a similar thing, and unfortunately, the only swordfish we caught swallowed the hook and died, but we did tag a pelagic thresher shark which has similar behavior. We are hoping to continue the efforts in Saudi Arabia and awaiting a grant to allow us to deploy 15 additional tags in the Red Sea. Stateside, we are pursuing projects in North Carolina and Texas, but Covid-19 slowed these down. Because our entire fieldwork has been canceled this year, we’ve decided to double down in an effort here in Washington to try to be the first to capture a swordfish in the pacific northwest—and then tag it,” Braun concluded.

Tagging expedition photo

(Photo/Steve Dougherty)

Filed Under: Gulf of Mexico, News Tagged With: Billfish Tagging, Fishing Technology, migration, research, swordfish

Escape Plan: Adventure Awaits in Quepos, Costa Rica

October 31, 2022 By InTheBite Magazine

Beautiful aerial view of the Marina in Quepos Costa Rica

By Ben Begovic

They say a picture tells a thousand words. If “they” are correct, the photo of a traveling angler with grin from ear to ear aboard The Hooker releasing blue marlin under the watchful eye of Capt. Skip Smith speaks volumes. It’s an exotic image like this snapped off the beaten path that triggers the adventurous spirit in all of us.
[Read more…]

Filed Under: Adventures, Central America, Featured Stories, Fishing, General News, News, Places Tagged With: Costa Rica, international travel, pacific blues, pacific ocean, quepos

10 Knot Speed Restrictions Threaten Marine Industry

September 23, 2022 By InTheBite Editor

Federal government’s slow-speed zones would have severe negative impacts on East Coast boating and fishing. Rushed revisions to the Right Whale Vessel Strike Reduction Rule are the most consequential maritime regulations the industry has ever faced. Demand that NOAA put the proposed rule on pause. 

(New Gretna, New Jersey, September 21, 2022)—A rushed proposed rule to implement 10-knot speed restrictions for boats 35 feet and larger from Massachusetts to Florida could devastate the entire marine industry and cripple America’s outdoor economy.

The National Marine Fisheries Service, an agency within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), is proposing amendments to the North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Strike Reduction Rule to reduce the likelihood of vessel strikes. The federal rule would broaden the current 10-knot speed limit to include boats 35 feet and larger (down from 65 feet); expand the zones from discrete calving areas to virtually the entire East Coast as far out as 100 nautical miles; and extend the go-slow mandate for up to seven months a year.

“The proposed rule, as written, would be the most consequential maritime regulation that we have ever seen imposed on the recreational boating and fishing sector,” says John DePersenaire, Director of Government Affairs and Sustainability for Viking Yachts. “It will affect not only boat owners but marinas, tackle shops, charter boat operators – basically all maritime-related businesses on the Atlantic Coast.” 

Adds Viking President and CEO Pat Healey: “This would be a devastating regulatory mandate. Right whale vessel strikes have just not been an issue for our industry. This is a classic example of government overreach.”

The proposed rule was published without any engagement with the recreational boating and fishing community. “We had heard talk of a proposal but were never directly contacted in any way,” says DePersenaire. “This is important because the proposed rule imposes excessive and unnecessary negative impacts on our community as a direct response of NOAA single-handedly putting forward regulations without public input. Moreover, the proposed mandate would force thousands of recreational boats to operate at a speed that compromises their maneuverability and overall safety at sea.” 

The proposal was published on Aug. 1, 2022. Viking immediately requested a 30-day extension to the public comment period. “Viking Yachts is completely sensitive to the status and outlook of the North Atlantic right whale population,” Healey wrote to NOAA. “The health of the ocean and all its life is of paramount importance to our company and boat owners. However, we believe the magnitude of the proposed rule warrants careful consideration to ensure that a practical, enforceable and realistic plan is put forward to address the right whale population.”  

A letter from a broad coalition of recreational fishing and boating organizations was also presented to NOAA, who has since extended the public comment period to October 31. “Now that we have the extension, we really need to turn up the volume and make sure our voices are heard,” said Healey. “Everyone needs to rally – yacht clubs, marinas, fishing clubs, charter boat associations. This is a huge deal that not many people know about.”

map of east coast

A map showing the existing and proposed speed zones

How to Help

The primary way to voice your concerns about the amendments to the North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Strike Reduction Rule is via the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Click here to comment. You can also provide comments through various boating and fishing groups, such as the National Marine Manufacturers Association’s Boating United group: click here, and through the International Game Fish Association: click here.

All comments will be read and considered, according to NOAA’s Office of Protected Species, which advises participants to supply specific information about how the rule would impact their boating and fishing activities or business. You can also make suggestions for changes to the rule. The purpose in crafting these amendments is to ensure that the North Atlantic right whales are protected and do not go into extinction while placing as little burden on the mariner as possible, according to NOAA.

Given the limited amount of time for the public to weigh in on these rule changes, “it’s critical that you immediately contact your member of Congress and ask that they demand NOAA to put the proposed rule on pause,” says DePersenaire. “The additional time can be used to develop measures that seek balance between the needs of the right whale and our industry. Congress also needs to know that the rule has far-reaching implications beyond our sport. It will disrupt shipping and ports and exacerbate supply-chain issues and inflation.”

The Facts

The facts do not support the sweeping changes being proposed by NOAA. Since 1998 – 24 years – there have been 24 known right whale vessel strikes across 10 states. Of those, eight were attributed to boats from 35 to 65 feet. 

