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Detections, research continue for Cape Cod’s great white sharks
Cape Cod Times ^ | June 14, 2020 | Doug Fraser

Posted on 06/14/2020 7:15:42 PM PDT by Capt. Tom

Since he started tagging great whites 11 years ago, DMF shark researcher Gregory Skomal has gradually filled in gaps in buoy coverage and this summer will have 100 buoys, encircling the Cape and extending north to Cape Ann, most of them within a quarter-mile of the beach. Over 200 sharks already have been tagged. “The larger ones show up first and stay the longest,” Skomal said, as their body mass and ability to regulate their body temperature allows them to endure the cooler extremes of the seasons.

The season typically starts at the end of May, with detections focused on Monomoy off Chatham, with sharks moving north as the water warms in August and September

Even without the population study, there’s already enough evidence that Cape Cod has a lot of white sharks. Acoustic tags, fixed to the base of the shark’s dorsal fin using the detachable head of a harpoon, transmit a signal unique to each shark. These are picked up and recorded by receivers on those buoys moored within a quarter-mile of the Cape’s most popular beaches.

Buoy data from last summer and fall showed the top 10 receivers averaged 61 individual sharks and over 7,000 detections per receiver.

The Peaked Hill Bar receiver closest to shore off North Truro detected 70 individual tagged sharks and over 14,500 signals detected over an eight-month period, equaling 60 detections a day on average. Nauset Beach in Orleans had 69 sharks swim by its buoy, and Coast Guard Beach in Eastham had 62. .

(Excerpt) Read more at capecodtimes.com ...


TOPICS: Local News; Miscellaneous; Outdoors
KEYWORDS: capecod; massachusetts; sharks; whitesharks
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To: Capt. Tom

Tom,

How is the striper fishing down your way.

They have been catching mostly schoolees in the Merrimack and as far north as Hampton Beach harbor this past weekend.


21 posted on 06/15/2020 7:10:01 AM PDT by woodbutcher1963 (carpe diem)
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To: woodbutcher1963
How is the striper fishing down your way.

It is about average and if you use live mackerel you will have hookups.

The problem is stripers near or over 40 inches are being caught on live mackerel, and have to be released because of the new Mass. slot limit of only taking fish between 28-35 inches.
The longer ones are being released. -Tom

22 posted on 06/15/2020 10:51:23 AM PDT by Capt. Tom
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To: Capt. Tom

“The problem is stripers near or over 40 inches are being caught on live mackerel, and have to be released because of the new Mass. slot limit of only taking fish between 28-35 inches.
The longer ones are being released. -Tom”

So if you hook up with a world record Striper and keep it, you’re in violation. I wonder if the media income from their payment for the story would offset the fine?


23 posted on 06/15/2020 11:27:21 AM PDT by JimRed (TERM LIMITS, NOW! Build the Wall Faster! TRUTH is the new HATE SPEECH.)
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To: Capt. Tom

My buddies typically use sluggos. Does the length limit still apply if you are not using live bait?


24 posted on 06/15/2020 11:29:36 AM PDT by woodbutcher1963 (carpe diem)
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To: jmacusa
Looks like the tagged white shark JOSIAH has made it into Mass. waters.

Last Thursday JOSIAH was off of Rhode Island and is now in Mass. waters

If you can get the sharktivity app you can track it. -Tom

25 posted on 06/15/2020 11:29:54 AM PDT by Capt. Tom
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To: woodbutcher1963
. Does the length limit still apply if you are not using live bait?

Yes-The regulations can be found at the link below. -Tom

https://www.mass.gov/service-details/recreational-saltwater-fishing-regulations#recreational-finfish-regulations

26 posted on 06/15/2020 11:37:15 AM PDT by Capt. Tom
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To: Capt. Tom
About a year ago, maybe two we had a 16 footer named “Mary’’ prowling of the Jersey beaches here. She was a gal who got around. She was tagged and she'd cruise up and down from NJ to Montauk and back. She was said to be pregnant. I must say , the girl got around. Don't know what happened to her. I think they lost track of her.
27 posted on 06/15/2020 11:50:50 AM PDT by jmacusa (If we're all equal how is diversity our strength?)
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To: Capt. Tom

Is there NO “trophy striper” (often called “Rocks’ or “Rockfish”, elsewhere) law there??

Even in MD there is such a law that allows ONE huge striper of ANY size to be taken per licensed angler each calendar year.
(I landed, weighed, measured, photographed & released my “BIG Cow Rock”, as she was full of eggs in 2006.- I doubt that I will ever land another Rock anywhere near that size. = I fought her for over 30 minutes on a light, 7 foot, popping rod & 20# test mono, before we got her into the net.)

The “BIG Rock” on the “den wall” (next to the framed MD “Governor’s Citation” certificate) at our beach-house is a carefully made fiberglass & hand-painted replica of my “Big Girl”.

yours, satx


28 posted on 06/15/2020 1:48:01 PM PDT by TMN78247 ("VICTORY or DEATH", William Barrett Travis, LtCol, comdt., Fortress of the Alamo, Bejar, F'by 241836)
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To: Capt. Tom

FWIW, a tourist from Columbus, OH claimed about 45 days ago that he SAW a GW, while fishing, about a half-mile off the beach SE of Rockport, TX.

I can neither confirm nor deny what he SAYS that he saw that Spring afternoon.
(Being a tourist from a landlocked state, I don’t know if he would recognize a GW if it was in the boat with him.)

Yours, TMN78247


29 posted on 06/15/2020 1:57:36 PM PDT by TMN78247 ("VICTORY or DEATH", William Barrett Travis, LtCol, comdt., Fortress of the Alamo, Bejar, F'by 241836)
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To: TMN78247
Is there NO “trophy striper” (often called “Rocks’ or “Rockfish”, elsewhere) law there??

The State has adopted a slot limit and no trophy catch is allowed -Tom

30 posted on 06/15/2020 2:09:09 PM PDT by Capt. Tom
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