INSIDE: KEYS SANCTUARY PLAN • BAHAMAS HURRICANE RECOVERY • CUBAN COLLABORATION

A publication of BONEFISH & TARPON

JournalCONSERVATION THROUGH SCIENCE • SPRING 2020

B O N E F I S H & T A R P O N J O U R N A L S P R I N G 2 0 2 0 W W W. B T T. O R G 1 Editorial Board A publication of BONEFISH & TARPON Dr. Aaron Adams, Harold Brewer, Bill Horn, Jim McDuffie

Publication TeamA publication of Publishers: Harold Brewer, Jim McDuffie ManagingBONEFISH Editor: & TARPON Alex Lovett-Woodsum STEWARDSHIP THROUGH SCIENCE • SPRING 2017 Consulting Editors: Bob Baal, Nick Roberts Board of DirectorsJournal JournalLayout and Design: Scott Morrison, Officers ! ... Morrison Creative Company Features: Updates/Reports: Oh The Places They Take You AdvertisingEditorial Coordinator: Board Mark Rehbein Harold Brewer, Chairman of the Board, , Florida TheBill Florida Horn, ViceKeys Chairman Initiative ...... of the Board, Marathon, Florida12 Setting the Hook ...... 4 Dr. Aaron Adams, Harold Brewer, Fix Our Water ...... 14 Changing of the Guard ...... 6 Sarah Cart,Photography Bill Horn, Jim McDuffie Jim McDuffie, President & CEO, Coral Gables, Florida Cover: Tosh Brown TarponTom Davidson, Genetics: ChairmanConnectivity Emeritus, Across theKey Atlantic Largo, Florida ....18 Perspectives ...... 8 PublicationAaron Adams Team BonefishRuss Fisher, Conservation Vice Chairman & Restoration Emeritus, Program Key Largo, ...... Florida26 Tippets ...... 10 Jacob Brownscombe Publishers: Harold Brewer, Jim McDuffie Next Level Permit Tracking...... 28 Q & A with Guides...... 22 James Buice Bill Stroh, Managing Director for Florida Keys, Miami, Florida Editor: Nick Roberts ExBillcerpt Klyn, from Chairman A Passion of for Marketing, Permit ...... Jackson, Wyoming30 Keep ‘em Wet Contest Results ...... 38 AdvertisingJacqueline Coordinator: Chapman Henry Buck Layout andDan Design: Decibel Scott Morrison, OfJeff Bonefish Harkavy, and Strategic Contaminants: Relationships, What is the Secretary, Risk? ..... Coral32 Springs,2017 Featured Florida Artist: John Swan ...... 41 Morrison PCreativeat Ford Company Cuba:Aaron W ritingAdams, the Director Next Chapter of Science ...... and Conservation,36 Melbourne,Trip of a Lifetime: Florida Belize River Lodge ...... 42 Dr. Zack Jud Juvenile Tarpon Habitat Mapping & Restoration ...... 52 Ghost Stories ...... 48 ContributorsFrankie Marion John Abplanalp Allen Gant Jr. David Nichols IRL Tarpon and Snook Nurseries ...... 54 RossScott Boucek, Morrison Ph.D. Stamford, Connecticut Glen Raven, North Carolina York Harbor, Maine MarjorieTomas Brodin, Shropshire Ph.D. Rich Andrews Gus Hillenbrand Steve O’Brien Jr. Ariel Wile Nick Castillo Denver, Colorado Batesville, Indiana Boston, Massachusetts Alex Lovett-Woodsum Board of Directors Jerker Fick, Ph.D. Stu Apte Rick Hirsch David Perkins JenniferContributors Rehage, Ph.D. Tavernier,Officers Florida (*Executive Committee)New York, New York Manchester, Vermont Heather Richie Harold Brewer, Chairman of the Board, Key Largo, Florida* Aaron Adams, Ph.D. Rodney Barreto Dave Horn Al Perkinson Ashleigh Sean Rolle CoralBill Horn, Gables, Vice Florida Chairman of the Board,, Marathon, Florida Florida* Charleston, South Carolina ChristineChris Santella Beck Jim McDuffie, President, Coral Gables, Florida* RolandoBrooke Santos, Black Ph.D. DanTom Berger Davidson, Chairman Emeritus,John Key Johns, Largo, Florida* Chris