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Research in Action
Dedication to the future of snook and our fisheries is a non-stop effort. Here are the latest happenings:
| 21 July 2010
(Click Image To Enlarge) Cobia caught on one of St.Lucie County's artificial reefs
Can Artificial Reefs contribute to Fishery Management?
James Oppenborn is St. Lucie County's Coastal Resources Supervisor and the recipient of Snook Foundation's 2009 Excellence in Habitat Restoration Award, in recognition of his work deploying and monitoring artificial and oyster shell reefs in Indian River Lagoon. Here are some of his results and thoughts going forward.
In 5 years managing the St. Lucie County Artificial Reef Program I have been careful to collect data for use in science which shows the importance of artificial reefs to both fish stocks and the people who harvest them.
Note from the Snook Foundation: If you have been a reader of this website for long, you probably know where we stand on Inshore Fishery Management: More important than slot and bag limits, much more important than hatchery production, Juvenile and Adult Fish Habitats are essential for a robust inshore fishery. So what role can artificial reefs play in essential habitat creation or restoration?
| 22 June 2010
Guest Editorial by Dr. Grant Gilmore
We had been setting traps in thirty inch diameter culverts connecting the Indian River Lagoon to the impounded Jack Island State Park mangrove forest. Each fall the culverts are opened to allow tides and fish to migrate from the forest to the Lagoon and back. We set the traps for three hours on ebb, flood tides both during the day and at night. On 27 Novermber 1085, 3,104 juvenile snook between 0.5 and 2 inches in length were captured moving against and with the tide in culvert traps around this imoundment. Over two thousand came from one trap.
| 22 June 2010
Jesus Lluis of Miami was one of the first anglers to get on board with Snook Watch
...are you onboard?
How to use tools - see video below
If you were wondering if you were an important piece of the snook fishery, think no more. Your participation is needed now more than ever. FWRI snook biologist Ron Taylor explains why:
"It's your fishery, so get involved, or put up with scientists taking up the slack using the limited information available...
"Right now we just don't know how many snook were killed this winter. Estimates run from 200,000 to 300,000, but that could mean as few as 75,000 or as many as 500,000, or more.
"Part of the problem, he explains, is much of the information they have received is anecdotal, meaning "word of mouth." That means the information is subject to the usual phenomenon of more, bigger fish each time the story is told. Further, much of the information has been second or third hand. (There's a reason the "telephone game" is a game...)
| 14 May 2010
The Army Corps and South Florida Water Management District got an earful at public meetings this week.
On Tuesday, May 11, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Jacksonville District Commander, Colonel Al Pantano, addressed Lee County residents and the Lee County Commission regarding the unseasonably high flow releases being discharged from Lake Okeechobee.
On May 12 and 13, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Governing Board and Colonel Pantano heard public comment on the affects of those releases on the estuaries at the Governing Board meeting in Stuart. The message they heard from both Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie advocates was loud and clear: find alternatives to blowing out our natural resources.
| 09 April 2010
Snook in Port of Tampa. photo credit: Bebo SmithThe Snook Foundation has taken
the first steps in setting up baseline fishery data survey
driven by anglers with the Angler Action Program (AAP), which has been agreed
upon and designed with the help of State scientists in Florida
and Texas. We
will roll out the program at an event at The Funament Event at River Palm Cottages and Fish
Camp (Jensen Beach, FL) the weekend of Apr 17th. Scientists from
both FWC and Texas
will be on hand to assist SF personnel and anglers with the roll out.
In Florida, the motivation for AAP revolved around the many questions/complaints about accuracy in stock assessment and the recent winter fish kill closure of snook. Texas anglers are trying to improve their growing snook fishery, and collecting accurate data is a critical step.
| 04 March 2010
Anglers Needed Now for Snook Census
The Snook Foundation has immediate openings all over Florida and Texas for the Angler Action Plan Implementation Team. Individuals will be charged with assisting the Floirda Wildlife Commission and Texas Parks and Wildlife in recording and maintaining an accurate count of snook in waters of those states. Translation: Go fishing, keep track of your fish, (and their lengths whenever possible), and record them on an easy to use computer form. Qualifications: Must live (or fish on a regular basis) in either Texas or Florida. Must have caught a snook at some point in your fishing career. If you haven't ever caught a snook, you have to at least want to try to catch one sometime in the near future. Compensation: Great Snook Fishing, now and in the future!
| 06 January 2010
Ron Taylor breaks down the latest chunk of data on snook migrations throughout the year in the Charlotte Harbor Estuary.
Snook move to the rivers to escape the cold, right? Well, maybe not!
Snook are euryhaline and use the entire estuarine system- from far upriver seaward to the lower estuary and beyond.
The accepted paradigm that cold water temperatures cause snook to move to rivers in the wintertime may be true, however further study is needed to explain seasonal movement and abundance in their overall habitat.
This study reports seasonal sizes and abundance of snook from Charlotte harbor and its 3 main rivers.
| 04 January 2010
Teen Anglers were recognized for their contribution to the Indian River ecosystem, by St. Lucie County Commissioners. Back row L-R: Commissioners Chris Dzadovsky and Doug Coward, Jim Oppenborn, Teen Leaders Cammie Ward and Captain Joe Ward, Teen Mom Carrie Roe, Teen Ariel Vance, Helen Kinchen, Dylora Kohler, Taylor Meding, Commissioners Chris Craft, Charles Grande, and Paula Lewis. Front 3 L-R: Teen Justin Roe, Cash Roe and Robert Kinchen Jr.
Indian River Lagoon Water Quality Benefits from Angler Interventions
The St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners honored Teen Anglers' Treasure Coast Chapter with a proclamation recognizing their contribution to Indian River ecosystem projects, on January 5th, 2010 in the commission chambers in Ft. Pierce Florida.
The Treasure Coast chapter worked throughout the 2009 season to help the Indian River deal with upstream pollution from stormwater run-off by bagging and deploying oyster shells. In April last year, Teen Anglers launched their efforts by bagging an impressive 2 tons of oyster shells in one hour to help restore St.Lucie inshore reefs. They then continued to help carry the bags to the reef restoration sites and continue collecting and bagging shell.
| 14 December 2009
Victories for Cleaner Water drawing closer in Hillsborough and Pinellas
Curb the use of fertilizers during rainy season to help protect fish habitat.
A Coalition of organizations including the Snook Foundation is advocating for strengthened fertilizer ordinances across the state.
Most Florida residents who venture outdoors are aware of the impact fertilizer application has on our water bodies. Ponds, streams and estuaries choked with algae and invasive species are now the norm - they are hard to miss. These choked waterways drain to our coastal areas and affect not only local freshwater but also saltwater fishing and fish habitats.
| 04 December 2009
Many hands make for easier work. Volunteers downloaded bags of oyster shells to create new oyster reefs on spoil island 18b.
Oyster Bagging and Deployment Volunteers Welcome
The 2009 oyster restoration on spoil island SL18B went so well that we need to stop to reload, reported Jim Oppenborn, who is heading up reef restoration projects in Indian River Lagoon.
We will have additional oyster bagging days at Harbour Point Park from 08:30 until noon - watch the Events schedule on this website to get involved in the next bagging day. This is an informal event so feel free to come and leave whenever you wish. The next deployment dates have not been set but we will need enough bags to 1)place the FOS experimental reefs and 2) continue Phase 1 on the north side of the island.
| 16 November 2009
Snook have often been compared to large mouth bass; in some locations, you can catch both and compare for yourself.
.. and groceries.
Largemouth bass and snook from the same honey hole?
Believe it.
In fact, with a little know-how in your pocket, it can be a very productive and consistent little fishery. Don’t worry if you aren’t the researching type, FWC’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) is doing most of the dirty work for us. With a little extra info from some expert anglers, you will be able to connect the dots without leaving your home office.
As you read this, scientists are examining habitat and diet overlap of bass and snook in South Florida’s coastal rivers… precisely the kind of information a “smart angler” should know. With the cooler months of the holiday season on the near horizon, many snook will indeed be heading across the salinity barrier and residing in bass country for at least little while.
| 02 November 2009
Compare your fishing log
Having an understanding of the health, diversity and abundance of fish in our estuaries is a key to understanding the health of the estuary itself.
In Charlotte Harbor, we are very fortunate to have long-term scientific monitoring of fish. The Fisheries-Independent Monitoring (FIM) program was established in Charlotte Harbor in 1989 by the Florida Marine Research Institute (FMRI). Although FMRI is now the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) and is now housed in the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission,data collection has been consistent
From time to time, collection areas have been expanded and special studies have been conducted in places such as Estero Bay and Lemon Bay. This provides a rich source of data that spans two decades in some areas.
| 15 October 2009
In the X Ray image above you can see the Otolith highlighted in the otic capsule near the brain in a spotted sea trout. Did you know? Everyday, a specially trained team of FWRI Scientists study the 'growth rings' in the ear bones of sampled specimens of 12 species of FL fish, racking up detailed data on 7-12,000 individual fish per year
Another angle on aging
What's the most important part of the fish? Your focus as an angler might be on the jaws, or the pinched tail; as a consumer, it might be the filet, or the protein and oil content. But Ron Taylor has a different take: "Otoliths (ear bones) are the most important material we collect from fish", reports the head Snook Research Coordinator for FWRI.
