Mississippi Gulf Fishing Banks, Inc.

Activities Report for April, 1992

Submitted by

Mark P. Miller

Date of Report

May 14, 1992

Activity Report for April, 1992

Summary of Trips

One trip was made during the fiscal month of April. A trip was made to take a look at the Keesler Bed Frames in the Bill Walker site (FH-2) to examine the early progress of this new site. It was planned to take a look at the Chevron Rubble in the Horn Island Barge Site (FH-1) but technical difficulties prevented that task.

During the past month, 65 new fish were reported tagged and released; 60 by Mark Miller and 5 by Steve Perrigin. Seven red snapper were reported recaptured. Also one GCRL Cobia tag was reported recaptured, but its release information is pending.

Keesler Bed Frames

Some 367 metal bed frames were acquired from Keesler Air Force Base and banded into 24½ separate bundles. A trip was made on March 4, 1992 to sink 18½ of the bundles in the Bill Walker Site (FH-2) spacing the bundles in 55' of water between LORAN LOP's 12430, 12433, 47044.2, and 47044.4. The remaining bundles are awaiting transport along with two stripped down helicopter bodies.

This trip was made on May 3, 1992 with a purpose to obtain video footage and to make some initial observations of this 60 day old reef. Only one bundle was inspected and found to be laying as desired -- on its side with the frames positioned vertically. Several small 4"-6" snapper were seen as well as a school of cigar minnows. Some of the snapper and several pin fish were observed dashing into the protection of the frames as they were approached. Fouling was proceeding at a nominal rate. Overall the reef was progressing well and providing the basics needed to establish a food chain base for game fish.

It was observed that the aluminum wire added to tie the frames together was electrochemically dissolved. The zinc plated band was still present, but the zinc coating was gone and rust was beginning to show on the band with little life expected. The frames themselves appear stable on the bottom and problems with movement is not expected.

Fish Tagging Update

Mike Watson of Slidell reported a recapture of tag number 2307 but had no useful information. It was originally a 16.8" red snapper tagged on a module in FH-2 on October 19, 1991. Mark Miller recaptured a red snapper (2747) he tagged back in January at the Rigs to Reef Jumbo Barge. It should be noted that this is in 130 feet of water showing deep water survival. Kenny Kuhn of Biloxi recaptured tag number 2853 which was released by Mark Miller back in October. Craig Gusa turned in three recaptures at the last meeting that were originally tagged by Ken Dropco back in December (tags 1931, 1954, and 1983). Emery Collier of North Biloxi recaptured tag 2434 released by Mark Miller in February. His measurement was indicated as not being total length so the growth rate may be slightly higher than indicated. All fish appear to have been recaptured at the same location. The growth data is shown below in Table One.

Tagged Fish Recaptures

(for past month of April, 1992)

Tag Num Date-1 Date-2 Size-1 Size-2 Growth Rate/Mo.

2307 10/19/91 4/ ?/92 16.8" ? ? ?

2747 1/25/92 5/09/92 14.4" 15.5" 1.1" 0.31"

2853 10/19/91 3/11/92 12.6" 13.25" 0.65" 0.14"

1931 12/26/91 3/01/92 12.6" 12.5" -0.10" -0.05"

1954 12/07/91 3/01/92 12.0" 12.4" 0.40" 0.14"

1983 12/26/91 3/01/92 13.1" 12.8" -0.30" -0.14"

2434 2/27/92 5/08/92 11.7" 12.5" 0.80" 0.34"

RC5220 ?? 4/22/92 ? 30.8 ? ?

Table One