Posted on 04/06/2007 4:03:02 PM PDT by blam
Photo in the News: Century-Old Fish Caught in Alaska
April 6, 2007A handful of Christians preparing rockfish as part of their traditional fish dinner this Good Friday might be feasting on one of the oldest creatures ever to live in Alaskan waters.
Commercial fishers in the Bering Sea recently hauled in the female shortraker rockfish seen above, which scientists say was between 90 and 115 years old. Researchers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) used growth rings in the fish's ear bone, or otolith, to make their age estimate.
NOAA scientists also found that the fish's advanced years had yet to take a toll on its reproductive abilities.
"The belly was large," NOAA researcher Paul Spencer told the Associated Press. "The ovaries were full of developing embryos."
A Seattle, Washington-based ship caught the 44-inch-long (112-centimenter-long), 60-pound (27-kilogram) fish while trawling for pollock at about 2,100 feet (640 meters) below the surface. The massive mama was among ten shortrakers pulled from the depths along with roughly 75 tons of the smaller commercially fished species.
The fish's age and size both approach the maximum known limits for shortrakers. The largest on record measured 47 inches (119 centimeters) long, and the oldest ever caught was 157 years.
Victoria Jaggard
With all those fishing holes you have enjoyed, you make me want to be your fishing partner. ;)
I could send you to a half dozen places serving Lutefisk in Fargo tonight.
I’m ex oilfield offshore trash, actually. Fished quite a bit from the old Cowlitz/Humptoolips up to the Samish, years ago, too.
My father-in-law holds the world record for Red Snapper - 50lb. 4oz. caught in 1988 I think.
Looks like Helen Thomas.
Thats one ugly fish.
Wrong post...the Nancy Pelousy thread is elsewhere.
Yikes, I wish the scientists would tell us the toxic analysis on that thing. It's probably 50% mercury.
Now we know that photo of Helen is a fake because vampires sleep with the lid down.
Doc Kennedy
World Record Red Snapper
50 pounds, 4 ounces, June 23, 1996
On a scale of one to ten, I rate this a four. Sometimes I think all these reporters are from the same school. We’ve got these stories up to the gills. And they’ve all got the same hook. It’s wearing a little fin.
Yep, that be him.
They get it rayt once in a whale.
NOPE snappers live in the Caribean around Florida.. But in Alaska these "Rockfish" are called red snappers.. The real red snappers is not a rockfish its a really "SNAPPER"..
Alaskans think these red fish are the best tasting rockfish.. fully as good as snapper.. or better.. Actually any fish caught in Alaska tastes better than fish from other places.. No lie just fact.. Especially the halibut.. and several different kinds(6) of Salmon.. smoked ot not..
What a rod-din attitude. I suggest you grow up and change your tuna. This fish was a teeny-bobber when news-reels were the rage and people waited with bated breaths for the latest talkie to be catch-and-released.
Net that I care, but too many lines have been wasted about this already. Roe is me.
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