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On November 19th, 2023, our tagging team tagged and released 25 gaffer dorado out of TSL including the 40" female that carried it's PSAT for 158 days.
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On June 4th, 2005, DRP founder Don Hammond deployed the first satellite tag for our program while fishing aboard vessel Tag Team off of Charleston, South Carolina. After that deployment, Hammond went on to deploy 14 more satellite tags for our program on fish off the Bahamas, Mexico, and different locations off Florida. Originally, Hammond used the Domeier method, which is when a titanium anchor dart is pierced into the fish's dorsal musculature, to attach satellite tags to qualifying fish. In 2014, he modified his attachment protocol to a thread-through method, which is when a hypodermic needle is used to button the tag to the fish. During that fishing season, he tagged two fish using the thread-through method, and one went on to carry the tag for 180 days, the maximum monitoring period our program uses for tags purchased from Microwave Telemetry. Since then, our program has deployed 93 satellite tags using the thread-through method, with further modifications. While we still have yet to replicate another 180-day track, we just acquired our second longest at 158 days for a 40" female tagged and released aboard Miss Costa Rica fishing out of Tropic Star Lodge last November. This tag surfaced and began transmitting on April 25th. Additionally, on April 4th and April 5th, two other tags surfaced and began transmitting after remaining on 43" and 38" male dolphinfish for 90 days off Mexico and Guatemala. Those fish were tagged and released aboard Finest Kind and Pica Mas fishing out of Casa Vieja Lodge. Acquiring long duration or full-interval monitoring periods has always been our goal when deploying satellite tags, and for dolphinfish over the past three years and 35 tags deployed, more than half (20 tags; 57%) either produced full-interval records, were recaptured, or acquired monitoring periods >40 days. To learn more about our satellite tracking research click here. To sponsor a tag contact us!
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Grady-White Sponsored Tag Deployed off NC
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This past month, we deployed our 10th satellite tag in the South Atlantic Bight and first off of North Carolina. On the morning of May 3rd, while fishing aboard Dr. Iyke Blakemore's vessel, Marlin Gull, with Captain Kenny Midgett and mates Mark Schultz, Chris Whitley, Bryant Stokes, and Greg Jenkins, we deployed a Wildlife Computer's mark and report satellite tag on a healthy 36" female. This satellite tag was sponsored by Grady-White Boats. The tag has yet to check in and is expected to remain with the fish for 32 more days. This is a major step forward in better understanding the movement dynamics of dolphinfish in North Carolinian waters and can help start to determine movement routes fish take from North Carolina to the Mid-Atlantic Bight, Sargasso Sea, Caribbean Sea, and north Atlantic Ocean.
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May Recaptures off Florida Keys and
South Florida
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The numbers near the stars indicate days at liberty.
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Tagging Details: Tagged and released by Captain Don Gates aboard Killin' Time II with anglers Ron Teke, Bryan Longcoy, Angie Gonder on May 2nd, 19th, and 23rd off Cudjoe Key; Tagged and released by Captain George Garcia aboard Blackfin on April 21st off Long Key.
Recapture Details: Reported by Mike Caitlin (Diehard), David Wicker (Lucky Strike), and Colin O'Connor (Beaut) during May; Reported by Christian Sanchez (Miami Sailfish) on April 30th, 2024.
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May Recapture in the South Atlantic Bight
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The number near the star indicates days at liberty.
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Tagging Details: Tagged and released by Captain Rob Bragg aboard Brown Dawg with angler Scott Howell on April 14th, 2024, 65 miles offshore off Georgia.
Recapture Details: Reported by Clayton Pressley (No Shot) on May 1st, 2024
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Support Our Tagging Program and Research
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The Beyond Our Shores Foundation
is a 501(c)3 founded in 2017 to expand the Dolphinfish Research Program and research on data-deficient pelagic fish and fisheries. Tax-deductible donations can be made via the links below. Contact us for corporate sponsorship information if you would like your company to support our work.
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| | Eastern Tropical Pacific Research Partners
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