Summary of Trips
Three trips were made during the fiscal month of July, 1990. One trip was to determine the exact location of the shell reef sites. One to video, take measurements, and make observations on the School Bus Barge and also to verify as many module numbers as possible on the Horn Island Barge site (FH-1). The last one was to deploy a buoy on the Deep Liberty Ships (FH-6).
During the past month 92 fish were tagged and released. Ten previously tagged fish were reported recaptured.
The Shallow Sites (FH-8, FH-9, FH-10)
These three sites, placed in early September of 1989, are located inside Ship and Horn Islands. They consist of about three acres each and presently contain only shells. The organization is interested in placing concrete rubble on these sites to enhance them and also provide a protective haven that would keep trawls from scooping up the reef fish. At the last meeting there was some discussion as to the exact location of the shells within the sites and their effectiveness. It was decided to determine the location and make observations as to their effectiveness.
Steve West was first contacted since he was the spotter boat during the shell deployment. Steve gave the LORAN coordinates where he was asked to spot for the shells which are as follows:
FH-8:12187.7 47082.0 FH-9:12226.7 47082.0 FH-10:12382.2 47085.4
On July 14, 1990 a trip was made starting at FH-10, the site located just off the middle ground. The shells were charted at the LORAN Coordinates shown below in Table One. A dive was made and video taken of the shells. The shells appeared piled in one area with some variations in elevation. The surrounding area depth is about 14 feet with the shells charting as high as 11 feet.
LORAN-C Coordinates
Middle Ground Shells FH-10
12382.3 (.3-.4) 7980W
47085.5 (.4) 7980Y
29601.8 7980X
64057.9 (58.0) 7980Z
LATITUDE 30:15:70
LONGITUDE 88:38:97
Table One
The process was then repeated for FH-9 located inside the East end of Ship Island. Similar findings were made there with the LORAN coordinates shown below in Table Two. The surrounding depth here was about 17 feet with the shells charting as high as 15'.
LORAN-C Coordinates
Ship Is. East Shells FH-9
12226.7 (.6-.9) 7980W
47081.9 (82.0) 7980Y
29449.0 (48.9) 7980X
64053.1 7980Z
LATITUDE 30:18:30
LONGITUDE 88:54:00
Table Two
Because of impending adverse wind conditions and since both shell piles were located relatively easily using Steve's coordinates it was not deemed necessary to proceed to FH-8. One should be able to locate them using LORAN coordinates 12187.7 47082.0.
Both shell piles do not seem in danger of oversedimentation except around the outer edges of the piles. Only very small fish and crabs were sighted. The chart recorder did chart some fish in the rifts of the shells, but none would bite a hook. It was interesting to note that the crackling noises made by barnacles and other small marine life was much more pronounced on the Middle Ground site.
Module Locations
On July 15, 1990 a trip was made to the FH-1 site to verify as many module locations as possible. While scouting the module locations a new pile of Rubble was located near Module 56. A dive was made on this spot and fish observations taken. This area will now be referred to a Rubble #4 and appears to be the largest pile of rubble observed thus far. It contains several columns and twisted re-bar. One column sticks up half-way to the surface. A divers depth gauge read 32 feet at the top of it.
Most of the targets on the South Half of FH-1 were successfully located (Below Barge "A"). Where there was more than one target close together only one find was made to save time. The coordinates are shown on the next page in Table Three. The original spotting coordinates seem to be adequate to locate the material, but these newer coordinates should save some time. The ID numbers correspond to the map numbers from the original listing that was released last year. Asteriks denote the ones that seem to have better fishing.
ID Material S1 S2 S3
25 Culverts 12406.7-.8 47037.2 29575.4-.5
26,27 *Modules 57,58 12404.1 47037.0-.9 29572.5
28 *Mod56 & Rub4 12404.7-.9 47036.7-.8 29573.0(.9-.1)
29 Culverts 12406.6-.7 47036.8 29574.9
31 *Module 68 12404.5-.4 47036.5 29572.5-.4
32,33 Modules 62,63 12405.5-.4 47036.5-.6 29573.4-.3
34 Mod40 & Rub2 12407.2-.3 47036.4-.5 29575.2
36,37 Modules 67,69 12404.6-.5 47036.4-.5 29572.4
38 Module 66 12404.8 47036.3 29572.5
38? Small mark 12404.7 47036.3-.2 29572.4-.3
39,41 *Modules 64,65 12405.3-.4 47036.4-.3 29573.0-.1
40 Mod39 & Rub2 12407.6-.8 47036.4-.5 29575.6
43,44 Modules 70,71 12404.9-.0 47036.3-.2 29572.5-.6
Table Three
Verified Coordinates of New FH-1 Targets
Estimated Fish Sightings on Rubble #4
July 15, 1990
Fish Type Size/Weight Count
Red Snapper.......... <2 lbs...100-150
Red Snapper.......... 3-6 lbs... 20-25
Black Snapper........ <2 lbs... 3
Grouper.............. 3-4 lbs.... 7-10
Scamp................ 4-5 lbs.... 1
Trigger Fish......... <1 lbs...250-300
Sheepshead........... 1-3 lbs.... 4-8
Spadefish............ <1 lbs...200-250
Spanish Mackerel..... <3 lbs...200-250
BlueFish............. <3 lbs... 20-30
Blue Angel........... 1-2 lbs... 1
Table Four
Fish Sightings on School Bus Barge "D"
July 15, 1990
Fish Type Size/Weight Count
Red Snapper.......... <2 lbs... 15-20
Black Snapper........ <2 lbs... 20-25
Grouper.............. 0-4 lbs.... 7-10
Spadefish............ <1 lbs....75-100
Trigger Fish......... <2 lbs... 15-20
Sheepshead........... 1-2 lbs....20-25
Table Five
The School Bus Barge (Barge "D")
Also on July 15 a dive was made on the School Bus Barge. The Barge showed no significant deterioration, but the School bus bodies have completely dissolved leaving only the frame and axels. The gap that was observed last year in the bulkhead has shown some escalation as if the barge is pulling apart here, but its affect is not significant at this point in time. Fish observations were minimal as shown in Table Five on the preceding page. It was interesting to see more Black Snapper than Red Snapper which may be attributed to overfishing since the Black Snappers do not bite as readily. Although several grouper were reported seen, most were small with only two being above one pound. Corner measurements were taken as shown below in Table Six. They show no significant changes from last year. The inside corners at the stern were also measured at 12'-7" compared to 12'-8" taken last year, and 12'-3" compared to 12'-5" last year.