“In our 58-year history, with more than 5,000 boats delivered, we have never had a report of our boats having an encounter with a right whale,” says Healey. “And we would know because it would cause significant damage that would be repairable only by us.”

The odds of a vessel from 35 to 65 feet striking a right whale are less than one in a million, according to the American Sportfishing Association (ASA).

“The bottom line is this is far too consequential of an issue for it to be developed and implemented unilaterally with no meaningful input from our industry or the public,” adds DePersenaire. “Many of these impacts could have been eliminated or significantly reduced – while still reducing risks of vessel strikes – by working with fishermen and boaters.”

For an in-depth analysis and more information about the issue, please click here for an ASA podcast featuring an interview on the subject with DePersenaire. 

 

Filed Under: Conservation, Featured Stories, News, North America Tagged With: boat speed restrictions, conservation, east coast

Au-Struck: A Journey Along the East Australian Current

July 25, 2022 By InTheBite Magazine

The coast of Port Stephens.

By Kelly Dalling Fallon

If there were to be a national billfish of Australia, it would certainly have to be the black marlin. But our famed east coast has so much more to offer beyond the Great Barrier Reef heavy tackle fishery that immediately springs to mind when anglers fantasize about traveling to the other side of the globe. World-class numbers of blues, stripes and juvenile black marlin exist, as well as a flourishing broadbill fishery. Realistically, visiting anglers can experience stunning action every month of the year.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Featured Stories, General News, News, Pacific, Places Tagged With: australia, Australia Black Marlin, Black Marlin, great barrier reef, travel

Elizabeth Arn To Achieve Junior Blue Marlin Record

June 27, 2022 By InTheBite Magazine

Chase Travers, Randy Baker, Scott Murie, Stephen Hall, Elizabeth Arn, and Jonathan Arn posing in front of the marlin.

From left to right, Second Mate Chase Travers, Capt. Randy Baker, Capt. Scott Murie, First Mate Stephen Hall, Elizabeth Arn and Jonathan Arn.

By Zachary Granat

On May 31, 12-year-old Elizabeth Arn reeled in a 624-pound blue marlin off the coast of São Vicente, Cape Verde. Her catch will mark the new pending world record for the Female IGFA Junior Angler category.

Her angling was “outstanding,” says her father, Jonathan Arn. Upon getting a bite from the marlin, Elizabeth pushed the drag up to 25 pounds to ensure it was hooked solid. Then, she backed off the drag and moved the rod and reel into the fighting chair.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Atlantic, Featured Stories, Fishing, General News, News, People, Places Tagged With: Blue Marlin, Cape Verde, female angler, IGFA, junior angler, junior world record

Prep and Safety

June 16, 2022 By InTheBite Digital Editor

safety

Some vessels were fortunate during Harvey, others less so.

By Captain Scott “Fraz” Murie

Years ago, back in the ‘80s, there was an old captain who used to tell me “it’s all in the preparation.” That is still true today. It took me a while to understand, but I learned there is a lot of wisdom in those words when it comes to our line of work. There are things to be prepared for in every aspect of our job.

I seem to talk a lot about safety, but preparation for the unthinkable is so important. It is not about if you have a life raft, life jacket or survival kit or E.P.I.R.B., it’s about how accessible they are in the event you need them. If your safety gear is stowed in an area that is not immediately accessible, you could be in trouble. When I do a long crossing and there are four of us on the boat, I have four life jackets out, along with safety lights and provisions for everyone onboard. The provisions, such as water and crackers, are stowed in a small cooler sealed with duct tape or a ditch bag. Everything is together for immediate access. I don’t want to be crawling through a hatch or a hole to find them.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Boats, Featured Stories, Gulf of Mexico Tagged With: atlantic hurricane season, Boat Safety, boats, hurricane season

New Travel Update for The Bahamas

June 16, 2022 By InTheBite Digital Editor

Photo courtesy Brian Spence

The Islands of the Bahamas, June 16, 2022—Effective Sunday 19th June 2022 The Bahamas Travel Health Visa (BTHV) will no longer be required to travel to The Bahamas. However, all present COVID-19 Testing, and Vaccination Protocols will remain in effect and will need to be presented at check-in.

Filed Under: Caribbean, General News, News, Places Tagged With: Bahamas, covid, covid 19, travel updates, vaccine

The Galapagos are the Offshore Escape You’ve Been Looking For

May 24, 2022 By InTheBite Digital Editor

,,galapagos

Photos and Story by Lane Forrer

A Brief History

In all of their travels, the Polynesians and South American cultures never settled the Galapagos. It’s debatable whether they found them, but there are no archeological remains of people prior to Europeans. Curious. So many currents collide in and amongst the archipelago that anyone might have arrived and called it home.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Featured Stories, Fishing, Pacific, Places, South America Tagged With: ecaudor, fishing destinations, galapgos, sportfishing

Strange Creatures Come Out at Night

May 17, 2022 By InTheBite Editor

 

juvenile billfish

Juvenile blue marlin caught off of Charleston by Capt. Richard Brackett

By Captain Kevin Deerman

It’s always been amazing to me to see what kind of creatures show up in the lights around the boat at night when tuna fishing off the Texas coast. Over the years, we’ve encountered many different types of fish. These nocturnal visitors are welcome entertainment for the crew on the long nights in the Gulf of Mexico. We are always on the lookout for flying fish to use for live bait.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Featured Stories, Fishing, Gulf of Mexico, Science Tagged With: conservation, gulf of mexico, juvenile billfish, juvenile fish, texas

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