By Capt Budd NeviaserNEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- With the spotlight aimed at football this time of year even the marine environment is in tune with the spirit.
The marine population contains amongst it members the football fish, a member of the family Himantolophidae, which contains 19 species all in a single genus of globose, deep-sea angler fishes. They are found in the tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans.
In females, the mouth is large and oblique. The sub-equal jaws are anteriorly lined with rows of numerous, closely-set, depressible, and retrose (bent or curved backward or downward) teeth and devoid of vomerine teeth (a patch of small teeth on the roof of the mouth that are rough in texture and visible when mouth is open).
Football fish females differ from those of other ceratioid families (any of about 210 species of marine fishes named for their method of "fishing" for prey.
The foremost spine of the dorsal fin on the football fish is located on the head and is modified into a "fishing rod" tipped with a fleshy "bait."
In females, the mouth is large and oblique (as shown here in this courtesy pic). The sub-equal jaws are anteriorly lined with rows of numerous, closely-set, depressible, and retrose (bent or curved backward or downward) teeth and devoid of vomerine teeth (a patch of small teeth on the roof of the mouth that are rough in texture and visible when mouth is open).
Football fish females differ from those of other ceratioid families (any of about 210 species of marine fishes named for their method of "fishing" for prey.
The foremost spine of the dorsal fin on the football fish is located on the head and is modified into a "fishing rod" tipped with a fleshy "bait."
Prey fishes attracted to this lure stray close enough for the anglerfish to swallow them. Most species inhabit the sea bottom. In some species the small male bites into the larger female's body, his mouth fuses with the skin, and the bloodstreams of the two become permanently connected.
As in other deep-sea angler-fish families, extreme sexual dimorphism (any difference, morphological or behavioral) exists between males and females of the same species.
In many animals, the sex of an individual can be determined at a glance. For example, the adult African lion has a mane while the female does not. The largest adult female may exceed 60 centimeters (two feet) and are globose in shape while adult males do not exceed 4 centimeters (1.5 inches) and are comparatively fusiform.
Their flesh is gelatinous but thickens in the larger females, which also possess a covering of “bucklers”, which are round bony plates each with a median spine – that are absent in the males of the species.
Both are reddish brown to anterior aphakic space; no ilicium or esca; and the head and body is covered in dermal spinules of which those along the snout midline being enlarged. The jaw lacks teeth, whereas those of the denticular bone have fused into a larger mass; the upper denticular bone possesses 10 to 17 hooked denticles.
Their poor musculature and cumbersome morphology indicate that female football fish at least is probably a poor swimmer and largely a sedentary, lie-in-wait predator. They are primarily mesopelagic, living in open water, with very few caught below 1,000 m (3,280 feet).
Humans do not have any use use the fish, but scientists are attempting to use the shape of the fish to advance deep sea exploration.
Requests to increase commercial harvest of Atlantic striped bass rejected
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) voted 10-4 last month to reject a proposal to increase the commercial harvest of the Atlantic Striped bass in state waters.
In May, the ASMC postponed an addendum to its current striped bass management plan quota by up to 50%.
Striped bass is a very popular sport fish and the nation’s largest marine recreational fishery. If you have never fished for them, they give a great fight and are very tasty. Recreational anglers from across the country are united in opposition to this proposal, which would have had negative impacts on the striped bass fishery as well as the businesses and communities that depend on it.
The sport fishing industry applauds the Commission’s decision,” said the American Sportfishing Association of sound science and conservation, protecting this important fishery from over harvesting and a potential repeat of the collapse of the 1980s. .
A recent report by the ASMFC’s Striped Bass Technical Committee predicts a steady decline of the number of adult striped bass through the year 2015, without consideration of increased commercial harvest.
In 2007, President Bush issued an executive order declaring game fish status for the striped bass and barring commercial harvest in federal waters.
Despite their game-fish status, striped bass populations in the Atlantic are subject to significant and unreported poaching.
Additionally, menhaden, an important prey species for striped bass, has reached its lowest abundance in recorded history as a result of commercial overharvesting.
The Atlantic striped bass fishery has experienced several declines over the past few decades. While the fishery has shown a tremendous recovery since the 1980s, numerous reports have noted decreased catches over the last several years.
A recent report by the ASMFC’s Striped Bass Technical Committee predicts a steady decline of the number of adult striped bass through the year 2015, without consideration of increased commercial harvest.
In 2007, President Bush issued an executive order declaring game fish status for the striped bass and barring commercial harvest in federal waters.
Despite their game fish status, striped bass populations in the Atlantic are subject to significant and unreported poaching.
Data collection on fish and marine mammals underway off Missssippi shore
Three Pascagoula, Mississippi-based NOAA ships are currently conducting studies in the Gulf of Mexico.
NOAA Ship Gordon Gunter is under way on a survey to collect data on fish and marine mammals, including Bryde's whales. NOAA Ship Pisces is studying the abundance and distribution of pelagic fish species, and is collecting ichthyoplankton and seafloor organism samples.
NOAA Ship Oregon II is underway on a research cruise to study the abundance and distribution of seafloor-dwelling marine life, collect icthyoplankton and water samples, and measure dissolved oxygen.
Red tide levels insignificant in November
Karenia brevis, the Florida red tide organism, was not detected in water samples collected last month in the Indian River Lagoon (Brevard and Indian River counties).
In the northwest coast, no samples were collected this week. In the southwest coast Karenia brevis, the Florida red tide organism, was not detected in water samples collected this week alongshore between Pinellas and Collier counties nor offshore of the Florida Keys (Monroe County).
The local fishing report
- Along the surf and on the piers, large schools of pompano are in the first slough a low tide.
- A lot of sargassum weed is being washed up on shore.
- Sheepshead, Spanish mackerel, large bluefish and redfish are also being caught in the surf.
- The jetties reportedly have been hot with captures of sharks, tarpon, and redfish. A lot of baitfish are in the inlet and some of them have already come into the river.
- The netters are catching some of the pods of fingerling mullet. In the Halifax and Tomoka rivers there are reports of aggressively hitting trout first thing in the morning. Despite their activity, remember that the closed season for Volusia County, began Nov.1 and continues through the end of the year.
- There have been reports of good catches of tarpon and snook in the Tomoka River.
- In the Lagoon, redfish are eating large live shrimp sight casted in front of them.
- Ladyfish favor cut mullet.
- The trout have been aggressive first thing in the morning on top water lures, but again, I remind you not to keep any as they are not in season for the rest of the year.
Capt. Budd's PostScript
It has been written: “Fishermen are an optimistic class or they would not be fishermen.”
So whether you charter, ride a head boat, run your own vessel, stay in the river, surf fish, or fish from shore or a bridge, there are fish to be caught. Fishing is not a matter of life or death, it is so much more important than that.
Tight lines, Capt. Budd
Column Posted: 2010-12-03 18:39:45