D.I.Y...... tropical fish collection

[Tberg]

Happy to announce that the tropical fish that normally get up into Long Island and Rhode Island waters are still here!!! Caught 9 Spotfin butterflys @ Ft. Wetherill on Monday and two others who were snorkeling/collecting got a couple of juvenile cowfish and a four-eye butterfly.
My contact in Long Island, Todd G. @ Atlantis Marine World says they are still collecting as well. Tropical storm Irene messed it up for a few weeks but the stray tropicals are still around. Todd & his group got cornetfish, cowfish, trunkfish and a bigeye while seining in Shinnecock bay. Let me know if you want more details on D.I.Y. collecting....happy to assist.

T.B.

 

[lt3m2002]

DYI fish

Hello, thanks for posting. I say your thread and was interested. I have heard about catching tropicals in Rhode Island but never knew where to go. I am located on the East Bay near Newport. Are there any good areas around here? What are you using to catch them? Are you snorkeling or diving? Any and all info would be great. Thanks.

 

[dcforester1]

There was a guy on here that posted awhile back, I think his name was lemon peel???? he got a lot of really interesting fish. I wanted to meet up with him and catch some, but never really had the time.

 

[WoodRiverTroutBum]

The cove at Ft. Wetheril (Sp?) is a great place to collect, as well as kings beach in newport. A lot of people just use 2 aquarium nets to catch the fish then put them in a clear container and in to your dive bag. Both Scuba or snorkeling can be productive.

 

[lt3m2002]

Great thanks for the info, maybe I will give it a shot.

 

[WoodRiverTroutBum]

Any time. I do reccomend a wet suit at this time of year.

 

[Tberg]

Just got back from Ft. Wetherill, (Jamestown, Rhode Island) Only caught 2 Spotfin butterflies today. I saw lots of them as well as finally seeing some Four Eye butterflies. I had a couple of nets to sort of corral them or use them together to try & block out their escape routes. Did not get any Four Eyes....but, I will try again. They & Spotfins are in 4 - 10 feet of water. I have seen spotfins deeper as in 20 or 25 feet as well. Some folks snorkel, others use seine nets, I have been trying to get & catching them w/ scuba gear. In the shallow ranges, a tank can last for hours.
Some of the other guys have gotten cowfish, pipefish, short big eyes and a few other types. Diversity is much greater down on Long Island (Shinnecock Bay). They get up to 30 or 40 species during a typical season.
New England Aquarium Dive Club is having a "Tropical Fish Rescue" down @ Ft. Wetherill this Sunday 10/9. Please feel free to join us. There is a barbecue ($5.00 donation to defray costs) and hopefully we will have a decent showing of the tropicals that are still around. Divers, snorkelers, seiners, etc. are welcome to come down & try it out!!! Starts around 9 - 10:00 a.m. and the food part most likely around noonish.
Wetsuits are advised, but I did not need gloves today & was in for over 2 hours.

 

[WoodRiverTroutBum]

Thanks for the info on the dive, I still I will be attending the BRS meeting though. Maybe I will take a ride down there on Saturday though.

 

[Tberg]

Enjoy the meeting. If I weren't committed to the Tropical Fish Rescue, I would go to the BRS meeting. Heading down to Ft. Wetherill on a weekend is usually good to see some divers & seiners collecting or trying to find some the the stray tropicals. I hope you get to see some down there.

 

[WoodRiverTroutBum]

I saw some nice ones last year, some kind of damsels or something I have never seen before. They had black and gold bars and the gold was like 24 karat gold. They kept swimming back and forth across the glass of my mask and I easily scooped them in my hand. More and more triggers are around every year, little too big to collect though lol. Have fun diving! Don't forget about us if you get any good pics.