When we saw the soles of Elaine Ahn’s boat shoes, we knew she was headed overboard. The big yellowfin tuna at the end of her line was on a run, threatening to take Ahn, tied to the fish via a fish-fighting harness, along with it. Death by tuna is not a great way to go. Her rod tip was buried three guides deep into the Gulf of Mexico by the time Capt. Devlin Roussel and I grabbed hold of her, pulling her back aboard. No one was laughing.
It might sound a bit bizarre, but the fact that a big tuna can yank most any stand-up fisherman overboard is part of the fish’s appeal. Save for the billfish, nothing makes an angler’s heart beat faster than the mere prospect of catching a tuna. Schoolie black or bluefin are fine, but in the fall, from coastal New England to the Gulf, huge yellowfin and giant bluefin garner much of the attention. But know that whipping a tuna takes equal parts brute force and technique. The Hookset ▶ Tuna are not largemouth bass. An exaggerated hookset is unnecessary—the fish will hook itself. Get to the reel quickly, allow the fish to run with the bait for 3 to 5 seconds, then shift it into the strike position. Tight Makes Right ▶ Constant tension is critical to winning a tuna fight. Yellowfin, bluefin, and bigeyes are all powerful battlers capable of hard runs, particularly when first hooked. Hour-long tugs of war are common. Be prepared for anything. Transfer the rod from the rod holder to a fighting harness, square up to the gunwale, keeping the rod perpendicular to the boat, and plant those knees into the combing pads. If the line goes slack, reel as fast as you can. Going Deep ▶ It’s virtually impossible to brake a fish that’s charging straight away from the boat, so don’t even try. When the tuna eventually does stop, reel hard to keep the stalemates to a minimum—line should be either coming into the reel or leaving the reel at all times. If the fish sounds and seems to be brooding in the depths, you’re on the losing side of the argument and simply allowing more time for the hook to work its way free. Typically, the fish will have a couple of strong runs in it before heading for the bottom, which is where the real fun—and battle of wills—begins. The key words now are: lift and reel, lift and reel, lift and reel. Say it out loud if necessary. There will be times when the fish will giveth and then taketh back again, but be confident that once it starts circling deep, the fight is drawing to a close. Proper form is important. Always stay square to the fish with your knees pointed right at him. Be “Color” Blind ▶ “I got color.” The captain or crew will likely be the first to spot the fish swimming in circles below the boat and shout those words, but it’s incumbent upon the angler to pay little attention. Many tuna fights end in agony at boatside because of a letdown of a mere second or two.
Upon seeing the boat, the fish will normally make its final run for freedom. The line and the connections—and everyone aboard—have been stressed. Try to stay focused. If you allow the line to make contact with the prop or underside of the boat, it will have all been for naught. Make the call for the gaff and guide the fish to the hook. Stay on the rod until the fish is safely onboard and shift the reel into free spool only when the deckhands have it under control.
The nursehound (Scyliorhinus stellaris), also known as the large-spotted dogfish, greater spotted dogfish, or bull huss, is a species of catshark, family Scyliorhinidae, found in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean. It is generally found amongst rocks or algae at a depth of 20–60 m (66–200 ft). Growing up to 1.6 m (5.2 ft) long, the nursehound has a robust body with a broad, rounded head and two dorsal fins placed far back. It shares its range with the more common and closely related small-spotted catshark (S. canicula), which it resembles in appearance but can be distinguished from in having larger spots and nasal skin flaps that do not extend to the mouth.
Nursehounds have nocturnal habits and generally hide inside small holes during the day, often associating with other members of its species. A benthic predator, it feeds on a range of bony fishes, smaller sharks, crustaceans, and cephalopods. Like other catsharks, the nursehound is oviparous in reproduction. Females deposit large, thick-walled egg cases, two at a time, from March to October, securing them to bunches of seaweed. The eggs take 7–12 months to hatch. Nursehounds are marketed as food in several European countries under various names, including "flake", "catfish", "rock eel", and "rock salmon". It was once also valued for its rough skin (called "rubskin"), which was used as an abrasive. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has assessed the nursehound as Near Threatened, as its population in the Mediterranean Sea seems to have declined substantially from overfishing.
Taxonomy
Early illustration of a nursehound from Les poissons (1877).
The first scientific description of the nursehound was published by Carl Linnaeus, in the 1758 tenth edition of Systema Naturae. He gave it the name Squalus stellaris, the specific epithet stellaris being Latin for "starry". No type specimen was designated. In 1973, Stewart Springer moved this species to the genus Scyliorhinus.[2][3] The common name "nursehound" came from an old belief by English fishermen that this shark attends to its smaller relatives, while the name "huss" may have come from a distortion of the word "nurse" over time.[4]
Distribution and habitat
The nursehound is found in the northeastern Atlantic from southern Norway and Sweden to Senegal, including off the British Isles, throughout the Mediterranean Sea, and the Canary Islands. It may occur as far south as the mouth of the Congo River, though these West African records may represent misidentifications of the West African catshark (S. cervigoni).[5] Its range seems to be rather patchy, particularly around offshore islands, where there are small local populations with limited exchange between them.[1] The nursehound can be found from the intertidal zone to a depth of 400 m (1,300 ft), though it is most common between 20 m (66 ft) and 60–125 m (200–410 ft).[1] This bottom-dwelling species prefers quiet water over rough or rocky terrain, including sites with algal cover. In the Mediterranean, it favors algae-covered coral.[2][6]
Description
Young nursehounds have prominent saddle markings.
