The Venturing Angler Podcast: Researching Species and Best Angling Practices with Dr. Andy Danylchuk

Photo: B. Bennett

In the latest episode of The Venturing Angler Podcast, Tim Harden sits down with our friend, scientist and Patagonia Ambassador Dr. Andy Danylchuk. In the conversation, Andy touches on a range of subjects, from studying specific species such as golden dorado, bonefish, and giant trevally, to concerns about proposed regulations on fishing in the Bahamas.

LINK

Fish Mission: Kiritimati 2015 Aerial

Back in early February Dr. Andy Danylchuk took a break from his trevally research to take the DJI out for a spin.

Protecting South America’s Iconic Golden Dorado Fish

A new study launched last month by University of Massachusetts Amherst fisheries biologist Andy J. Danylchuk, in collaboration with Argentina’s Ministry of Environment and regional partners including Juramento Fly Fishing, Tigres del Rio, Fish Simply, and Patagonia Inc., is the first to assess the impact of catch-and-release fishing and other human and environmental pressures on the golden dorado, a fish of high economic and recreational value across South America.

LINK (via: UMass Amherst)

Time is running out on their Indiegogo campaign to fund the much needed catch-and-release research.

To Catch A Fish Trailer

To Catch a Fish is like a Florida Keys vacation - full of dramatic scenery, wonderful creatures, and authentic salty characters. Yet this sparkling exterior conceals a complex struggle between man and the sea - a struggle for food, for conquest, and for survival. Ride along with four friends as they chase four very different fish. One tries to spear lionfish in an effort to bring back the coral reef; one wants to walk a watery mile in Hemingway’s shoes; one just wants to catch dinner. And one isn’t trying to catch anything at all.

(via: Fish Navy Films)

Fish Mission Kiritimati Part 2

Here is an overview from Dr. Andy Danylchuk as his team embarks on an upcoming research trip to Kiritimati.

In 2014 a research trip to Kiritimati quickly changed focus from bonefish to giant trevally (GTs).  This switch was prompted by a growing emphasis for targeting GTs and conservation concerns raised by stakeholders. During that trip, research was conducted to begin examining the physical and physiological impacts of angling with the intention of using the results to begin building best practices for the catch-and-release of GTs, not only for Kiritimati, but also throughout their range.  This is critical since the popularity of GTs is increasing as evident by posts on social media, launching of angler groups specifically targeting GTs, and articles in conventional popular media outlets.

We're now headed back to Kiritmati with larger team of researchers to undertake a much more directed study on GTs.  Specifically, we will be looking at the degree of physical injury caused by baits commonly used for GTs. We will examine different hook types and configurations to systematically determine the bait type that minimized physical injury without significantly reducing hook ups.  We will also be continuing to examine the physiological stresses associated with angling through the use of non-lethal blood sampling and on-site blood processing.  This will allow us to determine whether there is a direct relationship between parameters such as angling time and physiological stress.  The outcome of this component will be best practices linked to selecting tackle and techniques allow anglers to bring GTs to the boat without ‘maxing’ them out physiologically.  One specific element of the angling event we will be testing is the impacts of air exposure.

The last component of the GT work will involve the use of custom data logging devices that will pop-up of the fish following a short duration of time following releases.  These pop-up data loggers will collect depth and activity patterns related to swimming performance – something that can vary related to the degree of handling stress.  Acoustic transmitters in the pop-up device will allow us to manually track the fish following release and then locate the device once it is floating at the surface.  Although this element of the project will be challenging, it will net the first ever data on the short term activity patterns of GTs plus it will lead to a more robust set of best practices for this now highly prized fish species.

An Aerial View of the Upper Keys

Courtesy of Dr. Andy Danylchuk and Captain James Koch.

Click the image to see it full size.