SAT Tag a Tiny on the "Tammy Rose"

Stew · 08-14-2007, 05:46 PM

In your lifetime, you get very few chances to do something that has never been done before. Yesterday I had the honor of having Dr. Molly Lutcavage and her team from the UNH Large Pelagics Research Center on board the "Tammy Rose" for a day of tagging bluefin tuna. My business partner, Cliff Hampton, and I have made our boat available to them so they can continue thier research on small juvenile bluefin tuna. We also had my good friend Greg Skomal on board too. We headed out east and found FOGGGG again! The first stop proved to be a vast waste land so I made a move and found some life. Dr. Molly had decided that since the fish were running around the 47inch range we would be using the brand new X-Tags, which are external pop-up sat tags similar to the ones used on giants, that have been specially developed for the baby bluefins. This would be the first time they would be deployed. After working hard to get the bite we finaly had the short rigger go off and we were on. Cliff had the fish to the boat in 5 minutes flat. The team was ready and mate Billy leadered the fish and soon the fish was on the deck. The tag was placed and we went for the hook removal and to our horror it was buried way up inside the fishes throat. The worst hook placement of the season. UGGGH!!! Too much blood and too risky to release this guy. The tags cost $4500 each so we were not going to waste any or take any chances. So this fish was donated to the cooler and Dr. Molly and crew had a chance to use it for some tests and the fish was not wasted. We were all alittle let down but soon the spread was re-deployed and soon the center rigger was tight. Greg was on this rod. The fish came to the boat and on the deck quickly. This time mate Billy removed the hook first and then the tag was placed. The measurements were taken and the fish was released and swam away quickly. History was made. The first juve bluefin tuna with an extrenal pop up tag had just been released. What an awesome feeling. These tags are designed to pop up after 11 months and transmit data to a satellite. We continued to work really hard for the rest of the morning and fished through the slow bite. We managed to tag and release 3 more school bluefins with the X-tags. All 4 fish were cleanly hooked and quickly released still fired up and fresh. We all felt really good about thier condition. The good Dr. was pleased with the way the fish were handled so I felt good. It was getting really late and the fuel dock was calling us. I had hoped for a big number day but 5 fish was going to have to do. Just like it always happens... when you least expect it... I was looking right at the short rigger when a 200lb plus fish exploded on the bar. The hole it left was the size of a VW bug!!!! I started to yell and Billy ran to the rod just as another fish rocketed out of the water and crashed the rig!!!!! We were on a much bigger fish. The 70VS was dumping and Cliff was in the Harness and on the fish. The others started to clear the spread. I saw both fish and this one was in the mid 60 inch range. I asked Molly if she wanted to switch from "tag a tiny" to tag a "small medium" and she said land it and we will tag it. Cliff worked this fish like the seasoned angler he is. He has landed several giants over the 600lb range and one over 700lbs so he knows how to fight fish. I wanted this fight to be as quick as possible. Cliff had the fish to the boat quickly and Billy and I pulled him up on deck. He measured 66 inches and was big and fat and very much fired up. The hook was right in the upper corner and Billy removed it by hand. The X-Tag was placed and the fish was back in the water on a lip gaff. Billy jumped up on the controls as I slowly swam the fish. With Dr. Molly and Greg by my side we watched as the fish began to swim and kick. She gave the word and I released the fish, he turned and swam straight away. That was awesome to see. Dr. Molly gave the thumbs up and high fives all around. Nice way to end our first trip. It was really great to work with her. She is awesome. The team will be out next week. Capt. Eric

ChuckA · 08-14-2007, 06:14 PM

Nice job That ought to bring some very interesting info once the tags pop. Will you be notified of the info? Hope to see a follow up in a year.

Charlie Wade · 08-14-2007, 08:03 PM

Great job Eric! They're all good people in that program. I did the lettering for Molly's little whaler. R/V Thunnus. I'll be out next week hoping to gather some DNA samples from juve BFT for a research project going on at VIMS.

74Formula233 · 08-14-2007, 08:11 PM

Nice report! I've heard of that program before and seems very interesting!

cporpus · 08-15-2007, 07:33 AM

Hope we have as much luck on Sept 14th!

Can't wait for the experience of learning from the best

JamesDean · 08-15-2007, 08:45 AM

Capt Eric-

VERY..VERY COOL..... we'll look forward to some of the ground breaking data that this will provide...

On The Edge · 08-15-2007, 08:54 AM

Stew, Nice job, hopfully the info gathered from these tags will be usefull in helping the fishery recover.
One question, In the event one of these tagged fish were caught before the tag poped off what Information and actions should be taken...

Stew · 08-15-2007, 03:59 PM

Good question. If the fish is landed in good condition then let it go. The data that the tag can give the scientests is huge. The more time out there swimming the better. A picture of the tag and tag site would be helpfull too. If the fish is in poor shape then harvest it and get the tag to the UNH team. You can always call me and I can get the number for you or assist you. The website is www.largepelagics.unh.edu Thanks Capt. Eric

On The Edge · 08-15-2007, 04:42 PM

Thanks for the info Capt.