The nursehound attains a length of 1.6 m (5.2 ft), though most measure less than 1.3 m (4.3 ft).[2] This shark has a broad, rounded head and a stout body that tapers towards the tail. The eyes are oval in shape, with a thick fold of skin on the lower rim but no nictitating membrane. Unlike in the small-spotted catshark, the large flaps of skin beside the nares do not reach the mouth.[6] In the upper jaw, there are 22–27 tooth rows on either side and 0–2 teeth at the symphysis (center); in the lower jaw, there are 18–21 tooth rows on either side and 2–4 teeth at the symphysis. The teeth are Y-shaped and smooth-edged; the anterior teeth have a single central cusp, while the posterior teeth have an additional pair of lateral cusplets. Towards the rear of the jaws, the teeth become progressively smaller and more angled, with proportionately larger lateral cusplets.[7] The five pairs of gill slits are small, with the last two over the pectoral fin bases.[6]
The two dorsal fins are placed far back on the body; the first is larger than the second and originates over the bases of the pelvic fins. The pectoral fins are large. In males, the inner margins of the pelvic fins are merged into an "apron" over the claspers. The caudal fin is broad and nearly horizontal, with an indistinct lower lobe. The skin is very rough, due to a covering of large, upright dermal denticles.[2] The nursehound has small black dots covering its back and sides, interspersed with brown spots of varying shapes larger than the pupil, on a grayish or brownish background. The pattern is highly variable across individuals and ages; there may also be white spots, or the brown spots may be expanded so that almost the whole body is dark, or a series of faint "saddles" may be present. The underside is plain white.
Biology and ecology
Primarily nocturnal, nursehounds spend the day inside small holes in rocks and swim into deeper water at night to hunt. Sometimes two sharks will squeeze into the same hole, and several individuals will seek out refuges within the same local area. In one tracking study, a single immature nursehound was observed to use five different refuges in succession over a period of 168 days, consistently returning to each one over a number of days before moving on. Nursehounds may occupy refuges to hide from predators, avoid harassment by mature conspecifics, and/or to facilitate thermoregulation.[8] In captivity, these sharks are gregarious and tend to rest in groups, though the individuals comprising any particular group changes frequently.[9] This species is less common than the small-spotted catshark.[6]
The nursehound feeds on a variety of benthic organisms, including bony fishes such mackerel, deepwater cardinalfishes, dragonets, gurnards, flatfishes, and herring, and smaller sharks such as the small-spotted catshark. It also consumes crustaceans, in particular crabs but also hermit crabs and large shrimp, and cephalopods.[2][10] Given the opportunity, this shark will scavenge.[6] Adults consume relatively more bony fish and cephalopods, and fewer crustaceans, than juveniles.[1] Known parasites of this species include the monogeneans Hexabothrium appendiculatum and Leptocotyle major,[11][12] the tapeworm Acanthobothrium coronatum,[13] the trypanosome Trypanosoma scyllii,[14] the isopod Ceratothoa oxyrrhynchaena,[15] and the copepod Lernaeopoda galei.[16] The netted dog whelk (Nassarius reticulatus) preys on the nursehound's eggs by piercing the case and extracting the yolk.
Life history
Nursehound egg capsules, some with their cases cut open to show the embryos inside.
Like other members of its family, the nursehound is oviparous. Known breeding grounds include the River Fal estuary and Wembury Bay in England.[17] Adults move into shallow water in the spring or early summer, and mate only at night.[18] The eggs are deposited in the shallows from March to October.[10] Although a single female produces 77–109 oocytes per year, not all of these are ovulated and estimates of the actual number of eggs laid range from 9 to 41.[18] The eggs mature and are released two at a time, one from each oviduct.[2] Each egg is enclosed in a thick, dark brown case measuring 10–13 cm (3.9–5.1 in) long and 3.5 cm (1.4 in) wide. There are tendrils at the four corners, that allow the female to secure the egg cases to bunches of seaweed (usually Cystoseira spp. or Laminaria saccharina).[17]
Eggs in the North Sea and the Atlantic take 10–12 months to hatch, while those from the southern Mediterranean take 7 months to hatch. The length at hatching is 16 cm (6.3 in) off Britain, and 10–12 cm (3.9–4.7 in) off France. Newly hatched sharks grow at a rate of 0.45–0.56 mm (0.018–0.022 in) per day, and have prominent saddle markings. Sexual maturity is attained at a length of 77–79 cm (30–31 in), which corresponds to an age of four years if hatchling growth rates remain constant.[10][18] This species has a lifespan of at least 19 years.[19]
Human interactions
A nursehound in a public aquarium; this species adapts well to captivity.
