Hardhead Honey Hole

[MathGeek]

I'd hoped to have the family down fishing Calcasieu and Grand Isle beginning this weekend and extending through 18 June, but we've hit some unexpected travel delays, so we expect we'll be rolling into LC around 8 June. One of the science projects we have on the board is testing whether or not magnetic fields deter bony fish from biting.

Background: magnetic fields have been shown to deter sharks from biting baited hooks, but the assertion that they do not deter teleosts (bony fish, most fish other than sharks and rays) is pure theory with no experimental support. It turns out that the marine species (other than sharks and rays) most likely to be deterred by magnetic hooks are marine catfish, so that I can finally put my lifelong speciality to use and gather some experimental data to see if magnets will deter marine catfish from biting.

However, since we'll need to catch about 100 fish to have good statistics for the study, it would be optimal if we had some pointers on locations that would likely include a good mix of sizes as well as some gafftops in the mix also. Optimally, at least 30% of the catfish should probably be over 12" in length. Are there locations in the Calcasieu estuary that will likely be hot hardhead locations throughout the month of June, or should we wait until we're in town to ask for more timely information? Is loading up on marine catfish so much easier in Grand Isle that we should plan for there instead?

[mriguy]

You can fish off of the dock next to the fish cleaning tables and catch all you would ever need.

[mikedatiger]

Try underneath the boat stalls at Hebert's Marina. You can catch all you want and then some.

[MathGeek]

Originally Posted by mriguy

You can fish off of the dock next to the fish cleaning tables and catch all you would ever need.

Great idea. Thanks.

Do you mean at Calcasieu Point or somewhere else? I know that the hardhead are plentiful by the cleaning tables at Bobby Lynn's on Bayou LaFourche, but can this be expected at most cleaning tables?

[TheLongRun]

You can certainly find both in GI. Gaff tops have been plentiful by the eroded island on the E side of mile marker 6 of the BWW. You can find it using your depth finder if you don't have the coords. It goes from 6-7 feet up to 2. Just disappeared about 2 years ago. Freaking hard heads are everywhere.

That's a fascinating project. Magnetizing the hooks themselves, or attaching something to the rig? Can't wait to hear the results

[Garfish]

Cool project.

[PaulMyers]

Calcasieu Point (cleaning tables), Hebert's (boat stalls)or Spicers (cleaning tables), they will all be about the same.

[Lake Chuck Duck]

You can go pretty much anywhere and tear up hardhead with dead shrimp lol. Since yall will be catching so many be sure to convey the importants of safety to your family when handling them. Last thing you want is a trip to the ER.

[TheLongRun]

Think the overlap between the non bony fishes and the catfish is related to the barbels/whiskers? Are they electrosensory like the sharks snouts (I forget what the organ is called)?

[huntin fool]

Stall 8 at Herbert's marina... Tick tick in der

[mriguy]

Originally Posted by PaulMyers

Calcasieu Point (cleaning tables), Hebert's (boat stalls)or Spicers (cleaning tables), they will all be about the same.

x2

[MathGeek]

Originally Posted by TheLongRun

Think the overlap between the non bony fishes and the catfish is related to the barbels/whiskers? Are they electrosensory like the sharks snouts (I forget what the organ is called)?

The electromagentic reception in sharks is related to organs called,

Ampullae of Lorenzini - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ampullae of Lorenzini - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ampullae of Lorenzini - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

. The electroreception in catfish is related to organs called ampullary electroreceptors and is similar in some ways and different in others. See: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science...0096299290575B and http://www.ezo.wur.nl/UK/MSc+project...on+in+catfish/

However, most of the published research is in freshwater catfish, and the different freshwater catfish have widely varying sensitivity levels so the outcome in marine catfish is very hard to predict without any data. In addition to setting what could be the limit of magnetic sensitivity in bony marine fishes, the experiment would also be interesting if it suggests that the use of magnetic hooks might reduce catch rates of marine catfish in situations where bycatch of these species in undesirable. There is some irony in the need to go out and catch 100 hardhead catfish to figure out how one might do a better job of not catching marine catfish!