Peterson JacobMaggie W. Brownscombe, Winchester Ph.D. Alexandria,Russ Fisher Virginia, Vice Chairman Emeritus,Birmingham, Key Largo, Alabama Florida* Titusville, Florida James Buice BobMatt Branham Connolly, President Emeritus,Doug Hingham, Kilpatrick Massachusetts* Jay Robertson PhotographyTom Karrow Plantation,Bill Stroh, FloridaManaging Director, FloridaSummerland, Keys, Florida* FL Islamorada, Florida Alex Lovett-Woodsum Cover: Jim Klug / Yellow Dog MonaLuis Menocal,Brewer Managing DirectorJerry Cuba, Klauer Palmetto Bay, Florida* Bert Scherb Jonathan Olch Bill Klyn, Co-Chair of Membership, Jackson, Wyoming* JenniferFlyfishing Rehage, Adventures Ph.D. Key Largo, Florida New York, New York Chicago, Illinois Aaron Adams, Ph.D. Jeff Harkavy, Strategic Relationships, Secretary, Coral Springs, Florida* Nick Roberts ChristopherAaron Adams, Buckley Director Jr. of ScienceBill and Legg Conservation, Melbourne, CaseyFlorida* Sheahan RolandoAustin Santos, Coit Ph.D. Islamorada, Florida Key Largo, Florida Bozeman, Montana Marty Dashiell Stu Apte Allen Gant Jr. David Nichols* Rob Sharpe Jon Shenker, Ph.D. Adolphus A. Busch IV Wayne Meland Nelson Sims Brian Dean Tavernier, Florida Glen Raven, North Carolina York Harbor, Maine Key West, Florida Liz Wallace, Ph.D. Ofallon, Missouri Naples, Florida Key Largo, Florida JoEllenPat WilsonFord Rodney Barreto Rob Hewett* Steve O’Brien Jr. Nelson Sims* Sarah Cart Sandy Moret Adelaide Skoglund Capt. Don Gable Coral Gables, Florida Aurora, Ontario Boston, Massachusetts Key Largo, Florida Capt. Brett Greco Key Largo, Florida Islamorada, Florida Key Largo, Florida Bonefish & Tarpon Journal Dan Berger Gus Hillenbrand John O’Hearn Adelaide Skoglund Richard Kern Greg Fay Carl Navarre Steve Stanley 135 San Lorenzo Ave. • Suite 860 Alexandria, Virginia Batesville, Indiana Big Pine Key, Florida Key Largo, Florida Coral Gables,Justin Lewis FL 33146 Bozeman, Montana Islamorada, Florida St. Petersburg, Florida Bob Branham Rick Hirsch David Perkins Steve Stanley Marc Montocchio Mike Fitzgerald John Newman John Turner Plantation, Florida New York, New York Manchester, Vermont St. Petersburg, Florida 2017 FundraisingScott Morrison Events Wexford, Pennsylvania Covington, Louisiana Winston Salem, North Carolina Nick Roberts Mona Brewer Dave Horn Chris Peterson John Turner Naples, FL – January 11, 2017 Silver Kings Key Largo, Florida Key West, Florida Titusville, FloridaPaul Vahldiek Winston Salem, North Carolina Boca Grande, FL – February 3, 2017 Houston, Texas Nina Sanchez Christopher Buckley Jr. Bill Legg* Jay Robertson Paul Vahldiek New RolandoYork, NY –Santos, March 14,Ph.D. 2017 Islamorada, FL – March 30, 2017 AdvisoryIslamorada, Council Florida Key Largo,Honorary Florida TrusteesIslamorada, Florida Houston, Texas Amy Tidovsky Randolph Bias, Austin, Texas Marty Arostegui, Coral Gables, Florida Andy Mill, Aspen, Colorado 6th International Symposium, Weston, FL – Patrick Williams CharlesJack CurlettCausey, Islamorada, FloridaSandy MoretBret Boston, Alpharetta, GeorgiaBert Scherb John Moritz,K Boulder,en Wright Colorado November 10-11, 2017 Ian Wilson DonKey Causey, Largo, Miami, Florida Florida Islamorada,Betsy Florida Bullard, Tavernier, FloridaChicago, IllinoisJohnny Morris,Winter Springfield, Park, FloridaMissouri Scott Deal, Ft. Pierce, Florida Yvon Chouinard, Ventura, California Jack