Nursehounds are generally harmless to humans.[20] However, 19th-century British naturalist Jonathan Couch noted that "although not so formidable with its teeth as many other sharks, this fish is well able to defend itself from an enemy. When seized it throws its body round the arm that holds it, and by a contractile and reversed action of its body grates over the surface of its enemy with the rugged spines of its skin, like a rasp. There are few animals that can bear so severe an infliction, by which their surface is torn with lacerated wounds."[21] This shark is displayed by many public aquariums and has been bred in captivity.[9]
The rough skin (called "rubskin") of the nursehound was once used to polish wood and alabaster, to smooth arrows and barrels, and to raise the hairs of beaver hats as a replacement for pumice. Rubskin was so valued that a pound of it was worth a hundredweight of sandpaper.[22][23] The liver was also used as a source of oil, and the carcasses cut up and used to bait crab traps.[22] The meat of this species is marketed fresh or dried and salted, though it is considered "coarse" in some quarters.[20][22] In the United Kingdom (UK}, it is one of the species sold under the names "flake", "catfish", "rock eel", or "rock salmon".[4][24] In France, it is sold as grande rousette or saumonette, as after being skinned and beheaded it resembles salmon.[25] This species is also sometimes processed into fishmeal, or its fins dried and exported to the Asian market. In European waters, commercial production of this species is led by France, followed by the UK and Portugal; it is caught using bottom trawls, gillnets, bottom set longlines, handlines and fixed bottom nets. In 2004, a total catch of 208 tons was reported from the northeastern Atlantic.[1][2][26]
The impact of fishing activities on the nursehound is difficult to assess as species-specific data is generally lacking. This species is more susceptible to overfishing than the small-spotted catshark because of its larger size and fragmented distribution, which limits the recovery potential of depleted local stocks. There is evidence that its numbers have declined significantly in the Gulf of Lion, off Albania, and around the Balearic Islands.[1] In the upper Tyrrhenian Sea, its numbers have fallen by over 99% since the 1970s.[27] These declines have led the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to list the nursehound under Near Threatened. Source: http://wikipedia.org More News: http://gofishtalk.com
Huge muskie 'unbelievable' catch
Ron Smith QMI Agency
First posted: | Updated:
Brockville's Jason Phillips shows off a monstrous muskie, which he said weighed in at over 70 lbs., caught and released back into the St. Lawrence River early in November, 2011. (Submitted image)BROCKVILLE - - There's a huge fish still swimming around in the St. Lawrence River. Brockville's Jason Phillips and Sandra Ellis caught and released a 70-plus pound muskie after a one-hour battle one week ago.
It was the biggest fish – and the first muskie – that Philips had ever caught and the longtime angler released the 54-inch monster back into the depths of the river.
Two years ago, a 65-pound muskie was released back into the St. Lawrence by an Ottawa angler and it was recognized then as a world record for catch-and-release.
“It was unbelievable,” said Philips of the experience. “I didn't know what to think, but I knew it wasn't a pickerel.”
The 38-year-old Philips and Ellis just decided last Wednesday to head out on the St. Lawrence River for an hour or so to try out a new boat and fish for some pickerel.
At 6 p.m. on a calm night, they were fishing in 220 feet of water in the channel about one mile west of St. Lawrence Park. Philips was using a deep diver pickerel lure on his rod with 600 feet of 100-pound test line.
He was trolling along and had just lost a fish when the big muskie hit just seconds later.
“I thought I had the biggest pickerel known to mankind,” said Philips when the fish took the lure. “It jerked the rod and almost pulled it right out of my hands.”
Ellis was just as excited being a spectator to the battle. She was telling Philips to reel it in.
“I can't. It's pulling the boat,” she recalled him saying.
The fish pulled the boat about a quarter of a mile toward St. Lawrence Park, making several runs where it would pull off 200 feet of line at a time.
“It was making the boat bounce up and down,” said Ellis. “Jason said 'that's not a normal fish'. We thought it was a sturgeon.”
Then, after more than 30 minutes, Philips began making progress at reeling it towards the surface. They were able to shine the spotlight on it. Then, they knew what they were battling.
The next part of the drama was to get the fish in the boat. In their haste to head out fishing, Philips and Ellis hadn't grabbed a net.
With the fish beside the boat, Ellis was sitting on Philips' fishing rod while he leaned over the side to bearhug the fish and lift it into the boat.
Philips was warning Ellis to watch out for the fish's large and sharp teeth but he was in a position to lose a hand to one of Canada's largest freshwater species.
The two had a hand weightscale with their fishing gear and the fish pulled it past the 70-pound mark.
They quickly took a few photos of the fish to record the once-in-a-lifetime moment. Then, they lifted the muskie back over the side of the boat and into the river.
“It swam away for 20 yards, stopped for a minute and then it just bolted to the bottom,” recalled Philips in watching to see if the huge fish was alright after the long fight.
There was never any thought of keeping the trophy fish estimated between 20 and 30 years old. Philips and Ellis figured the fish deserved to live to swim and fight again.
The decision was a good advancement for the species that has been ravaged by a deadly virus over the past several years.
In 2005-06, a study by Queen's University in Kingston determined that a virus had decimated almost 50 per cent of the river's muskie population.