[swamp snorkler]

Get yourself a catfish de-hooker. Basically its a piece of 1/4 roundbar bent with a small hook on the end. You hold your line, take the hook end of the de-hooker and flip the fish over. You dont have to touch the fish. It works with any fish not just catfish, when I was young before they had size limits on reds we would use it on them and speckled and white trout as well. You can buy the de-hookers at academy..... link http://www.academy.com/webapp/wcs/st...atfish&Ntk=All

[evidrine]

Originally Posted by Garfish

Cool project.

X1000! That would be a good discovery for those who like to fish the bottom

[ReelSlick]

Originally Posted by swamp snorkler

Get yourself a catfish de-hooker. Basically its a piece of 1/4 roundbar bent with a small hook on the end. You hold your line, take the hook end of the de-hooker and flip the fish over. You dont have to touch the fish. It works with any fish not just catfish, when I was young before they had size limits on reds we would use it on them and speckled and white trout as well. You can buy the de-hookers at academy..... link http://www.academy.com/webapp/wcs/st...atfish&Ntk=All

I have one but never used it. please explain a little more...where do you flip the fish over? and where do you put the hook part?

[TheLongRun]

If this works and you can repeat results multiple times, you might really be onto someting people would be very interested in.

How are you gonna structure it? Control and multiple differing intensities of magnets to determine that threshold? Seems like a multiple weekend project. That many catfish won't be hard to find.

Good luck. Very very cool, and clever!

Originally Posted by MathGeek

The electromagentic reception in sharks is related to organs called, Ampullae of Lorenzini - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The electroreception in catfish is related to organs called ampullary electroreceptors and is similar in some ways and different in others. See: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science...0096299290575B and http://www.ezo.wur.nl/UK/MSc+project...on+in+catfish/

However, most of the published research is in freshwater catfish, and the different freshwater catfish have widely varying sensitivity levels so the outcome in marine catfish is very hard to predict without any data. In addition to setting what could be the limit of magnetic sensitivity in bony marine fishes, the experiment would also be interesting if it suggests that the use of magnetic hooks might reduce catch rates of marine catfish in situations where bycatch of these species in undesirable. There is some irony in the need to go out and catch 100 hardhead catfish to figure out how one might do a better job of not catching marine catfish!

[MathGeek]

Originally Posted by TheLongRun

You can certainly find both in GI. Gaff tops have been plentiful by the eroded island on the E side of mile marker 6 of the BWW. You can find it using your depth finder if you don't have the coords. It goes from 6-7 feet up to 2. Just disappeared about 2 years ago. Freaking hard heads are everywhere.

That's a fascinating project. Magnetizing the hooks themselves, or attaching something to the rig? Can't wait to hear the results

Most of the experiments to date have been performed with a strong permanent magnet attached to the shank of the hook or just above. We've acquired some of the strongest available permanent magnets and short shanked hooks so the magnet will be within an inch of the bait for the smaller hooks (size 1 or 2). This experimental design also allows for use of weights as a sham just above identical non-magnetic hooks (the control group). The line will be threaded through the magnet which will sit just above the hook.

There are some commercial vendors selling magnetized hook products, but since these are intended for sharks, they are much too big for most inshore fishing, much less targeting catfish. The other problem is arranging for a control group of hooks with comparable shape but non-magnetic. The magnetic fields of smaller magnetized hooks would be too weak, and the magnetic hooks and comparable control group would be prohibitively expensive custom work, but if the experiment shows promising results, there might be an opportunity for a hook supplier to incorporate the technology for catfish deterrence if the target species are deterred by the physical appearance of the cylindrical magnet just above the hook. I would guess that trout would be deterred by the sight of the magnetic, but that other species might not be. Certainly fishing bait on the bottom for redfish and drum, I don't think the redfish and drum would be deterred by the magnet.

[swamp snorkler]

Originally Posted by ReelSlick

I have one but never used it. please explain a little more...where do you flip the fish over? and where do you put the hook part?

hold the line in your left hand the de-hooker in your right. hook the de hooker onto the hook of the hooked fish, then you have to flip it over, you kind of roll your wrist up pop them down real quick and at the same time move your hands away from your body. All the while keeping some tention on the line. The fish will flip over and drop and if you do it correct the de-hooker should still be attached to the hook.