Nicklaus, Columbus, Ohio Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures Mike Fitzgerald John Newman BTT’s Mission PaulWexford, Dixon, East Pennsylvania Hampton, NY Covington,Marshall Louisiana Field, Hobe Sound, Florida Flip Pallot, Titusville, Florida To conserve and restore bonefish, tarpon and Chris Dorsey, Littleton, Colorado Guy Harvey, Fort Lauderdale, Florida Mark Sosin, Boca Raton, Florida Bonefish & Tarpon Journal Chico Fernandez, Miami, Florida Steve Huff, Chokoloskee, Florida Paul Tudor Jones, Greenwich, Connecticut permit fisheries2937 and SW habitats 27th Avenue through research, Pat Ford, Miami, Florida James Jameson, Del Mar, California Bill Tyne, London, United Kingdom stewardship, education and advocacy. Advisory Council Suite 203 RandolphChristopher Bias, Jordan, Austin, McLean, Texas Virginia MichaelJack Keaton, Payne, Los Gainesville, Angeles, CA Florida / MT Joan“L Wulff,efty” Lew Kreh, Beach, Cockeysville, New York Maryland Andrew McLain, Clancy, Montana Rob Kramer, Dania Beach, Florida Matt Connolly, Hingham, Massachusetts Miami, FL 33133 Curtis Bostick, Marco Island, Florida Steve Reynolds, Memphis, Tennessee Huey Lewis, Stevensville, Montana AdolphusJack Payne, A. Busch Gainesville, IV, Ofallon, Florida Missouri HueyJoel Lewis, Shepherd, Stevensville, Key Largo,Montana Florida Davis Love III, Hilton Head, South Carolina Steve Reynolds, Memphis, Tennessee Davis Love III, Hilton Head, South Carolina Charles Causey, Islamorada, Florida George Matthews, West Palm Beach, Florida Joel Shepherd, Key Largo, Florida George Matthews, West Palm Beach, Florida Partners In Preserving The Fish Don Causey, Miami, Florida Tom McGuane, Livingston, Montana Ken Wright, Winter Park, Florida Tom McGuane,Honorary Livingston, Trustees Montana Scott Deal, Ft. Pierce, Florida Marty Arostegui, Coral Gables, Florida Andy Mill, Aspen, Colorado Chris Dorsey, Littleton, Colorado Bret Boston, Alpharetta, Georgia John Moritz, Boulder, Colorado And The Places They Roam. Greg Fay, Bozeman, Montana Betsy Bullard, Tavernier, Florida Johnny Morris, Springfield, Missouri Chico2020 Fernandez, Events Miami, Florida Yvon Chouinard, Ventura, California Jack Nicklaus, Columbus, Ohio BTT’s Mission Pat Ford, Miami, Florida Marshall Field, Hobe Sound, Florida Flip Pallot, Titusville, Florida To conserve and restore bonefish, Mick9th K Annualolassa, Oxford, NYC Dinner Mississippi & Awards CeremonyGuy Harvey,BTT Fort 7thLauderdale, International Florida ScienceNathaniel Symposium Reed, Hobe Sound, Florida Tuesday, April 21, 2020 November 13 – 14, 2020 tarpon and permit fisheries Andrew McLain, Clancy, Montana Steve Huff, Chokoloskee, Florida Mark Sosin, Boca Raton, Florida DavidThe Meehan, University St. Petersburg,Club Florida James Jameson,Bonaventure Del Mar, California Resort & Spa Paul Tudor Jones, Greenwich, Connecticut and habitats through research, Wayne Meland, Naples, Florida Michael Keaton,Weston, Los Angeles, Florida CA / MT Bill Tyne, London, United Kingdom stewardship, education and advocacy. Michael Nussman, Davidsonville, Maryland Rob Kramer, Dania Beach, Florida Joan Wulff, Lew Beach, New York B O N E F I S H & T A R P O N J O U R N A L 2 0 1 7 W W W. B T T. O R G 3 2 B O N E F I S H & T A R P O N J O U R N A L S P R I N G 2 0 2 0 W W W. B T T. O R G B O N E F I S H & T A R P O N J O U R N A L S P R I N G 2 0 2 0 W W W. B T T. O R G 1