After showing photos of the big fish to friends, they learned that Bass Pro Shops would have paid them $10,000 for the muskie to mount it and use it in as a promotional trophy in their stores.
While the money would have been nice, Philips and Ellis were comfortable with their decision to return the muskie to the river.
Philips, who works for Knapp's Paving, and Ellis, who works for the Resource Centre and at Loaves and Fishes in Brockville, are avid hunters and anglers.
The biggest fish they'd caught before this was a 16-pound pickerel.
“It's pretty exciting for people to see that these kind of fish are out there in the St. Lawrence,” said Philips.
After the deer hunting season ends on Saturday, and if the weather co-operates, Philips and Ellis will go out and try their luck again at landing another trophy fish
Sawfish, also known as the Carpenter Shark, are a family of rays, characterized by a long, toothy nose extension snout. Several species can grow to approximately 7 metres or 23 feet.[2][3][4] The family as a whole is largely unknown and little studied. They are members of the sole living family Pristidae within the order Pristiformes, from the Ancient Greek pristēs (πρίστης) meaning "a sawyer" or "a saw".
They are not to be confused with sawsharks (order Pristiophoriformes), which have a similar appearance.
All species of sawfish are considered Critically Endangered by the IUCN,[5] and the only legal international trade involves live Pristis microdon to appropriate aquaria for primarily conservation purposes.[6]
Description
The sawfish's most distinctive feature is the saw-like rostrum. The rostrum is covered with sensitive pores that allow the sawfish to detect movement of prey hiding under the ocean floor. The rostrum serves as a digging tool to unearth buried crustaceans. When a suitable prey swims by, the normally lethargic sawfish springs from the bottom and slashes at it with its saw. This generally stuns or injures the prey sufficiently for the sawfish to devour it. Sawfish also defend themselves with their rostrum, against intruding divers and predators such as sharks. The "teeth" protruding from the rostrum are not real teeth, but modified tooth-like structures called denticles.
A plate sketching of a sawfish
The body and head of a sawfish are flat, and they spend most of their time lying on the sea floor. Like rays, sawfish's mouth and nostrils are on their flat undersides. The mouth is lined with small, dome-shaped teeth for eating small fish and crustaceans; sometimes the fish swallows them whole. Sawfish breathe with two spiracles just behind the eyes that draw water to the gills. The skin is covered with tiny dermal denticles that gives the fish a rough texture. Sawfish are usually light grey or brown; the smalltooth sawfish, Pristis pectinata, appears olive green.
Like other elasmobranchs, sawfish lack a swim bladder and use a large, oil-filled liver to control buoyancy. Their skeleton is made of cartilage.
The eyes of the sawfish are undeveloped due to their muddy habitat. The rostrum is the main sensory device.
The intestines are shaped like a corkscrew, called a spiral-valve.
The smallest sawfish is the dwarf sawfish (P. clavata), which can be as long as 1.4 metres (4.6 ft),[7] much smaller than the others. The largest species seem to be the largetooth sawfish (P. microdon), the Leichhardt's sawfish (P. perotteti), and the common sawfish (P. pristis), which all can reach approximately 7 m (23 ft) in length.[2][3][4] One southern sawfish was recorded as weighing 2.455 tonnes (5,410 lb).[8]
Distribution and habitat
Sawfish are found in tropical and sub-tropical areas in the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific. They inhabit coastal areas such as bays and estuaries, but frequently penetrate far into rivers and major lakes such as Lake Nicaragua.
Sawfish live only in shallow, muddy water and can be found in both freshwater and saltwater. All sawfish have the ability to traverse between fresh and saltwater.
Behavior
Sawfish are nocturnal, usually sleeping during the day, hunting at night. Despite fearsome appearances, they do not attack people unless provoked or surprised. The smalltooth sawfish is well known by fishermen as a prize game fish because of the fight it puts up once hooked. Capturing sawfish is illegal in the USA and Australia.
Reproduction
Little is known about the reproduction habits of the sawfish. They reach sexual maturity at 10 years (at least in species where data is available).
The sawfish is estimated to mate once every two years, with an average litter of around eight. They mature very slowly; it is estimated that the larger species do not reach sexual maturity until they are 3.5 to 4 metres (11 to 13 ft) long and 10 to 12 years old. They reproduce at lower rates than most fish. This makes the animals especially slow to recover from overfishing.[9]
Females are viviparous, bearing live pups, whose semi-hardened rostrum is covered with a membrane. This prevents the pup from injuring its mother during birth. The membrane eventually disintegrates and falls off.
Taxonomy and species
A large sawfish brought alongside for tagging.
The sawfish has seven species in two genera.[1] This scheme has been described as chaotic,[10] possibly omitting undescribed species including synonyms remains. The Pristis pristis species complex, which also includes P. microdon and P. perotteti, is in need of a taxonomic review.
Family Pristidae Bonaparte, 1838
Genus Anoxypristis E. I. White and Moy-Thomas, 1941
Also known as the narrow or pointed sawfish. Lives in muddy areas of the Indo-West Pacific. Appears grey. Has been included in the genus Pristis, but has a narrower rostral saw with numerous teeth on the distal part and no teeth in the quarter nearest the head.
Genus Pristis H. F. Linck, 1790
Pristis clavata Garman, 1906 (Dwarf sawfish)
Also known as the Queensland sawfish. Inhabits muddy bays and estuaries along the northern coast of Australia. Relatively small, reaching only around 1.4 m (4.6 ft).
Also known as the Largetooth sawfish (however this can lead to confusion with P. perotteti when the two are considered to be separate species) or Freshwater sawfish. Typically restricted to coastal regions of the Indo-Pacific, but has sometimes been considered synonymous with P. perotteti, and uncertainty exists over what species the scientific name P. microdon really belongs to, since the original description lacked a type locality.
Also known as the wide sawfish. Appears green or bluish-grey. Restricted to coastal parts of the Atlantic Ocean, including the Mediterranean. Reports from elsewhere are believed to be misidentifications.[11]
Pristis perotteti J. P. Müller & Henle, 1841 (Large-tooth sawfish)
Typically restricted to coastal parts of the tropical and subtropical Atlantic and east Pacific, but with records far inland (e.g., Santarém and Lake Nicaragua). See P. microdon.
Pristis pristis (Linnaeus, 1758) (Common sawfish)
Lives in the coastal parts of the tropical and subtropical Atlantic, Mediterranean, eastern Pacific and in northern Australia. As suggested by its name, once plentiful, but has declined drastically along with the other sawfishes.
Pristis zijsron Bleeker, 1851 (Longcomb sawfish)
Found in the Indo-West Pacific. Prefers muddy bays and estuaries.
Conservation
Sawfish seen from below, from inside an underwater tunnel at Atlantis Paradise Island, Nassau, Bahamas.
All species of sawfish are considered critically endangered. They are accidentally caught as bycatch in fishing nets and are hunted for their rostrum (which is prized as a curiosity by some), their fins (which are eaten as a delicacy), and their liver oil for use in folk medicine.
While fins from many shark species are utilized in the trade, certain shark species have been identified over the centuries as supplying the tastiest and most succulent fins. The shark-like rays (the sawfishes and shovelnose rays) supply the highest quality fin. As observed by one of the leading treatises on shark trade, "The ... fins ... from the white-spotted guitarfish [Rhynchobatus spp.] are considered to be most valuable. The preferred shark species for fins are tiger, mako, sawfish, sandbar, bull, hammerhead, blacktip, porbeagle, thresher and blue shark."[12] The fins from the critically endangered sawfishes "are highly favored in Asian markets and are some of the most valuable shark fins."[13] Sawfishes are now protected under the highest protection level of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), Appendix I,[14] but given the great volume of the shark fin trade, and that detached shark fins are difficult to identify, it is unlikely that CITES protection will prevent sawfish fins from entering the trade.
Capturing sawfish is illegal in the United States and in Australia. The sale of smalltooth sawfish rostra is also prohibited in the United States under the Endangered Species Act (ESA); the sale of other sawfish rostra remains legal.[citation needed] However, most rostra on the American market are from the smalltooth sawfish, partly because few laymen can differentiate the species from which the rostra originated.
Habitat destruction is another threat to sawfish.
While popular in public aquaria, sawfishes are difficult to maintain because of their size. They likely require a variety of habitats, including both seawater and freshwater to complete their life cycle. Consequently, captive breeding has resulted in very little success, so far limited to a single species (P. pectinata)[15] at a single aquarium (Atlantis Paradise Island).[16]
The international trade of sawfish was banned by the CITES convention in June 2007.[17] At the 14th CITES Conference the Australian delegation proposed an annotation to all species from the family Pristidae to Appendix I. The annotation was supported by the required two-thirds majority, and allowed P. microdon to be treated as Appendix II “for the exclusive purpose of allowing international trade in live animals to appropriate and acceptable aquaria for primarily conservation purposes.”[6] The annotation was accepted on the basis that Australian populations of P. microdon are robust relative to other populations in the species' range; and that the capture of individuals for aquaria is likely to be detrimental to the population in any other country than Australia. All trade must be accompanied by an agreement between the exporter, importer and the Australian CITES Management Authority ensuring that the receiving aquarium has the capacity to house and care for the animal and that display is accompanied by comprehensive educational material. Since the implementation of the annotation, a sawfish research association has been established in northern Australia to facilitate accelerated research effort in P. microdon and other euryhaline elasmobranchs in rivers that drain to the Gulf of Carpentaria. Source: http://wikipedia.org More News: http://gofishtalk.com
This phosphorescent sea pen was literally the highlight of a series of finds marine surveyors off the coast of Scotland announced in their annual report today. The studies, using acoustic multi-beam scanners and hi-def cameras, captured several rare and elusive species, including the sea pen - so named because resembles a writer's quill as well as a Christmas tree. The sea pen is a colony of seabed dwelling polyps that lights up when touched. Other finds included the prehistoric 'faceless and brainless fish' Amphioxus - a modern representative of the first animals that evolved a backbone half a billion years ago.
