My Research for the Day - BFT stomach study

[amarshall]

I have issues.

I've been reading some old (1992) scientific papers on the stomach contents of Bluefin tuna.

A consistent forage fish found in the stomachs of fish in Cape Cod Bay and Great South Channel. A new to me forage fish for BFT... the fig sponge. Who will be the first to make a Fig Sponge bar???

Cape Cod Bay Unlike diet composition for the other study areas, diet composition for Cape Cod Bay did not indicate a dominant pelagic prey but did include the common occurrence of demersal prey. Six prey species were only found in Cape Cod Bay. Squid occurred most frequently but accounted for only 2% of stomach-contents biomass biomass (Table 3). The fig sponge was the top prey in terms of percentage by weight (27%). The diet of bluefin tuna caught in Cape Cod Bay displayed the most diversity among study areas. A total of 16 prey species were identified, of which eight were demersal species. Three species of flounder were identified, representing 9% of the stomach-contents biomass. The occurrence of bluefish as prey in Cape Cod Bay (25%) was the highest among study areas. The amount of food in Cape Cod Bay stomach samples was the lowest for the four Gulf of Maine locations: 60% of the stomachs collected from this area were empty.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m...g=content;col1

I'd bet $10 that's why they call that spot the figs, and the tuna there are eating more than groundfish discards.

[turbor2]

Does the stuff float or do you need a kite?

[cwrisso]

i found a pic of one: http://www.mwra.state.ma.us/harbor/g.../mb_image7.jpg

how the hell do you bridle that?

[gmoney]

The question I have is how they eat it?

Tuna can't stop moving, they won't be able to stop and peck at the stuff like bass do.....pretty interesting though

[Locke N Load]

What don't they eat?

Mackerel
Sandeels
Herring
Pogies
Bluefish
Whiting
Cod
Sponges

oh wait, they don't eat Dogfish. Damn!!!!

[steelmonkey590]

Very interesting article, thanks.
Tough bite so far this year, we'll figure em out soon enough

[amarshall]

What don't they eat?

Mackerel
Sandeels
Herring
Pogies
Bluefish
Whiting
Cod
Sponges

oh wait, they don't eat Dogfish. Damn!!!!

Actually they do eat dogfish. Several giants had spines in their stomachs last year. Don't forget stripers. I know someone in Maine who has done very well...never mind.

[gmoney]

baseball hats
beer cans



yes they eat it all