Comparison of Corner Measurements
The School Bus Barge - Barge "D" FH-1
7-15-90 4-16-8910-27-88 9-23-87
Star Bow 8'-5" 8'-3" 8'-9" 7'-10"
Port Bow 8'-10" 9'-0" 9'-3" 8'-4"
Star Stern 10'-2" 10'-3" 10'-8" 10'-3"
Port Stern 11'-5" 11'-6" 11'-11" 10'-6"
Table Six
Buoy Update
On July 31, 1990 a buoy was deployed on the Deep Liberty Ship site (FH-6). The original mooring was located and lift bags were used to get the chain close to the surface. A chain hoist was used to finish getting it to the boat. The apparent mode of failure was the stainless steel ring that secured the chain to the buoy eyebolt. This time the chain was double shackled directly to the buoy eyebolt. The attachment point to the ships was left as it was (to the cleat at the South end of Barge "D").
During the last meeting it was reported that the FH-1 buoy had moved 1/3 mile into the site. Joe Patrick mentioned that he thought the FH-2 buoy was off site as well. This was checked into this past month and found to be true. The new buoy coordinates are 12450.0 47052.2 29633.5. This means it moved 1.8 miles at 13.
During this past month the organization voted to purchase 3 additional buoys for the three near shore sites, FH-3, FH-4, and FH-5. On July 20, Mr. Dunbar of Urethane Technologies was contacted regarding this. Some concern was expressed over the movement of the existing buoys and that we would like a shorter, larger diameter anchor. He suggested he could use their 3000 lb. mold and fill it half way instead of using their conventional 1500 lb. mold. This was agreed upon and the three buoys have been ordered. Delivery is 6-8 weeks.
Fish Tagging Update
Last month 92 new fish were tagged and released while ten tagged Red Snapper were recaptured. Five recaptures were reported by Mark Miller, Two from Mike Hill, Two from Steve Fisher of Theodore (tags 74PRM & 311), and One from Karen and Pat (last name unknown, tag 312) from Mobile. They are summarized below in Table Seven. Again, the tag reports from outside the organization show that the fish may not have been measured accurately.
Of interest is tag 49242 which was originally tagged at 9 inches on 11-5-89 by Craig Gusa. Over 8 months later Mark Miller recaught the fish that grew about 3.5", released it, and it was then recaught by Mike Hill 2 weeks later. The fish remained within the Horn Island Barge site but did move to some different nearby structure. Fish tag 62940 also showed some movement from the Metal Building (near Rubble #2) westward to Module 57 (near Rubble #1).
Tagged Fish Recaptures
(for past month of July)
Tag Number Date-1 Date-2 Size-1 Size-2 Growth Rate/Mo.
* 0012PRM 4/22/90 8/04/90 11.50" 14.00" 2.50" 0.72"
0074PRM 5/26/90 7/09/90 10.75" 13.00" 2.25" 1.53"
* 0087PRM 6/10/90 8/04/90 10.10" 11.50" 1.40" 0.76"
00311 6/27/90 7/06/90 11.40" 14.00" 2.60" 8.67"
00312 6/27/90 7/14/90 12.30" 14.00" 1.70" 3.00"
00335 6/24/90 7/21/90 9.50" 10.00" 0.50" 0.56"
# 49242 11/05/89 7/06/90 9.00" 12.40" 3.40" 0.42"
49242 7/06/90 7/20/90 12.40" 13.00" 0.60" 1.29"
# 49266 11/05/89 7/06/90 10.75" 14.20" 3.45" 0.43"
* 62940 4/15/90 7/15/90 12.50" 14.50" 2.00" 0.66"
Table Seven
* Denotes both release and capture measurements made by same person and may indicate increased accuracy.
# The longer period of time lapse (243 days= 8.1 Months) may indicate a more accurate growth rate of about 0.42 inch per month.