The surveys around the coast of Scotland uncovered spectacular undersea animals such as the phosphorescent sea pen
Instead of a brain - or face - the fish has a nerve cord running down its back. One species of Amphioxus recently had its genome sequenced in an attempt to understand the origins of vertebrate life
The elusive, rarely seen Amphioxus was found in the waters off Tankerness in Orkney by marine surveyors this year. Instead of a brain - or face - the fish has a nerve cord running down its back. One species of Amphioxus recently had its genome sequenced in an attempt to understand the origins of vertebrate life.
Vertebrate life and amphioxus are thought to have descended from a single common ancestor around 550 million years ago. The species was unearthed in series of 15 marine surveys in 2011, covering over 2,000 square miles using acoustic multi-beam scanners and hi-def cameras. Dozens of rare, strange species were found in Scottish waters.
The largest Horse Mussel bed in Scotland was revealed in waters near Noss Head, Caithness. Known as 'Clabbydhhu' in Gaelic (translates as 'enormous black mouth') the molluscs can live to nearly 50 years old
The largest Horse Mussel bed in Scotland was revealed in waters near Noss Head, Caithness. Known as 'Clabbydhhu' in Gaelic (translates as 'enormous black mouth') these slow-growing molluscs can live to nearly 50 years old. Off the west coast, very rare Fan Mussels were found - at up to 48 cm long, this is Scotland's largest sea shell. Around the Small Isles more than 100 specimens were discovered, the largest aggregation in UK waters. With golden threads likened to human hair so fine they can attach to a single grain of sand, seamen once believed they fed on drowned sailors.
With golden threads likened to human hair so fine they can attach to a single grain of sand, seamen once believed fan mussels fed on drowned sailors
Other finds included Flame Shell beds in Loch Linnhe, Argyll, a cryptic species only found in a very few west coast locations with bright orange feeding tentacles. Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead said: 'In an age where the lands of the world have been mapped out and recorded, it's amazing how many discoveries are waiting to be found under the waves'
Other finds included Flame Shell beds in Loch Linnhe, Argyll, a cryptic species only found in a very few west coast locations with bright orange feeding tentacles
'The waters around Scotland are rich in such fascinating biodiversity and it's our responsibility to protect this fragile environment,' said Lochhead. 'That's why we have ramped up our marine survey work, with plans being prepared for new surveys in 2012 to further our knowledge of what lies beneath Scotland's seas.'
A horse mussel with sea loch anemones - one of 15 rare species discovered during a series of marine surveys this year
The survey this year benefited from the use of the latest technology, with acoustic multi-beam scanners used to create 3D images of the seabed. As a result, first-ever marine maps of many new areas was possible, including waters around Rockall, to the west of the Outer Hebrides, around the Isle of Canna and within Sinclair Bay in Caithness.
Admittedly, I’m not much of a “fashion” kind of guy when it comes to fishing gear. Functionality is more my game. My favorite item being a pair of six-pocket, standard army issue pants.
As the name implies, they’re endowed with six pockets for all the “stuff” I need on a regular basis: my cell phone, wallet, reading glasses, bags of worms, beef jerky, contour maps, the occasional Boca grip, grocery list, spray-on worm goop and pliers. On occasion, there might be a half eaten sandwich in there too — when the biting is just too good to choke down the entire deli treat. Packs of Lance Nip-E-Cheese crackers nestle nicely in the cavernous camouflaged pockets too.
What’s odd is that of all the fishing gear I have, I rely on my polarized glasses more than most, yet I never give them a second thought. I’m of the opinion that a quality pair of peeps should be standard issue for every serious fisherman.
For example, I was out with a fishing buddy on a local lake, running the trolling motor and looking for signs of anything that might bite. While peering into the water I saw a bed with a gargandous female on it. Yikes! I eased the boat back around and told my buddy to come up front and check out the find.
As I pointed her out to him, he leaned closer and said, “Where?” Keep in mind this fish was big enough to swallow a small dairy cow. I pointed again, my arms flailing in even more exaggerated gestures, gruffing “right there!” He was still lost. After a few disparaging comments about his advancing age, family lineage and having lost his eyesight, I glanced at his sunglasses: he found that gem in the dollar bin. No wonder my buddy was blind as a bat to the world around him.
For those in the know, a quality pair of polarized glasses is a must when angling. Quality polarized glasses remove glare from the water’s surface and filter the sun’s harmful ultra-violet rays while providing a distortion-free field of view. Cheap sunglasses do none of these.
So if you’re thinking about getting a pair of glasses, there are two types of lenses available: glass and polycarbonate. Both offer unique advantages.
Glass lenses don’t scratch but they’re heavier than polycarbonate. Polycarbonate lenses on the other hand, scratch easier, but are lighter and offer protection against flying objects.
I recently tried a pair from Numa Sport Optics. Numa products are developed by military Special Forces personnel searching for rugged eyewear that would stand up to the rigors of combat. A tall order for sure.
I found my Numa’s very light thanks to their proprietary frame material. The polycarbonate lenses are very scratch resistant, while offering protection against unwanted flying objects. You know the stuff; slip-sinkers, jigs, topwater baits and anything you find yourself dodging as it whistles by your head. Not to mention those giant (and particularly juicy) bugs when you’re blistering across the lake.