The cornerstone for determining Snook age is the sagittal otolith. Being able to determine the ages of snook in sample populations lets biologists predict the species' ability to sustain itself under the given conditions of mortality and reproductive output. Ultimately, it's what the otoloiths reveal that help set slot limits and to make the decision to limit the take of fish within a certain size-age range in order to assure the species remains in a robust condition.
| 09 September 2009
In 2007, Mote and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission released 3,000 snook into area waters. The release marked the first time that wild snook were held in captivity, matured to spawn, and their offspring raised and then released.
The 11th Annual William R. Mote Memorial Invitational Shindig Co Sponsored by the Snook Foundaiton is coming up
Loss of habitat, increased fishing pressure and the occasional Florida freeze have combined to force the decline in snook numbers since the 1950s. Since the 1990s, Mote has been working on scientifically and environmentally sound methods to help restore depleted snook populations and raise their numbers in the wild.
| 25 August 2009
Algae blooms linked to pollutant runoff affect all levels of marine life.
Since Governor Charlie Crist’s announcement of the purchase of U.S. Sugar Corp. lands for Everglades restoration, there has been a healthy debate about the benefits of such a purchase. Despite the amended agreement, which reduced the number of acres to be purchased, opponents still have concerns about this land acquisition.
With each passing day, the Everglades and Florida Bay continue to decline. Restoration will neither be immediate nor cheap, but it’s the cost we have to pay for decades of neglect and abuse.
| 20 July 2009
St. Lucie River Estuary was once considered the most biologically diverse estuary in North America.
Conservationists and Anglers have been aware for a long time of the effects of Lake Okeechobee flood water releases. Now the groundswell of concern is uniting an uncommon group to stop the outdated practices that lead to severe habitat decline.
"Enough is enough," Florida Sportsman founder and editor Karl Wickstrom said. "Remember the green slime of 2005? It's coming back." Last Thursday, the corps started "pulse" releases from the St. Lucie Locks of water drained from local lands. This week, water managers again talk about lake discharges.
| 18 July 2009
Before removing the pink line, which had scraped skin from the turtle's face, Mote staff used x-rays to verify that the turtle had not swallowed a fishing hook. Instead, they found remnants of a balloon.
A rare turtle hospitalized after swallowing trash illustrates the weight our 'disposables' are placing on our world.
An endangered Kemp's ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii) has been brought to Mote Marine Laboratory's Sea Turtle Hospital after it swallowed a balloon - an episode that underscores the importance of recycling or disposing of trash carefully.
The 3.3-pound young turtle with a carapace 8.7 inches long washed up on a sandbar near the south end of Lido Key on Tuesday, July 14, with a pink line hanging from its mouth.
Concerned swimmers called Mote biologists, who brought the Kemp's ridley to Mote's Sea Turtle Hospital.
| 15 June 2009
Understanding the Grassflats food chain dials you into feeding habits of Snook, Tarpon, Redfish, Bonefish and many other shallow water diners.
Focus on crabs and shrimp, with tips for choosing lures and flies
Seagrass beds support an incredible diversity of fish, crabs, shrimp, isopods (think potato bugs), amphipods (miniature shrimp-like creatures), various worms, algae, echinoderms (urchins and sea stars), and a host of other goodies. Most of the creatures on this grassflat buffet line can't be imitated with the lures or flies we fish, but they are all important prey items for juvenile or adult gamefish and the baitfish that they prey on.
| 29 May 2009
What do baby snook need to reach Trophy size - the Catch of a Lifetime for many Anglers? photo: Aaron Reed
Knowing more about where snook live and why can’t do anything but improve your odds at catching that once-in-a-lifetime fish.
Walk into any fishing shop and you’ll likely overhear anglers recounting big-fish tales. Whether they’re talking about a 150 pound tarpon, 20 pound snook or 15 pound redfish, the story is just as exciting whether the fish was landed or not.
As an angler, I’ve both listened and told these stories myself.
But as a fish ecologist, my research focuses on understanding how such fish use coastal habitats to grow to the sizes that warrant such excited tales, and how such habitats support populations large enough to sustain the fisheries.
| 29 April 2009
From 1997 to 2007, Nate released over 50,000 tagged, hatchery-raised snook in several controlled release experiments.
The population of mature common snook in both the Atlantic and Gulf coasts has been studied and measured in a variety of methods. However, relatively little is known about the life of juvenile snook. Dr.Nate Brennan has made this his pursuit over the last 10 years. Nate is a scientist in the Center for Fisheries Enhancement at Mote Marine Laboratory. He has been involved in stock-enhancement research for 17 years.
