Catch-and-Release
Catch-and-release (C&R) is practiced by recreational anglers either because of regulations (e.g., size limits, catch limits) or because of a conservation ethic. Regardless of the motivation, more fish are released in recreational fisheries than are kept, and a growing body of science is showing that how fish are caught and handled can play a major role in their disposition and survival after release.
Atlantic Tarpon
Atlantic tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) is also known as the Silver King because of their large size, bright silver scales, and tremendous fight on the end of a fishing line. However, uncontrolled development unsustainable fishing practices, and other human-based impacts are threatening the future of the Silver King.
Spawning Aggregations
Wild fish populations will not persist without successful reproduction. Unlike other vertebrates on the planet, fish have evolved an incredibly diverse suite of reproductive strategies and tactics in order to ensure robust contributions to the next generation. In many cases, fish aggregate to spawn, whether in particular upstream stretches of rivers or discrete locations along coastlines.
permit
Permit (Trachinotus falcatus) are in the jack family and are the focus of a popular recreational fishery in the Florida Keys. They are targeted both on shallow flats and when aggregating on coral reefs and other offshore structures, where they can be especially vulnerable to depredation and post-release predation by sharks.
Giant Trevally
Giant trevally are one of the pinnacle recreationally targeted fish species inhabiting shallow flats in the Indo-Pacific. The GTs (or GEET) capital of the world is the Seychelles, where this amazing fish plays an important role in the ecology of the flats, likely rivalling sharks as a top apex predator.
Sharks
Sharks are the quintessential apex predator of marine ecosystems. In the eyes of humans, sharks are also quite the paradox - in some circles they are feared, while in others revered for their ecological importance, majesty, and strong fight on the end of a fishing line. Currently, my lab is focusing on the spatial ecology of several species of sharks in the US Virgin Islands, Southeastern United States, and Cape Cod.
Golden Dorado
Golden dorado is an iconic species of rivers and streams in many parts of South America. Their amazing color, strong fight, and stark colors make them the epicenter of an emerging recreational fishery with global reach but also local and regional economic benefits.
bonefish
Bonefish (Albula spp) are a group of species that inhabit shallow tropical and subtropical flats worldwide. They are an incredibly popular target for anglers, and recreational fisheries for bonefish can contribute greatly to local and regional economies.