My Numa’s had broad temple arms that keep stray sunlight from entering through the periphery of the frames. Nice. After a few days on the water, I can recommend the Numa’s wholeheartedly. Oh, and for all the other fashionistas out there just like me, rest assured, they look really cool too. ($139.99)
An artificial fly or fly lure is a type of fishing lure, usually used in the sport of fly fishing (although they may also be used in other forms of angling). In general, artificial flies are the bait which fly fishers present to their target species of fish while fly fishing. Artificial flies are constructed by fly tying, in which furs, feathers, thread or any of very many other materials are tied onto a fish hook.[1] Artificial flies may be constructed to represent all manner of potential freshwater and saltwater fish prey to include aquatic and terrestrialinsects, crustaceans, worms, baitfish, vegetation, flesh, spawn, small reptiles, amphibians, mammals and birds, etc. Effective artificial fly patterns are said to be killing flies because of their ability to put fish in the creel for the fly fisher. There are thousands of artificial fly patterns, many of them with descriptive and often idiosyncratic names.
Contents
Construction
Fly tying is a common practice in fly fishing, considered by many anglers an important part of the fly fishing experience. Many fly fishers tie their own flies, either following patterns in books, natural insect examples, or using their own imagination. The technique involves attaching small pieces of feathers, animalfur, and other materials on a hook in order to make it attractive to fish. This is made by wrapping thread tightly around the hook and tying on the desired materials. A fly is sized according to the width of the hook gap; large or longer flies are tied on larger, thicker, and longer hooks.
Types
Generally, fly patterns are considered either "imitations" or "attractors". Imitations seek to deceive fish through the life-like imitation of insects on which the fish may feed. Imitators do not always have to be precisely realistic in appearance; they may derive their lifelike qualities when their fur or feathers are immersed in water and allowed to move in the current. Attractors, which are often brightly colored, seek to draw a strike by arousing an aggression response in the fish. Famous attractors are the Stimulator and Royal Wulff flies.
History
First known illustration of a fishing fly from 4th. edition (1652) of John Dennys's The Secrets of Angling, first published in 1613, probably the earliest poetical English treatise on Angling.,[2][3]
The first literary reference to flies and fishing with flies was in Ælian’s Natural History probably written about 200 A.D. That work discussed a Macedonian fly. The Treatyse on Fysshynge with an Angle was published (1496) within The Boke of St. Albans attributed to Dame Juliana Berners. The book contains, along with instructions on rod, line and hook making, dressings for different flies to use at different times of the year. Probably the first use of the term Artificial fly came in Izaac Walton's The Compleat Angler (1653),[4]
Oh my good Master, this morning walk has been spent to my great pleasure and wonder: but I pray, when shall I have your direction how to make Artificial flyes, like to those that the Trout loves best?[5]
Frontpiece from Bowlker's Art of Angling (1854) showing a variety of artificial flies[6]
The 1652 4th. edition of John Dennys's The Secrets of Angling , first published in 1613, contains the first known illustration of an artificial fly.
By the early 19th century, the term artificial fly was being routinely used in angling literature much like this representative quote from Thomas Best's A Concise Treatise on the Art of Angling (1807) to refer to all types of flies used by fly fishers.
The art of artificial fly-fishing, certainly has the pre-eminence over the other various methods that are used to take fishes in the art of angling[7]
Although the term fly was a reference to an imitation of some flying insect, by the mid-19th century the term fly was being applied to a far greater range of imitation.[original research?]
The term fly is applied by sea fishermen to a certain arrangement of feathers, wax, etc., which I am about to describe the manufacture of, and which may be used with considerable success in mackerel, basse, and pollack fishing. I am not disposed to think, however, that such baits are ever mistaken by the fish which they are intended to capture for flies; but the number used, the way in which they are mounted, viz., several on one trace, and the method of their progress through the water, rather leads me to the belief that they are mistaken for a number of small fry, and treated accordingly.[8]
A major concept in the sport of fly fishing is that the fly imitates some form of fish prey when presented to the fish by the angler. As aquatic insects such as Mayflies, Caddisflies and Stoneflies were the primary prey being imitated during the early developmental years of fly fishing, there were always differing schools of thought on how closely a fly needed to imitate the fish's prey.
In the mid to late 19th century, those schools of thought, at least for trout fishing were: the formalists (imitation matters) and the colourists (color matters most).[10] Today, some flies are called attractor patterns because in theory, they do not resemble any specific prey, but instead attract strikes from fish. For instance, Charles Jardine, in his 2008 book "Flies, Ties and Techniques," speaks of imitators and attractors, categorizing the Royal Wulff as an attractor and the Elk Hair Caddis as an imitator, whereas "... in sea trout and steelhead fishing there is a combination of imitation and attraction involved in fly construction".[11] Paul Schullery in American Fly Fishing - A History (1996) explains however that although much has been written about the imitation theories of fly design, all successful fly patterns must imitate something to the fish, and even a perfect imitation attracts strikes from fish. The huge range of fly patterns documented today for all sorts of target species-trout, salmon, bass and panfish, pike, saltwater, tropical exotics, etc. are not easily categorized as merely imitative, attractors or something else.[12]
Contemporary fly types and illustrative examples
The categorization of artificial flies has evolved considerably in the last 200 years as writers, fly tiers and fishing equipment retailers expound and promote new ideas and techniques. Additionally, as the popularity of fly fishing expanded globally to new and exotic target species, new flies and genera of flies came into being. There are many subtypes in some of these categories especially as they apply to trout flies. As well, any given pattern of artificial fly might well fit into multiple categories depending on its intended use. The following categorization with illustrative examples is derived from the following major artificial fly merchants offerings.
