If they show at all, this is the time of the year when young-of-the-year bluefin tuna will be in our waters. You may catch them on small ballyhoo meant for white marlin or dolphin. They can show up anywhere. I have caught them in the past near the Cigar and at Wayne’s World. These young-of-the-year fish are “pure samples” as they have not had time to cross the Atlantic yet. Dr. John Graves is looking for tissue samples of these fish for DNA analysis.
I know some of you will put out some little spoons at times when fishing is slow. This is a great way to catch these little tuna. A problem is, when you start catching all those little things, it is hard to know what you have. Right now we have small: blackfin, yellowfin, bluefin, frigate and bullet tuna (which may or may not be different species), various bonito and other tuna like creatures. The DNA will tell.
All he needs is a little finlet from each of these guys you catch which might be a baby bluefin. Record the fork length of the fish. I guess these fish will be in the 11-16 inch range right now. Some of you have little tubes of preservative to place each finlet in. If you have tubes from last year, they are still good. If you don’t have tubes, a ziplock baggie or anything will work. Just keep it cold until your samples can be collected. If you have a sample, contact Dr. Graves. He or one of his students will come get it.
One purpose of this study is to look at the current management assumption that there are two distinct bluefin stocks in the Atlantic. This assumption has led to regulations which some feel have short-changed the United States. If they are distinct stocks, there will be small differences in their DNA.
For questions about this study or to report a sample, contact Dr. Graves:
John Graves
Professor of Marine Science
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
College of William and Mary
P.O. Box 1346 (mail);
Route 1208 Greate Road (FedEx, UPS)
Gloucester Point, VA 23062
804 684-7352 (office); -7258 (lab); -7157 (fax)
Full Version: Baby Bluefin Tuna
Virginia Beach Sport Fishing > VBSF.net Sport Fishing Forums > Offshore, Gulf Stream & Canyons (Ocean City MD to Hatteras NC)
QUOTE (Ken Neill @ Aug 28 2008, 08:03 AM) 
If they show at all, this is the time of the year when young-of-the-year bluefin tuna will be in our waters. You may catch them on small ballyhoo meant for white marlin or dolphin. They can show up anywhere. I have caught them in the past near the Cigar and at Wayne’s World. These young-of-the-year fish are “pure samples” as they have not had time to cross the Atlantic yet. Dr. John Graves is looking for tissue samples of these fish for DNA analysis.
I know some of you will put out some little spoons at times when fishing is slow. This is a great way to catch these little tuna. A problem is, when you start catching all those little things, it is hard to know what you have. Right now we have small: blackfin, yellowfin, bluefin, frigate and bullet tuna (which may or may not be different species), various bonito and other tuna like creatures. The DNA will tell.
All he needs is a little finlet from each of these guys you catch which might be a baby bluefin. Record the fork length of the fish. I guess these fish will be in the 11-16 inch range right now. Some of you have little tubes of preservative to place each finlet in. If you have tubes from last year, they are still good. If you don’t have tubes, a ziplock baggie or anything will work. Just keep it cold until your samples can be collected. If you have a sample, contact Dr. Graves. He or one of his students will come get it.
One purpose of this study is to look at the current management assumption that there are two distinct bluefin stocks in the Atlantic. This assumption has led to regulations which some feel have short-changed the United States. If they are distinct stocks, there will be small differences in their DNA.
For questions about this study or to report a sample, contact Dr. Graves:
John Graves
Professor of Marine Science
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
College of William and Mary
P.O. Box 1346 (mail);
Route 1208 Greate Road (FedEx, UPS)
Gloucester Point, VA 23062
804 684-7352 (office); -7258 (lab); -7157 (fax)
I know some of you will put out some little spoons at times when fishing is slow. This is a great way to catch these little tuna. A problem is, when you start catching all those little things, it is hard to know what you have. Right now we have small: blackfin, yellowfin, bluefin, frigate and bullet tuna (which may or may not be different species), various bonito and other tuna like creatures. The DNA will tell.
All he needs is a little finlet from each of these guys you catch which might be a baby bluefin. Record the fork length of the fish. I guess these fish will be in the 11-16 inch range right now. Some of you have little tubes of preservative to place each finlet in. If you have tubes from last year, they are still good. If you don’t have tubes, a ziplock baggie or anything will work. Just keep it cold until your samples can be collected. If you have a sample, contact Dr. Graves. He or one of his students will come get it.
One purpose of this study is to look at the current management assumption that there are two distinct bluefin stocks in the Atlantic. This assumption has led to regulations which some feel have short-changed the United States. If they are distinct stocks, there will be small differences in their DNA.
For questions about this study or to report a sample, contact Dr. Graves:
John Graves
Professor of Marine Science
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
College of William and Mary
P.O. Box 1346 (mail);
Route 1208 Greate Road (FedEx, UPS)
Gloucester Point, VA 23062
804 684-7352 (office); -7258 (lab); -7157 (fax)
We had one Saturday from a bait ball on top of the Cigar we'll try to hrlp next time
Kent
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