cmdrost
06-09-2011, 08:08 AM
see below: With all the talk of tripletail lately, I just wanted to pass this along. I know of local anglers participating in this to help learn more about this fish.
Tripletail biology unmasked
Researchers Jim Franks and Read Hendon in the University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast Research Lab's Center for Fisheries Research and Development have made new findings about tripletail as part of ongoing biological studies of this unique species.
They include:
-- The species occurs seasonally in northern Gulf waters.
-- They can be found in offshore, marine waters or in brackish, estuarine waters throughout the summer.
-- They appear to use estuarine waters as feeding grounds.
From a Franks study of fish in Mississippi waters of the Mississippi Sound, they discovered:
-- They spawn from June through August with a peak in July in Mississippi waters.
-- It is assumed they migrate offshore to spawn. No females collected within the Mississippi Sound during the study were in imminent spawning condition, which means they would spawn within the next 24 hours from the time observed.
-- 50 percent of all female tripletail collected were sexually mature at 17cm HALF inches total length.
-- 100 percent of females were sexually mature at 19cm TQTR inches total length.
-- It has been difficult to adequately age tripletail due to difficulties in "reading" annular rings on otoliths (ear bones) — the standard measure by which all fish with such bones are aged.
These biological studies are ongoing, said Franks, who admits to being an avid tripletail chaser. "It's probably my favorite fish to go after," he said. "They're a terrific game fish providing good sightfishing opportunities, and they're good to eat."
To request a free tripletail tagging kit or for more information on the program, call the Gulf Coast Research Lab at 1-228-872-4202.
Tripletail biology unmasked
Researchers Jim Franks and Read Hendon in the University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast Research Lab's Center for Fisheries Research and Development have made new findings about tripletail as part of ongoing biological studies of this unique species.
They include:
-- The species occurs seasonally in northern Gulf waters.
-- They can be found in offshore, marine waters or in brackish, estuarine waters throughout the summer.
-- They appear to use estuarine waters as feeding grounds.
From a Franks study of fish in Mississippi waters of the Mississippi Sound, they discovered:
-- They spawn from June through August with a peak in July in Mississippi waters.
-- It is assumed they migrate offshore to spawn. No females collected within the Mississippi Sound during the study were in imminent spawning condition, which means they would spawn within the next 24 hours from the time observed.
-- 50 percent of all female tripletail collected were sexually mature at 17cm HALF inches total length.
-- 100 percent of females were sexually mature at 19cm TQTR inches total length.
-- It has been difficult to adequately age tripletail due to difficulties in "reading" annular rings on otoliths (ear bones) — the standard measure by which all fish with such bones are aged.
These biological studies are ongoing, said Franks, who admits to being an avid tripletail chaser. "It's probably my favorite fish to go after," he said. "They're a terrific game fish providing good sightfishing opportunities, and they're good to eat."
To request a free tripletail tagging kit or for more information on the program, call the Gulf Coast Research Lab at 1-228-872-4202.