29607-17_001-056.pdf 1 2/21/2017 1:07:44 PM Full Page Maverick 2019.indd 1 6/12/19 3:51 PM Features Updates/Reports: 14 Florida Keys Sanctuary Blueprint 24 Bahamas Hurricane Recovery Setting the Hook...... 4 BTT responds to the Florida Keys National Marine After the worst natural disaster in the nation’s history, the Sanctuary’s proposed management plan. Bahamian fishing community bands together to rebuild. Perspectives...... 6 30 Bonefish Contaminants: Welcome Aboard...... 8 18 BTT Education Program Tippets...... 10 The innovative new education program launches in The Invisible Threat Florida. Troubling preliminary data show bonefish are exposed Conservation Captain Q & A...... 36 to an array of pharmaceuticals. 2020 Artist of the Year: John Kobald...... 42 20 Solving The Bonefish Puzzle 38 Two Nations, One Fishery Bonefish & Tarpon Trust Events...... 46 Scientists seek elusive bonefish spawning sites in the BTT works with Cuban collaborators to conserve the 2019 Donor Roll...... 50 Florida Keys using acoustic telemetry. shared flats fishery. Photo: Marty Dashiell 2 B O N E F I S H & T A R P O N J O U R N A L S P R I N G 2 0 2 0 W W W. B T T. O R G B O N E F I S H & T A R P O N J O U R N A L S P R I N G 2 0 2 0 W W W. B T T. O R G 3 ear the full moon from fall to late spring, bonefish BTT and its partners have located numerous bonefish PSAs in the Solving the Bonefish Puzzle: congregate nearshore by the thousands to form pre- Bahamas and along the Belize-Mexico border, but the spawning sites N spawning aggregations, known as PSAs. The fish porpoise of bonefish in the Florida Keys have remained a mystery since BTT Honing in on Keys Bonefish Spawning Sites at the surface to gulp air before swimming offshore at night. Together was founded more than 20 years ago in response to the decline of the the bonefish dive to more than 250 feet in water that is thousands Keys’ bonefish fishery in the 1990s. Early work to find PSAs in the Keys BY HEATHER RICHIE of feet deep before surging back up toward the surface. Scientists did not bear fruit, but parallel research succeeded in the Bahamas. BTT believe that the rapid change in pressure during the ascent causes is now applying this new knowledge from the Bahamas in a renewed the fishes’ airbladders to expand, which helps to expel their eggs and push to find PSAs in the Keys. sperm. The eggs hatch in about a day, and the larvae drift in the open ocean for one to two months before transforming into juveniles in sandy or muddy bays.