Nate has focused his work on the influence of habitat on the overall health of juvenile common snook populations. He uses hatchery raised snook as his sample group to measure survival, dispersal and recruitment to the native snook population in several creeks and barrier-island passes. His pre-release work went something like this: habitats were studied to determine salinity, oxygen content, slope, composition of sediment and other features.
| 27 April 2009
Why Study Snook?
Dr. Ken Leber has 5 reasons.
| 20 April 2009
"This group (Teen Anglers), is lined up to be the next generation to steward our local marine resources," said Jim Oppenborn
Jim Oppenborn, St. Lucie County Marine Resource Coordinator, led a team of about 20 Teen Anglers assisted by their parents and local businesses to set a new record in the Oyster Shell bagging project. "They bagged approximately 2 tons of shell in one hour -- a fantastic start towards bagging all the oyster shells needed for this summer's oyster reef projects, " said Jim. "The Teen Anglers produced about 100 bags before we ran out of bags - they were incredibly fast!" .
| 24 March 2009
About the Author
Jim Martin is conservation director of the Berkley Conservation Institute, and is also a Snook Foundation member and supporter. He can be contacted at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
*This paper is the result of extensive discussions with Bill Taylor, Abigail Schroeder, and Nancy Leonard at Michigan State University.
Guest Editorial: Coming Crisis in Water Policy in America
After 39 years in the fish and wildlife management business, I have concluded that only two things really affect fish and wildlife populations — habitat and climate. Most of the contributions made by detailed harvest management practices and manipulations of fisheries by hatcheries have generally had relatively minor impact on the sustainability of fisheries when compared to the quantity and quality of habitat available. Furthermore, most fish habitat projects tend to be expensive, difficult to accomplish and of negligible significance to the bigger picture of achieving healthy and sustainable fisheries. Many fish habitat projects are narrow in focus and represent minor efforts to try to counteract a much broader and more complex threat arising from society’s development of land and water resources — habitat and ecosystem destruction. Protection of habitat and ecosystem function is far more critical in assuring sustainable fisheries, and the most effective protections are embodied in policy and environmental law.
| 15 March 2009
T-groins are used to prevent beach erosion.
A reply to the guest editorial that charges some consultants with threatening beaches.
Debate between Orin Pilkey and the coastal engineering community has been going on for a long time. The first thing anyone who read Dr. Pilkey’s editorial (March 2, 2009 Angler Alert) should understand about the debate is that it is not over whether or not dredging sand from coastal inlet shoals causes impact to adjacent beaches. I have had the pleasure of personal discussions with Dr. Pilkey on several occasions an assure everyone that we are in complete agreement on this issue. In fact the engineering community has studied the cause and effect relationships of this complicated dynamic process very carefully in order to gain a much better understanding of how it works.
Why do engineers study dynamic inlet processes? Because inlet shoals are routinely dredged for a variety of reasons, the most frequent one being navigation.
| 01 March 2009
In a time of rising sea level, we must take a long-term view of our beach management.
North Carolina’s beaches face a lot of problems, including overdevelopment, rising sea level, rapid erosion rates, and a paucity of beach-compatible sand for beach replenishment. But the biggest threat to our beaches may be coastal engineering consultants.
Most of the decisions regarding beach management along the North Carolina coast are guided by consultants. They include the Wilmington District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, who,in effect, are hired by individual communities.
The universal problem with coastal engineering consultants is that they are selling a product: coastal engineering. They make money when the projects are accepted. If they don’t find the truth according to their clients needs, they are out of business. The Corps’ situation stems from the fact that Congress requires it to have projects (rather than a fixed annual budget), in order to survive.
SF Editor's note - writing about North Carolina's beaches, Dr. Pilkey has a lot to say to interest Floridians, in this editorial that compares the states.More Articles...
- An Argument for Preservation!
- Snook Foundation Recognized for Contribution to Fish Habitat
- Tracking Tracey, Atlantic Snook Study Underway
- Get Outta the Way Big Guy
- Imagine a Reserve in the Everglades
- FWC Director's Ken Haddad's Message
- The Developmental Stages (Ontogeny) and Associated Habitats of Common Snook
- Swift Mud Warns 16 Counties Are Drying Up
- Pine Island Man Faces Penalties for Mangrove Destruction
- Fines Do Little to Stop Cutting of Mangroves
- One Piece at a Time
- Agency Reconsiders Approval to Dig up Wetlands
- Snook Anglers Play a Role in Snook Tagging Studies
- Snook Foundation Announces formation of Smart Development Workgroup
- Marine Hatchery Expansion in Florida
- Caring About Creatures
- Lake Worth Commissioners vote unanimously to support Reach 8 Protection
- History of the American Lawn
- Keeping Snook Swimming
- Developing Shoreline with Purpose
- Snook Habitat Study
- Fort Pierce Anglers to help in Reef Snook Study
- Saltwater Fishing Spells Big Money in Florida