Orvis - An American Fly Fishing Retailer in business since 1856 [13]
Farlows of London - A British Fly Fishing Retailer in business since 1840[14]
Umpqua Feather Merchants - An American artificial fly manufacturer and wholesaler in business since 1972[15]
Dry flies
Dry flies are designed to be buoyant, or to float on the surface of the water. Dry flies typically represent the adult form of an aquatic or terrestrial insect. Dry flies are generally considered freshwater flies.[16]
Wet flies are designed to sink below the surface of the water. Wet flies have been tied in a wide variety of patterns to represent larva, nymphs, pupa, drowned insects, baitfish and other underwater prey. Wet flies are generally considered freshwater flies.[17]
Nymphs are designed to resemble the immature form of aquatic insects and small crustaceans. Nymph flies are generally considered freshwater flies.[18]
Nymphs
Brook's Montana Stonefly nymph
Biot midge larve
Emerger flies
Emergers are designed to resemble the not quite mature hatching aquatic insect as it leaving the water to become an adult insect. Emerger flies are generally considered freshwater trout flies.[19]
Streamer flies
Streamers are designed to resemble some form of baitfish or other large aquatic prey. Streamer flies may be patterned after both freshwater and saltwater prey species. Streamer flies are a very large and diverse category of flies as streamers are effective for almost any type of gamefish.[20]
Terrestrials are designed to resemble non-aquatic insects, crustaceans and worms that could fall prey to feeding fish after being blown or falling onto the water.,[21][22]
Terrestrial flies
Dave's Hopper, a terrestrial dry fly imitating a common grasshopper
Bass and panfish flies, bugs and poppers
Bass and panfish flies, bugs and poppers are generally designed to resemble both surface and sub-surface insect, crustacean, baitfish prey consumed by warm-water species such as Largemouth bass or bluegill. This genus of flies generally includes patterns that resemble small mammals, birds, amphibians or reptiles that may fall prey to fish, or in the case of panfish flies, small aquatic insects or crustaceans.
Bass and panfish flies
Red Bass popper
Bass popper on water
Bluegill streamer EP style
Pike and musky flies
Pike and musky flies are generally designed to resemble both surface and sub-surface crustacean, baitfish prey consumed by species of the genus Esox such as Northern Pike or Muskellunge. This genus of flies are larger than bass flies and generally includes patterns that resemble baitfish and small mammals, birds, amphibians or reptiles that may fall prey to fish.[23]
Carp flies are designed to resemble various vegetative sources of food that carp feed on such as berries, seeds and flowers that may fall into the water.[24]
Salmon flies
Salmon flies are a traditional class of flies tied specifically to fly fish for Atlantic Salmon. Some salmon flies may be classified as lures while others may be classified as dry flies, such as the bomber. Salmon flies are also tied in classic and contemporary patterns.[25]
Salmon flies
Durham Ranger - a Classic Salmon fly
Green Highlander - a Classic Salmon fly
Steelhead and Pacific salmon flies
Steelhead and Pacific salmon flies are designed for catching anadromous steelhead trout and pacific salmon in western North American and Great Lakes rivers.
Egg flies
Egg flies are all designed to resemble the spawn of other fish that may be encountered in a river and consumed by the target species.
Flesh flies
Flesh flies are designed to resemble the rotting flesh of pacific salmon encountered in a river and consumed by the target species.
Saltwater flies
Saltwater flies are a class of flies designed to represent a wide variety of inshore, offshore and estuarial saltwater baitfish, crustacean and other saltwater prey. Saltwater flies generally are found in both sub-surface and surface patterns.[26]
Saltwater flies
White Lefty's Deceiver - An all purpose saltwater baitfish imitation
Gold bendback shrimp fly
Cockroach Deceiver (Lefty Kreh)
Bonefish flies
Bonefish flies are a special class of saltwater flies used to catch Bonefish in shallow water. Bonefish flies generally resemble small crabs, shrimp or other crustaceans.[27]
Bonefish flies
Crazy Charlie - A popular bonefish fly
Bonefish shrimp fly
Tarpon flies
Tarpon flies are a special class of saltwater flies used to catch Tarpon in both inshore and offshore waters. Tarpon flies generally represent small baitfish commonly preyed upon by tarpon.[27]
Tarpon flies
Stu Apte Classic Tarpon Fly
Striped bass flies
Striped bass flies are a special class of freshwater-saltwater fly used to catch Striped Bass in freshwater, inshore and offshore waters. Striped bass flies generally represent small baitfish commonly preyed upon by striped bass.