The complex bonefish spawning cycle is an epic feat of nature, about which little was known until recent years. “The characteristics of bonefish spawning sites were not even clear until 2011, when colleagues first documented a site in the Bahamas,” said Dr. Ross Boucek, BTT’s Florida Keys Initiative Manager. “And even as Keys guides and anglers experienced a downturn in the Keys bonefish fishery, the Bahamas’ world-class bonefish fishery remained healthy, so it has served as a great laboratory for us to learn more about bonefish spawning.”

Dr. Boucek implants an acoustic transmitter into a bonefish’s abdominal cavity. Photo: Ian Wilson.

A Florida Keys bonefish. Photo: Austin Coit 20 B O N E F I S H & T A R P O N J O U R N A L S P R I N G 2 0 2 0 W W W. B T T. O R G B O N E F I S H & T A R P O N J O U R N A L S P R I N G 2 0 2 0 W W W. B T T. O R G 21 are used in light of Bahamian studies which had more success with this method than sonar, with researchers following some 300 feet behind in a center console boat. Each day in the field from mid-afternoon onward, the team collects roughly 80 minutes of footage in 20-minute segments to examine for telltale signs of PSAs.

There has been good news for Keys bonefish fans in the last few years. A surge of small bonefish reappeared on some Keys flats providing new, welcome fishing opportunities. But a big question remains: where did these fish come from?

“There are a lot of bonefish around in three different sizes, all born a year apart from one another,” said Dr. Boucek. “Starting in 2014, a new wave of babies came in, followed by two more new generations in 2015 and 2016. The size classes are approximately 15 to 18 inches (2016 fish), 18 to 20 inches (2015 fish), and 22 to 25 inches (2014 fish).”

BTT’s extensive Bonefish Genetics Study, concluded in 2018, found that a significant portion of Florida Keys bonefish came from spawning in Belize, Mexico, and southwest Cuba. This means that although not all bonefish are locally spawned, it’s likely that the majority are. Conserving this Florida population, and its spawning sites, will be crucial to long-term bonefish restoration in the Keys. Otherwise, the Florida fishery will limp along—at less than half of its historic numbers—utterly dependent on fish spawned “upcurrent” and outside the U.S. “Since the spawning success of bonefish is essential to a healthy population, finding where bonefish spawn in the Keys and then “We hypothesize that bonefish migrate to spawn west of Key West working to protect those sites is an important focus of BTT’s Keys because if they spawn there, many of their larvae will remain in Initiative,” said Dr. Boucek. “The discovery of bonefish PSAs here the Keys.” said Dr. Boucek. By catching 30 adults (10 each in the in the Keys would be unprecedented and would mark a huge step Upper, Middle, and Lower Keys) and quickly implanting an acoustic forward in our conservation efforts.” transmitter the size of a AA battery into each one’s abdomen before releasing the fish back into the wild, Dr. Boucek can monitor the Dr. Boucek is in the midst of his first season of tagging bonefish for movements and habitat use of the tagged bonefish in hopes that a new three-year study in the Florida Keys. Much of the study is they will lead him to yet undiscovered spawning sites. BTT and other modeled after the Bahamian research that continues to locate and research organizations have thousands of acoustic receivers moored document bonefish PSAs. While a perfect storm of factors, such as to the ocean floor around the Keys. When a tagged bonefish swims water quality decline, habitat loss and degradation, pollution, lack by one, the date and time is recorded by the receiver. of larvae from distant spawning sites, poor juvenile bonefish survival, and past poor fish handling practices has contributed to the decline As the study progresses, it might become possible to detect if bonefish of the Keys fishery, another factor might be that not enough bonefish return to the same spawning site, how the decline in habitat is affecting are spawning in the Keys. Finding PSAs in the Keys is essential to spawning sites, and whether viruses and contaminants play a role. determine if bonefish are spawning locally or if most of the larvae are Guides have reported three possible PSAs that Dr. Boucek is in the coming from areas outside the Keys. process of studying. Finding bonefish PSA sites in the Keys is essential to BTT’s strategy to restore and protect the Keys bonefish population. Part of the year Dr. Boucek works by moonlight in what has to be BTT already knows that it has to work internationally to protect the the most romantic job in bonefish conservation. The study is taking spawners that send new larvae to the Keys every year. Finding a local place at the Ballast Key field station, with Dr. Boucek and a team of PSA site will allow BTT to focus on local conservation needs to ensure researchers from BTT and Florida International University spending the fishery can once again become self-sustainable. six days leading up to the full moons in November, January, and March. While at the station, they are running transects in four- to Heather Richie is a writer whose special interest is the land eight-foot deep areas to attempt to identify pre-spawning sites. They traditions—particularly the foodways and sporting—of the modern are looking for bonefish rising for air, large schools swimming near American and unbordered Souths. She is the author of FULL, A Slim the surface, and high numbers of sharks and other predators. Drones Volume on Southern Foodways.

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