Corpusfishing.com

[raiderred]

I posted this on EC, but thought CorpusFishing members who frequent PINS would benefit as well.

At the request of several regulars on the site, I will clue everyone in on some cool research surrounding whale sharks. Like several other members, I've had the distinct privelage to swim along with these gentle giants, but what happened below is a close second.

I received an email Thursday morning from Dr. Eric Hoffmayer of the Gulf Coast Research Lab in Ocean Springs, MS. Eric's research interests align with shark ecology. A colleague of his, Dr. Rachel Graham, is working in Belize with the Wildlife Conservation Society and tagging whale sharks at the moment. Several of her tagged fish have been meandering through the western GOM. One of the tagged whale sharks popped of this week and was located on a south Texas beach. Sure enough the sat tag was transmitting 5 miles from the end of the blacktop on PINS. Driving was tough due to limited real-estate from the strong southeast winds and fear of driving over the many hardheads that fell victim to the recent red tide bloom. Morgan and I drove about a tenth of a mile past the coordinates provided by Rachel. Morgan spotted the tag as soon as we turned around to the north.

I haven't received all the details with regards to how many days this particular fish had the tagged attached. The tags are notorious from popping off early and well before the programmable time period. However, this particular whale shark was approximately 8 meters (24 to 25') in length and a male.

With the prevailing southeast winds, PINS is a hot spot for satellite tags. Tarpon, billfish, sharks, marine mammals, and turtles have all been satellite tagged in the gulf and beyond. The tags are high dollar items which command a sizable reward for the finder. Try your best to get the tag back in the hands of the researcher as the data sometimes doesn't transmit to the satellites, requiring manual retrieval from the tag itself. Eric Hoffmayer had three satellite tags wash ashore in Texas, and most recently a satellite tag affixed to a dusky shark washed ashore close to Corpus. The tags can be reused depending on the internal components which is another reason for the reward. PLEASE, SEND THEM BACK FOR THE REWARD.

Word to the wise, be careful if the southeast winds suck up to any future fronts. I had 6 cans of fix-a-flat in preparation for the hardhead tire mines, but didn't have to use them on the beach. However, the next morning I had a flat on the front right. Puncture was where the tread meets the sidewall and the tire was scraped. Thanks goodness for road hazard fees.

Also, if you have encountered a whale shark in the past or in the future, submit your sighting to this website. Accurate data is much appreciated with as many details as possible.
http://www.usm.edu/gcrl/whaleshark/

Satellite tag well before deployment.



Satellite tag at deployment with contact information. Notice smiley face. Dr. Rachel Graham center.


Satellite tag once recovered. Goose neck barnacles removed. Notice smiley face partially rubbed off.


Another pic of recovered tag.


Map provided by Dr. Rachel Graham showing tracks of six satellite tagged whale sharks. This particular tag is #06214 on the attached map.

[Mad Dog]

Congratulations on the tag recovery Todd. Great report.

MD
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Ego piscor, ergo sum

http://s175.photobucket.com/albums/w150/cstockton/Aquasport/

[BALZTOWAL]

POST MORE PICTURES OF THE DR.

[topdog15]

thanks, todd
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"Ya'll must eat a lot of fish"

[Tyler]

That is really great info! Thanks Todd!

[Cricket]

Exellent information, Todd. Thank you for sharing it. Now we have another treasure to search for on the beach. See you there.