local tropical reports

[Long Island Andy]

Forgot to mention that i usually only go at night and i don't use a seine net.
Mask, snorkel, fins or neoprene boots, headlight, and a long handle net.

Now that could be one scary site:wavehand:

 

[DgenR8]

So I'm from Connecticut along the shore. I've seen a few of you around the forum boards before. I'm looking at doing some Siening along the more Northern coast of Long Island Sound, hopefully catch a tropical or so. Looking to release, but just to see what's out there.

Any of you find any good catches along north LI beaches? And what siene net would you reccomend for somebody trying to get started doing this (I know it requires two people). Do I just wade out into five feet of water and start netting, and then seeing what I can drudge up - it's really that easy haha?

Thanks all! Happy catching

Tropicals that come up this way do so with the help of the nice, warm waters of the Gulf Stream which flows conveniently close to the south shore of Long Island. It doesn't divert into the Sound, though. I'd say that nothing is impossible, but the chances of finding any kind of numbers of tropicals along our north shore are slim, at best.

 

[billsreef]

Only a few times I've seen butterflies in the Sound. Those were also banner years for tropicals on the south shore.

 

[bobt2]

i know the ostyer farms in greenport, on the side facing shelter island get lots of tropicals in the cages.

 

[bobt2]

i also wonder, when the tropicals leave fl for the ride north, are they still eggs? or are they already swimmimg? how long does the ride take?

 

[billsreef]

They ride up the Gulf Stream as eggs and larvae at different stages of development along the ride.

 

[bobt2]

time is running out, any positive reports? or put the collecting stuff away, and like the mets, wait till next year.

 

[Monkeyfish]

I think something has changed environmentally. Five, six years ago you couldn't go in the water without bumping into a butterfly or blue angel. Lionfish were hanging out all over the place and there were plenty of folks who caught big-eyes and look-downs. Now you're lucky if you catch anything from tropical waters.

 

[Long Island Andy]

Went out seining today and caught some fish that look like needlenose gars but very pretty,
any clue as to what they were?

 

[LightTackle]

Coronet fish maybe.

 

[Long Island Andy]

Found him, Atlantic Needlefish. Looks like a freshwater Asian gar

 

[George_G]

Went out seining today and caught some fish that look like needlenose gars but very pretty,
any clue as to what they were?

Coronet fish maybe.

Found him, Atlantic Needlefish. Looks like a freshwater Asian gar

Ok, well, first, Dave with all due respect, there is no such thing as a coronet fish. It's a Cornetfish -- a member of the Sygnathidae family (have a fused jaw, like Pipefish and Seahorses). As a retired band teacher I have always been amused that there is both a Trumpetfish AND a Cornetfish! LOL

Andy... I went Saturday with some freshwater friends -- they go just for the fun of it; only a few have like one small SW tank -- none of them have reef tanks. We also got one of those Needlefish -- one of the guys had his grandson along and the kid got bit! Blood... crying... it wasn't pretty!!!

We also got a bunch of Pinfish, and a couple that I couldn't identify (nothing colorful -- could have been baby locals). Other than those, just lots of Spearing.

I'm probably going two more times this year -- LIRA next Saturday, and NYRC on the 23rd.

George
--

 

[George_G]

I think something has changed environmentally. Five, six years ago you couldn't go in the water without bumping into a butterfly or blue angel. Lionfish were hanging out all over the place and there were plenty of folks who caught big-eyes and look-downs. Now you're lucky if you catch anything from tropical waters.

Eric,

I have only been collecting for a few years, but I agree that it's definitely not the same this year. But I'm not sure it's any kind of drastic "environmental change," but, rather, the random nature of the gyres. To quote Steve Abrams:

"Periodically, large circular pools of warm water called gyres separate from the Gulf Stream and brush the south shore. During these events, thousands of warmwater fish, shrimp and crabs flood the bays."
(link to article in Post #215)

George
--

 

[billsreef]

A large part of how good the year is for tropicals depends on how the Gulf Stream runs, and pops of those eddies or gyres that bring the tropicals in.

 

[Long Island Andy]

Thanks George, we didn't keep them but at least no one was bit. George where would you go for pipefish and sea horses. I was at Shinnecock and Ponquogue Bridge and not a sign

 

[George_G]

Thanks George, we didn't keep them but at least no one was bit. George where would you go for pipefish and sea horses. I was at Shinnecock and Ponquogue Bridge and not a sign

Andy, I see you're in Ronkonkoma. No need to go way out to Shinnecock -- Oak Beach is the place to go. You're closer than I am. Pick a weekday when low tide is in the afternoon and give me a call -- I'll meet you there.

George
--

 

[Monkeyfish]

Eric,

I have only been collecting for a few years, but I agree that it's definitely not the same this year. But I'm not sure it's any kind of drastic "environmental change," but, rather, the random nature of the gyres. To quote Steve Abrams:

"Periodically, large circular pools of warm water called gyres separate from the Gulf Stream and brush the south shore. During these events, thousands of warmwater fish, shrimp and crabs flood the bays."
(link to article in Post #215)

George
--

I wasn't refering to global warming or environmental disaster , just figured it was something different going on. It seems that the amount of tropicals found around LI during hte late summer has been steadily declining over the past 5 years.

Or maybe it's Bill's fault. Not sure how, but now that I think of it... yeah, Bill definitely has something to do with what's going on.

 

[billsreef]

Or maybe it's Bill's fault. Not sure how, but now that I think of it... yeah, Bill definitely has something to do with what's going on.

Hmm, I do go fishing with a small otter trawl from a 32' boat for some of the classes down here

 

[bobt2]

went out again today, in the inlet west of the obi.nothing of any interest. and less of everything except jellies.on the other hand, it was low tide, so i brought home a bucket of clams!

 

[Long Island Andy]

went out again today, in the inlet west of the obi.nothing of any interest. and less of everything except jellies.on the other hand, it was low tide, so i brought home a bucket of clams!

Are they reef safe:rollface: