John with Aquarium of the America's doing his thing. Notes from him on the tourney:
As with previous events held at the Calcasieu Point Landing facility, fish were revived after weighing in one of the four live bait troughs located in the Bait House adjacent to the dock and weigh-in areas at the landing. The water level in the bait trough was lowered to approximately 12” in depth, and the temperature of the water in the trough was lowered to 69-70F using ice, down from an ambient termperature of the incoming water of 84F Overall bait trough volume was approximately 1200 gallons, and the salinity was 4-5PPT. Ambient air temperatures were high throughout the day, and ranged from 74-90F. A fairly stiff breeze was present throughout the day, and the combination of fairly rough seas, and high air and water temperatures presented some significant challenges to keeping caught speckled trout healthy and viable enough to be weighed, revived, tagged, and then released. Oxygen levels were maintained in the bait troughs at levels approaching 3X saturation for that temperature by the infusion of medical grade oxygen into the impellor of a 1/4HP submersible Little Giant pump at a rate of 05.LPM. Potentially toxic waste products (nitrite & ammonia) were neutralized and levels held at zero, and appropriate ph ranges maintained, by the addition of Amquel (Sodium Methonsulphonate) and Bicarbonate (Sodium Bicarbonate) periodically through the day. The technique of gastrically infusing 5-15cc of chilled electrolyte solution (Gatoraide) was utilized in cases where fish had difficulty in maintaining an upright attitude, or fish which appeared tired and gastirically bloated due to putrifying stomach contents. We have found that this technique can quickly and effectively reverse the hypermetabolic effects of hyperlactic acidosis and gut putrification through chilling and the administration of fluids, simple sugars, and electrolytes. It also slows the fishes metabolism allowing for oxygen uptake and the beginning of the restoration of depleted muscle glycogen levels over time. In some cases where fish had come from depth, and symptoms of overextended air bladders was apparent, 18gauge, 1.5” sterile hypodermic needles were used to deflate hyper extended air bladders, and allow for more easily maintained upright attitudes in recovering fish. Experience has demonstrated that fish which are unable to maintain an upright posture in normal swimming modes are far apt to go into shock, and a much higher percentage of these fish succumb. Once the fish were deemed sufficiently viable they were tagged using yellow CCA tags. Each fish was held in the recuperative raceway for a period of time ranging from 15 minutes to one hour prior to release. The fish were released back to the wild at the dock at the Calcasieu Point Landing into the adjacent ship channel. John D. Hewitt – Director of Husbandry
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06-06-2012, 10:12 AM
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