Copepod collecting

[WallysWorld]

Went out yesterday with Reel Science Charters (Capt Greg Metzger) collecting copepods! It was awesome. They have a giant copepod net that they drag behind the boat. After a few minutes we pulled in the net and collected our bounty! Probably a few 100,000 copepods! Here are some pics.
BTW anyone can do this just call Reel Science Charters (look up on google)

Net in the water.

Capt. Greg

The wildlife was all around us, this guy was following us at Shinnecock bay.

 

[DeepSeaBeauti]

Thats too cool, who would have thought.

 

[username in use]

What's it cost to go out on a charter?

 

[Long Island Andy]

Thanks for sharing Walter, that's pretty neat

 

[qy7400]

What's it cost to go out on a charter?

Prices are on Greg's website.... http://www.reelsciencecharters.com/

 

[MikeC120]

So you paid $200 for copepods?

 

[WallysWorld]

So you paid $200 for copepods?

LOL, That's like saying I paid $12,000 for a sea shell I got in Hawaii.

The point is it's not just collecting copepods. We were also looking for larval fish. Possible flounder fishing but the water was a little cold. Watched Osprey grab fish from the water. Watched Gannets diving into the ocean and fly 20ft over the boat.

Try to rent a boat for that much $$ with a Capt. that know where to go what to see...

Anyway it was an awesome trip.

 

[WallysWorld]

BTW, I think we caught almost a pound of copepods! the corals is loving them and the fish go crazy for them!

 

[lrasser]

I'll take you out for some good fishing for $200. lol.

 

[snulma1]

Think he'd do a group rate? I'd be down to do this with a couple of people

 

[Wannabe29]

Wow. Pretty cool. I'm thinking about building my own net and doing this on a smaller scale from my kayak. Was there a collection jar at the end of the net? Can the pods be frozen for later use as coral food and as a way of killing any baddies that might be in there?

 

[WallysWorld]

I'll take you out for some good fishing for $200. lol.

Are you a Captain? You have a charter boat and only charge $200? That's great. You're about $400 cheaper than every other fishing charter.
This is good to know.

 

[WallysWorld]

Think he'd do a group rate? I'd be down to do this with a couple of people

I am not sure what he would do but you can always call him. Remember we LIRA members get 10% off.

 

[WallysWorld]

Wow. Pretty cool. I'm thinking about building my own net and doing this on a smaller scale from my kayak. Was there a collection jar at the end of the net? Can the pods be frozen for later use as coral food and as a way of killing any baddies that might be in there?

I can tell you the nets aren't cheap. A small one for your kayak would probably be $250plus. I know Capt Greg built this giant net himself and I think just for the netting it was over $500 this is not cheap netting.
There was a 2 or 3 gallon bucket at the end where the collection jar would normally be. I froze all the copepods and then when I feed I rinse in fresh tap water. Next time I am going to try live but treat with formalin first. Not sure if they will survive but I'll try.

I kayak too, I was talking to Capt Greg about possibly bringing a kayak out on the boat shark fishing. Once we hookup get in the kayak and have some fun! Nantucket Slay ride!

 

[WallysWorld]

The point of this post was just to let you guys know these opportunities are out there. The $$ maybe high for some unfamiliar with charter boats on Long Island but I assure you this Captain is the cheapest and is great for people that want to learn how to fish.
Just figured I would spread the word, isn't that what this club is all about.

 

[lrasser]

Wally we were talking about this when i came by for the tanks. I'm slipped in Mt. Sinai harbor and fish every weekend. Only fee I have is you supply the beer and bait! $200 for a charter is cheap. When going to certain spots I like I'll burn that just in fuel.

 

[Wannabe29]

Yeah, I heard about the cost of the nets. There is a guy on another reef site that made his own using nylon stockings, wire, string, tape, etc. He apparently got the plans from some kind of school project. Supposedly it worked. I was thinking of trying something like that. Worse comes t o worse, It doesn't work, and I wind up looking creepy for buying pantyhose........

Sent from my KFJWI using Tapatalk 2

 

[username in use]

The $$ maybe high for some unfamiliar with charter boats on Long Island

Yeah, that's basically a free ride when you account for his costs. Fueling, licensing, maintaining and insuring a charter boat is ungodly expensive. It is nice to know there is someone doing this for this price, and tailoring it to something outside of just traditional fishing.

 

[WallysWorld]

The Capt Greg Metzger did talk at a LIRA meeting I think two years ago? Joe will remember.

Keeping a boat is do crazy expensive I sold the big boat and now have just a few kayaks and a small aluminum with a 9.9hp (basically a lawnmower engine).
So the charter thing works for me, no surprise $$$!

 

[quagmire]

Walter did you happen to see any mysids around the dock where you launched from? I looked behind Atlantis a few weeks ago. No shrimp but i did manage to net an algae covered ipod.