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Industry News
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Friday, 11 May 2007 |
 Coral reef fish hatchlings dispersed by ocean currents are able to make their way back to their home reefs again to spawn, says a groundbreaking study published today in the Journal Science. The study, whose findings are considered a major advance for fish conservation biology, was conducted by an international team of scientists from Australia, France, and the U.S. using a novel tagging method to track two populations of fish, including the endearing orange, black, and white reef-dwelling clownfish made famous in the movie "Finding Nemo."
The study took place on coral reefs in a marine protected area in Papua New Guinea. Scientists tested a new method to trace fish from birth to spawning and detect the percentage of fish hatched on one reef that return there to spawn. The techniques used in this study can reveal the extent to which fish populations on separate reefs are isolated breeding populations, or connected by fish movements (known as "connectivity"). Such information is critical to effective management of reef fish populations.
Following two fish species, the clownfish (Amphiprion percula) and the vagabond butterflyfish (Chaetodon vagabundus), the scientists found that young of both species made it back to their home reef about 60 percent of the time, a surprising result for fish larvae that had dispersed from a small reef habitat into a large area. The researchers tagged fish at the reef surrounding a small island, Kimbe Island, within a recently-designated Marine Protected Area in Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea.
"If we understand how fish larvae disperse, it will enable better design of marine protected areas, and this will help in the rebuilding of threatened fish populations," said Almany, lead author on the Science article. Other members of the team were Michael Berumen of the University of Arkansas, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) biologist Simon Thorrold, and Serge Planes of the Universite de Perpignan.
The study's results highlight three notable achievements. This is the first time scientists have successfully used a new internal tagging method in the field, as well as in the lab. It is the first larval tagging study of a pelagic (open water-swimming) spawning fish. It is also the first comparison between two fish species with different reproductive strategies and dispersal patterns.
The tagging method the team employed was developed by Simon Thorrold at WHOI. The process involves injecting minute quantities of harmless stable barium isotopes into breeding female fish of both species. "The isotopes are passed to the offspring and incorporated into the ear bones - or otoliths - of the developing embryos," said Thorrold, "thereby labeling the hatchlings at birth with the isotopes as permanent traceable tags."
Two months after injecting females, the scientists returned and captured newly settled fish at the same reef to determine how many had returned to their home reef and how many had migrated from other nearby reefs. The percentage of fish whose otoliths were labeled with the rare barium isotope was identified at WHOI through a technique known as laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).
The two species have different reproductive styles. Butterflyfish release eggs and sperm into the water, and the larvae drift and swim freely for more than a month before finding a home reef. In contrast, clownfish spawn eggs that are attached to the reef for a week before the larvae hatch and disperse in oceanic waters for 10-14 days. The larval clownfish must then find a reef, and a suitable anemone, that will be home for the remainder of its life. Currents inevitably carry both species away from the parental reef, because larval fish cannot swim well, but this study confirms that the majority of both species appear to find their way home after completing the oceanic larval phase.
Reef fish conservation programs utilizing marine protected areas are based on assumptions about how many fish migrate in from other areas and how many return to home areas to spawn. At a time of increasing pressures on coral reef ecosystems, this study provides an important piece for planning the optimum size of coral reef protected areas and breeding populations.
"Just as importantly," said Almany of their results, "40 percent of the juveniles came from other reefs that are at least ten kilometers (five miles) away, which indicates significant exchange between populations separated by open sea. This shows how marine protected areas can contribute to maintaining fish populations outside no-fishing zones."
The successful test of this method in the field offers scientists and managers a powerful new way to evaluate the effectiveness of management models and practices based on direct information. Thorrold is continuing this work, using the maternal labeling technique to evaluate the degree of connectivity in other fish populations, including endangered Nassau grouper in the Caribbean.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 22 June 2007 )
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Editorial
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Tuesday, 10 April 2007 |
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It was about six months ago on a Sunday morning, as ‘Spanish Fly’ ended and some fresh water bass pro came on kissing a crappie or something, that I overheard a newly coined man term. The kitchen’s diminuitive 7-inch TV radio was on as I poured my second cup of coffee. That's when I overheard The Today Show’s weekend anchor talking about “Mancations.” My ears perked up for two reasons. One, the term “Mancation” sounded ridiculous. Two was that I realized I myself could already be a Mancationer.
Though I hesitate to refer to my annual fishing trip with the boys to the
Florida Keys in such obtuse vernacular, it seems to me this type of escape-now with a Madison Avenue-friendly title of its own-ought to be a staple of any grown man’s life.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 22 June 2007 )
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Tactics and Tips
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Friday, 06 April 2007 |
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 I can't tell you how many times I have been poked, bitten or stung while fishing. Over the summer I was finned by catfish six times in two hours while taking a boat load of kids night fishing. I think they found it more fun to sling the flopping catfish into my shin than they did catching it in the first place. The fact is you, or someone with you, will get stung, bitten, or finned sooner or later. Being prepared helps.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 22 June 2007 )
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Tactics and Tips
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Monday, 02 April 2007 |
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More often than not, big baits catch big fish. Go a step further and
add ‘live’ to ‘big’ baits and your odds of catching more and bigger
fish increase again. To coin an old phrase though, it can be easier
said than done. My preferred approach to getting fresh, live bait is
cast netting. It’s an arcane method to some. But cast nets aren’t a
'rubiks cube'. They have been around forever and with a little insight,
they can be mastered. Being proficient in the art of cast netting will
not only add to your enjoyment as a fisherman, but also give you a
better understanding and insight about the species you are targeting.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 26 June 2007 )
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Editorial
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Tuesday, 27 March 2007 |
Update from the editor-May 31, 2007
Some of you may be wondering what is happening with SWO. More than it seems, I can assure you. After endless months of intensive work including site design and development, logo design and creation, t-shirt design and printing, writing, travelling, fishing (less than I'd like actually), photographing and more, we have continued to identify much needed areas of improvement. We also identified many of our own strengths and other weaknesses. One weakness has been identifying genuinely high-powered site development staff. The other is that without the site being fully operational (yes, that is a thinly veiled Death Star reference-I couldn't help it) all our other goals for the show, the retail products and more have been severely limited.
Filip Olszewski is the original designer of the site but as he would tell you-he is a masterful artist but only an adventurous developer; at least when referenced against this site-one that is technically demanding to render properly so users derive its full intended benefit. So we heartily set out to find the next developer. After weeks of porposals and consideration, we selected one. Off they went. And nothing much happened. Then some progress was made-but it stagnated. So we terminated them (metaphysically speaking). I am now very close to beginning a new relationship with a third developer and as the saying goes, I am hoping "the third time is a charm".
So for those of you (especially Capt Vin Calabro of New York, Captain Jim of Florida and Rusty_Amspec of Texas) that are bearing with us, I wouldn't question your sanity if you did abandon hope. But I am glad you haven't. I promisee to keep at it until the site is as fun and useful as I have planned it to be.
I'll keep you all informed as we progress again. Thank you endlessly for the loyalty and faith.
Arturo the Bull
'Aceshigh'
Previous editorial:
SWO has already reached a few milestones and now stands at its most recent crossroads. We are now welcoming�several new registered members each day. We finished April, our first full month, with over 9000 page views. So the first order of business is to say Thank You to all of you have visited the site and registered as our charter members. We greatly appreciate your loyalty and contribution to the site.
Filip and I have worked hard to realize our plan for Salt Water Outpost. In additon to good content, the plan includes a robust and fun social networking element, an inviting reports and forum function and a quick, nimble user experience. Right now, the site has yet to fully realize these things. It loads slowly at times, the video feature�is sometimes glitchy and there are coloration,�mapping (or ease-of-navigation) issues and�other minor things that have been quite a challenge to resolve. Some are a hindrance to you, the user.
