Gulf Coast Research Laboratory

GCRL Seeks Anglers’ Help with Shark Research

OCEAN SPRINGS, Miss. - Researchers at The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast Research Laboratory need fishermen’s help gathering data on sharks in Mississippi waters. Anglers who catch a tagged shark are asked to call GCRL and report some basic catch information.

“This information is crucial to gaining a better understanding of the growth and movement patterns of sharks in Mississippi coastal waters,” said Dr. Eric Hoffmayer, fisheries biologist at GCRL and project leader. “We’re tagging tons of sharks, but we need the public’s help reporting this information to us, so we can learn more about these sharks.”

Hoffmayer and his team are currently investigating the seasonal abundance and distribution of shark species in Mississippi coastal waters. The research is funded by the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Sport Fish Restoration Program.

Anglers who catch a tagged shark are asked to call in information to the phone number listed on the tag, 228.872.4257. Information to record and call in includes: tag number, date, GPS location, and total length of the shark from the tip of the snout to the upper lobe of the tail fin.

Hoffmayer said two different types of tags are used. They are both yellow and easily identifiable. For smaller sharks, a three-inch dart tag is inserted at the base of the dorsal fin. A Roto tag, a commercially availability fish tag similar to a cattle ear tag, is used on larger sharks and is inserted into the dorsal fin itself.

The Mississippi Sound and adjacent waters are an important nursery area for nine species of sharks, primarily Atlantic sharpnose, blacktip, finetooth, and bull sharks. Less prevalent species are spinner, blacknose, sandbar, bonnethead, and scalloped hammerhead.

The sharks GCRL researchers see most often are less than three feet long.

“Typically, sharks migrate inshore in the early spring, usually March and April, remain inshore during the summer months, and then migrate offshore during the late fall, around October,” Hoffmayer said. “Most of the shark species in Mississippi waters give birth during the late spring or early summer, and the young sharks spend the first few months of their lives in the shallow, nutrient-rich coastal waters.”

Among the four primary species that occur in Mississippi waters, the Atlantic sharpnose, blacktip, and finetooth sharks make up about 95 % of the sharks encountered during GCRL research. They are the most common shark species anglers encounter when fishing in the Mississippi Sound.

Most of the shark species are abundant around the barrier islands. Hoffmayer said adult sharks appear to prefer higher salinity waters and are more commonly found around or south of the barrier islands. The younger sharks, which can handle lower salinity, can be found as far inshore as Round and Deer Islands. Newborn bull sharks less than three feet long can handle completely freshwater and are commonly found in the low salinity water of coastal bays and bayous.

GCRL researchers have tagged more than 1000 sharks since 2004 and have received information on nine recaptures: six Atlantic sharpnose, two bull sharks, and a bonnethead shark.

Recapture dates and locations of three of the Atlantic sharpnose sharks suggest that this species is returning annually to Mississippi waters. All but one of the sharks were recaptured in Mississippi coastal waters.

“One Atlantic sharpnose shark evidently decided to take a vacation over in Florida and was recaptured in Pensacola Bay, more than 110 miles away, two months after being tagged,” Hoffmayer said.

The next phase of the project will establish a partnership with experienced charter boat captains and their crews to tag and release sharks.