Thomas Flyer Fishing Charters Tags 3000th Dolphin
| |
|
Two weeks ago, we accompanied Captains Jimbo and Rick Thomas of Thomas Flyer Fishing Charters as they tagged and released their 3,000th dolphin for the Dolphinfish Research Program (DRP). In terms of charter outings, the Thomas Flyer has tagged and released at least one dolphin during 402 offshore trips. They have averaged seven fish released per trip, which amasses to 3,000 releases. They have tagged more than 50 dolphin in one day on two different occasions, and on one outing in 2010, they tagged a staggering 82 dolphin. The Thomas Flyer averages 167 dolphin tagged each year and has tagged 300 or more fish in three separate years. Their best year was 2007 when they tagged 342 fish, which is among the top ten highest for the DRP, and the highest by a fishing charter. Overall, the Thomas Flyer is responsible for the tag and release of 217 fish in the Bahamas, the highest of any vessel. The average size fish they release is 18.35 inches, but 13.5 percent are
| |
“Since I began Thomas Flyer Fishing Charters in Miami 41 years ago, we would catch larger dolphin more often than today and the dolphin season was generally longer in duration. This concerns me because dolphin is the most frequently caught species during our outings. So, we got involved in the Dolphinfish Research Program to help conserve and improve our understanding of the species for future generations.” - Captain Jimbo Thomas
| |
larger than Florida’s legal limit, with some dolphin tagged and released as large as 30 inches. Thanks to their dolphin tagging efforts, we have been able to track fish from Miami, Florida, to New Jersey, The Dominican Republic, and Cuba. The efforts of the Thomas Flyer have also led to five long-term return migrant examples. All tagged off Miami from June to August as 2-pound peanut dolphin, these fish were then recovered the following year off South Florida and South Carolina after growing an average of a half an inch per week and packing on up to 22 pounds!
| |
Thomas Flyer's Dolphin Data
| |
Thomas Flyer Fishing Charter's dolphin data collection reveals both local and regional short and long-distance movements throughout the WCA. Watch the video below or click here to read more about the impact of their data collection through participation in our tagging program.
| |
International Dolphinfish Fisheries Paper Published
| |
|
Earlier this month, Marine Policy published our article on the details of international dolphinfish fisheries within the Western Central Atlantic (WCA). Our effort to publish this work began nearly two years ago when the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council requested a detailed seminar and update on research associated with the DRP. During that talk, we argued that not only does the U.S. federal government need to step up their commitment to protect and conserve the WCA dolphin stock, but action is also needed from the international community for several reasons, most of which are outlined in this article. The article, entitled "Conditions of the international fisheries, catch and effort trends, and fishery data gaps for dolphinfish from 1950 to 2018 in the WCA" updates the first regional catch and effort trend analysis on dolphinfish authored by Dr. Robin Mahon in 1999. Click here to read the highlights, overview, and full article.
| |
Limited Time Offer! Buy One get One Free!
| |
We need to make room for new inventory. From the release of this eNewsletter on Friday, July 29th, until Friday, August 5th, any order of a DRP product through our online shop will be buy one and get one free. This is a great opportunity for you to help support the conservation of your offshore dolphin fishery and our research. Click the image above or this link to purchase program tags or apparel, and we will double each item you purchase for free. Help support our work to conserve and research one of the ocean's most iconic offshore game fish species.
| |
BOSF and the DRP are growing. Thanks to you!
| |
|
Last month, we released our 2021 990-EZ which documents, in detail, the Beyond Our Shores Foundation's 501(c)(3) financial records for public examination. Thanks to our supporters and participants over the past four years, we have expanded the Dolphinfish Research Program, fisheries research in the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean, published several technical and non-technical articles, initiated new fisheries studies, and built overall program operations (see the 990-EZ). With your support, we have achieved outstanding results and we are happy to report that we are on the heels of exceeding our 2022 distribution goal of 450 kits and 6,000 tags shipped. To date, we have shipped out 422 tagging kits and 4,876 tags, deployed 7 satellite tags, and logged more than 780 releases plus 19 recaptures in 2022. Help support our effort so we can exceed our 2022 distribution goal to help us increase data collection on this critically important offshore fish species.
| |
Click the icons below to support our tagging program and fisheries research.
| |
|
|
|