As a result, we have selected�an advanced�engineer who is in the process of�massive upgrade, redesign�and retooling of some of the site's most important elements. Work has already begun�and will be complete by 5/21/07. The news site will debut the same day and downtime will be 1-2 hours. When you see the change,�as always, please feel free to contact me with your thoughts and suggestions. The process of improving adding to SWO will always be ongoing. I can be pm'd through one of my two profiles�'Aceshigh' or 'AVFish' or via email at:
This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
�
Finally, please say hi to 'Rusty_Amspec' and 'Karen Ann Charters'. Both are registered members and have been desiganted as SWO's first forum moderators. Thanks to both of them for their reports and time spent as important resources for SWO!!
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 31 May 2007 )
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Tactics and Tips
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Friday, 23 March 2007 |
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Among fishermen, from commercial fishing fleets to weekend warriors, there are few topics as warmly debated as the exploitation of our ocean’s most valuable resource. There is some research and rhetoric which points a finger towards commercial fishing. However, most commercial fisherman are honorable, hard working men and women, fixated on making a living while operating within the rules. Indeed, there are bad apples out there but certainly the same can be said of recreational sport fishermen. It’s usually that tiny minority that hurts perceptions of the much larger group. So what can you do and how do those who disobey the rules become that way? Let me tell you how I got from ‘keep whatever I catch’ as a young kid to a proud conservator of our ocean’s plenty.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 22 June 2007 )
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Industry News
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Monday, 12 March 2007 |
 The IGFA recently announced its 9th year of the IGFA World Championship Circuit, an invitational fishing competition that draws anglers from all over the world. This championship series includes the IGFA Inshore World Championship and the IGFA Offshore World Championship. Qualifying tournaments must be approved by the IGFA Selection Committee. Winners of these events will then be invited to compete in the Championship Tournaments.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 22 June 2007 )
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Product Reviews
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Sunday, 11 March 2007 |
Description:
 This handsome gear case measures 14"W x 10"D x 6"H. The body of the case is 6” deep, allowing you to store most any light to medium-tackle reels, conventional or fly, as well as anything else you feel like bringing along on your next adventure. The body of the bag is divided by a series of adjustable foam core barriers, which allow you to segment the bag into neat compartments. The underside of the lid features shallow mesh pockets for low profile items. There is briefcase style handle on the top of the bag as well as shoulder strap for hands free travel.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 22 June 2007 )
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North East
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Wednesday, 07 March 2007 |
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Jamaica Bay is an oasis in the heart of a truly urban environment. Located in New York, it is flanked to the north by the boroughs of Queens and Brooklyn and also to an extent, Nassau County. It is a treasure for those who fish it regularly. As an experienced Captain and passionate fisherman in the Northeast for 40 years, I plan to share my knowledge, experiences and, foremost, my love of Northeast fishing and Jamaica Bay. My contributions will be as diverse as J-Bay (as it is sometimes locally known), ranging from; technical tutelage, seasonal trends, personal observations, and anecdotes from the wheel house. I hope you find them beneficial and perhaps even mildly amusing.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 22 June 2007 )
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Tactics and Tips
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Wednesday, 28 February 2007 |
Gear Tips
If you find yourself breaking off a lot of fish, quickly scan your rod and line a little more closely.
Tip #1- Your line may simply be old. Fishing line tends to stretch, fray and dry out over time. As a rule of thumb, line should be replaced every year.
Tip #2 -But don’t overlook your line guides. An often unnoticed cause of line wear, guides can develop cracks and nicks, causing minor cuts and frays. A simple test for this problem is to take a Q-tip and twirl it along the inside of the guide’s eye. If any cotton sticks on the eye, you know an imperfection has developed and the eye should be replaced. Before you start, be sure the eye is dry and clean and check out every guide.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 22 June 2007 )
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