Weakfish Project Synopsis

Beginning in the spring of 2007, Rutgers University Marine Field Station in Tuckerton, NJ will be conducting a two-year study on weakfish movement and spawning habitat in the Great Bay-Mullica River estuary and within the Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve (JCNERR). Similar to the previously established StriperTracker program, fish will be surgically implanted with internal acoustic beacons to allow us to locate and track individual fish on a broad and fine scale. In addition to delineating the preferred habitat types of weakfish, long-term tags will allow us to determine whether adult fish return to the same estuary on a seasonal basis, as well as the timing of their return and departure from the area.

Coinciding with this portion of the study, we will be listening for the unique noises associated with spawning weakfish. Members of the drum family, weakfish (specifically males) have the ability to generate a series of sounds (listen here!) associated with seasonal spawning activity. To get a sense of when, where, and how much spawning is occurring, an estuary-wide array of underwater listening microphones (or passive acoustic recorders) will be deployed and monitored throughout the spawning season (see photo). On top of data collected by tracking tagged weakfish, information from these recorders will only help us to better understand weakfish life history. Check out a previously funded project conducted by Rutgers and University of Florida researchers on sounds associated with offshore spawning of multiple drum species at http://www.marine.rutgers.edu/leophone.

If you happen to be on the water and catch one of our tagged fish, we ask you to please release it promptly, so we can continue to collect valuable data from it for the life of the tag. If possible, note the external tag number and contact us immediately with the information on the tag. In return, you will receive a small reward and the satisfaction that you will be contributing pertinent information to the project.

As a part of the larger StriperTracker program, we will also be offering the opportunity to adopt a fish at the cost of an acoustic transmitter. A picture will appear on the website of your fish and you will receive a “certificate of adoption” thanking you for your contribution. Please contact us for details if you are interested in participating.

Contact Info:
Jay T. Turnure
Graduate Student
(609) 296-5260 x255
turnure@marine.rutgers.edu

Thomas M. Grothues
Assistant Research Professor
(609) 296-5260 x262
grothues@marine.rutgers.edu