catch um up

08-14-2007, 05:46 PM	#1
Stew User Gallery Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Cape Cod Posts: 79	SAT Tag a Tiny on the "Tammy Rose" In your lifetime, you get very few chances to do something that has never been done before. Yesterday I had the honor of having Dr. Molly Lutcavage and her team from the UNH Large Pelagics Research Center on board the "Tammy Rose" for a day of tagging bluefin tuna. My business partner, Cliff Hampton, and I have made our boat available to them so they can continue thier research on small juvenile bluefin tuna. We also had my good friend Greg Skomal on board too. We headed out east and found FOGGGG again! The first stop proved to be a vast waste land so I made a move and found some life. Dr. Molly had decided that since the fish were running around the 47inch range we would be using the brand new X-Tags, which are external pop-up sat tags similar to the ones used on giants, that have been specially developed for the baby bluefins. This would be the first time they would be deployed. After working hard to get the bite we finaly had the short rigger go off and we were on. Cliff had the fish to the boat in 5 minutes flat. The team was ready and mate Billy leadered the fish and soon the fish was on the deck. The tag was placed and we went for the hook removal and to our horror it was buried way up inside the fishes throat. The worst hook placement of the season. UGGGH!!! Too much blood and too risky to release this guy. The tags cost $4500 each so we were not going to waste any or take any chances. So this fish was donated to the cooler and Dr. Molly and crew had a chance to use it for some tests and the fish was not wasted. We were all alittle let down but soon the spread was re-deployed and soon the center rigger was tight. Greg was on this rod. The fish came to the boat and on the deck quickly. This time mate Billy removed the hook first and then the tag was placed. The measurements were taken and the fish was released and swam away quickly. History was made. The first juve bluefin tuna with an extrenal pop up tag had just been released. What an awesome feeling. These tags are designed to pop up after 11 months and transmit data to a satellite. We continued to work really hard for the rest of the morning and fished through the slow bite. We managed to tag and release 3 more school bluefins with the X-tags. All 4 fish were cleanly hooked and quickly released still fired up and fresh. We all felt really good about thier condition. The good Dr. was pleased with the way the fish were handled so I felt good. It was getting really late and the fuel dock was calling us. I had hoped for a big number day but 5 fish was going to have to do. Just like it always happens... when you least expect it... I was looking right at the short rigger when a 200lb plus fish exploded on the bar. The hole it left was the size of a VW bug!!!! I started to yell and Billy ran to the rod just as another fish rocketed out of the water and crashed the rig!!!!! We were on a much bigger fish. The 70VS was dumping and Cliff was in the Harness and on the fish. The others started to clear the spread. I saw both fish and this one was in the mid 60 inch range. I asked Molly if she wanted to switch from "tag a tiny" to tag a "small medium" and she said land it and we will tag it. Cliff worked this fish like the seasoned angler he is. He has landed several giants over the 600lb range and one over 700lbs so he knows how to fight fish. I wanted this fight to be as quick as possible. Cliff had the fish to the boat quickly and Billy and I pulled him up on deck. He measured 66 inches and was big and fat and very much fired up. The hook was right in the upper corner and Billy removed it by hand. The X-Tag was placed and the fish was back in the water on a lip gaff. Billy jumped up on the controls as I slowly swam the fish. With Dr. Molly and Greg by my side we watched as the fish began to swim and kick. She gave the word and I released the fish, he turned and swam straight away. That was awesome to see. Dr. Molly gave the thumbs up and high fives all around. Nice way to end our first trip. It was really great to work with her. She is awesome. The team will be out next week. Capt. Eric __________________ "It's All About the Bite!" www.thehookupcapecod.com

08-14-2007, 08:03 PM	#3
Charlie Wade User Gallery Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: hopkinton, ma Posts: 86	Great job Eric! They're all good people in that program. I did the lettering for Molly's little whaler. R/V Thunnus. I'll be out next week hoping to gather some DNA samples from juve BFT for a research project going on at VIMS. __________________ Charlie Wade Impact Expressions Lettering, Signs & More http://www.impactexpressions.com

08-14-2007, 08:11 PM	#4
74Formula233 User Gallery Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Exeter, Rhode Island Posts: 3,318	Nice report! I've heard of that program before and seems very interesting! __________________

08-15-2007, 07:33 AM	#5
cporpus NBS Member User Gallery Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 5	Great Job Hope we have as much luck on Sept 14th! Can't wait for the experience of learning from the best

08-15-2007, 08:45 AM	#6
JamesDean NBS Member User Gallery Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Noank, CT Posts: 68	Capt Eric- VERY..VERY COOL..... we'll look forward to some of the ground breaking data that this will provide... __________________ JD Maggie B Ocean 44 SS

08-14-2007, 06:14 PM	#2
ChuckA User Gallery Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Madison Ct Posts: 2,150	Nice job That ought to bring some very interesting info once the tags pop. Will you be notified of the info? Hope to see a follow up in a year.

08-15-2007, 08:54 AM	#7
On The Edge NBS Member User Gallery Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: douglas MA Posts: 300	Stew, Nice job, hopfully the info gathered from these tags will be usefull in helping the fishery recover. One question, In the event one of these tagged fish were caught before the tag poped off what Information and actions should be taken... __________________ Catch um up 1999 proline 2202 wa 1999 200 merc

08-15-2007, 03:59 PM	#8
Stew User Gallery Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Cape Cod Posts: 79	Good question. If the fish is landed in good condition then let it go. The data that the tag can give the scientests is huge. The more time out there swimming the better. A picture of the tag and tag site would be helpfull too. If the fish is in poor shape then harvest it and get the tag to the UNH team. You can always call me and I can get the number for you or assist you. The website is www.largepelagics.unh.edu Thanks Capt. Eric __________________ "It's All About the Bite!" www.thehookupcapecod.com

08-15-2007, 04:42 PM	#9
On The Edge NBS Member User Gallery Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: douglas MA Posts: 300	Thanks for the info Capt. catch um up __________________ Catch um up 1999 proline 2202 wa 1999 200 merc

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode