Port A macro

[Kyle46N]

Anybody try keeping any of the port A macro in their fuges? I'm talking about the stuff growing all along the jetty rocks. I remember several different types. I'm thinking about bringing some back, but don't want to bother if it will die.

[Mr Cob]

I have a bunch and it's great stuff but loaded with baby Whelks....just make sure you clean it out before adding to your system. I also got a bunch of Vermitids...think it came from this too but not certain.

I picked up about 5 various types from Port A.

[Kyle46N]

Whelks...not cool. Definitely will clean it out. I'm thinking about grabbing some of the grass from the bay also. From all the grass patches I like to fish. Rob, didn't you say a while back that you catch nerites down there too? Any advice on where to go? Is it a day or night thing? Orginally this trip down there this week was going to be geared for fishing only....buuuuut, with the red tide and strong offshore winds, I'm not sure how the fishing is going to work out. So, might have to improvise and return to the little boy in me....looking for other things to catch...lol.

[Mr Cob]

Dude...I got several HANDFULLS of nerites last time with all kinds of markings....was so mad though because I also got a lot of whelks and at the time did not know they were whelks and within a month they killed off most of my snails!!! Arghhh!

I got the Nerites in the evening mostly but it was not on the jetties. It was at the base of one of the overpasses from Chorpus to Port A. It was at low tide near the flats...actually I got them in the afternoon and evening and they were all over the grass flats along with a lot of other life.

[snfkotara]

Rob Have you ever seen any seahorses?

[Mr Cob]

Rob Have you ever seen any seahorses?

Yes, they are cool little things....oh wait, you mean at the coast! No, I have not.

[barderer]

I have only caught one dwarf sea horse. Tons of pipe fish though

[Squiers007]

DO NOT TAKE THE SEAGRASS! It is protected habitat and you must have a premit form Parks and Wildlife to collect it and for research purposes only. Please, whatever you take do not take the seagrass as it is habitat to a multitude of species. Sorry if this came off aggressive, but I dont want this hobby to get a bad rap for removing habitat essential for certain organisms to survive. Thanks, thats all.

[recoiljpr]

When I lived down in Corpus we used to go push netting all of the time. I would catch stars, snails, shrimp (mostly texas brown) and a boat load of other macro life. The best place I always found was the grass flats in the laguna madre off of the North bound side of the causeway (park under the bridge) and just sein up and down.

You can make a push net with 3 pieces of pvc, cable ties, a long bolt with a nut and some netting. Just get behind it, put it down to the floor and start walking. Every 30 or so feet, lift it and look through your catch. It's a fun way to spend time down at the coast when the fishing stinks. I included a crude drawing.

[Kyle46N]

DO NOT TAKE THE SEAGRASS! It is protected habitat and you must have a premit form Parks and Wildlife to collect it and for research purposes only. Please, whatever you take do not take the seagrass as it is habitat to a multitude of species. Sorry if this came off aggressive, but I dont want this hobby to get a bad rap for removing habitat essential for certain organisms to survive. Thanks, thats all.

I'm glad you mentioned this. It crossed my mind. Sea grass seems to be protected all along the gulf coast, so I was wondering. I'll find something else. Thanks!

[Squiers007]

When I lived down in Corpus we used to go push netting all of the time. I would catch stars, snails, shrimp (mostly texas brown) and a boat load of other macro life. The best place I always found was the grass flats in the laguna madre off of the North bound side of the causeway (park under the bridge) and just sein up and down.

You can make a push net with 3 pieces of pvc, cable ties, a long bolt with a nut and some netting. Just get behind it, put it down to the floor and start walking. Every 30 or so feet, lift it and look through your catch. It's a fun way to spend time down at the coast when the fishing stinks. I included a crude drawing.

I'm pretty sure that push netting, and or siening is also illegal. If you want to catch stuff like that the only legal way to do it is by hand or cast net. For those of you wanting to collect things locally please check with Parks and Wildlife to make sure that what you are planning on doing is legal. Thanks.

[Europhyllia]

Squiers since this is your area of expertise have you thought of hosting an outing explaining what, where and how things can be collected and maybe also what the different critters are and how well they might do in a tank?
I bet several people are intrigued by the idea of catching something but don't necessarily want to negatively impact wildlife, do something illegal or bring something home that will be a detriment to our existing tanks.
Does MAAST organize outings like that? I think it would be fun to have a member who trained in the subject matter lead a little group like that.

[txav8r]

We have this:
http://maast.org/forums/showthread.php?t=48881

[barderer]

siening is not illegal but there are size limitations on the net and how you use it. Just go to the tpaw web site and read. The vast majority of collection is NOT illegal so everyone can relax. Use your common sense to think about impact. The collection of fish shrimp in small numbers by aquarium owners etc. is NOTHING, NOTHING compared to total population of the species. Think shrimping, think fish sticks, those catches are in the millions!!. I think a lot of reefers get conflicted because coral collection is a much different story, as it has much more of a impact. But still if you are supposedly ethically sensitive, if you think it out, doing selective collection yourself is much more environmentally friendly then any other option!!! Even captive breeding!!(Think energy and waste)

[recoiljpr]

I'm pretty sure that push netting, and or siening is also illegal. If you want to catch stuff like that the only legal way to do it is by hand or cast net. For those of you wanting to collect things locally please check with Parks and Wildlife to make sure that what you are planning on doing is legal. Thanks.


Nope, it is not illegal as long as it's for personal use and you have a valid fishing license. The holes in the net you are using also have to be less then 2" in diameter. They even have a presentation about seining on the TPW site http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/learning/webcasts/gulf/seining.phtml.

[Europhyllia]

We have this:
http://maast.org/forums/showthread.php?t=48881
Wow I bet that was an awesome trip! :applause:

[Squiers007]

Nope, it is not illegal as long as it's for personal use and you have a valid fishing license. The holes in the net you are using also have to be less then 2" in diameter. They even have a presentation about seining on the TPW site http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/learning/webcasts/gulf/seining.phtml.

I stand corrected on the seining issue. However, I would still like to re-emphasize the dont collect seagrass point. Even if it were legal to collect seagrass there are several reasons why I would advise against it. One, depending on the species of seagrass, they need very deep, nutrient rich substrates to do well. Two, several species only survive in water that has lots of suspended particles, unlike our aquariums. And lastly and most importantly, all of the seagrasses have what are called epiphytes growing on them that you do not want in your tank. Epiphytes are anything living on the seagrass blades and range from forms of algae to very harmful bacteria's. So unless you sterilize each individual seagrass blade before putting it in your tank you run the risk of introducing harmful bacteria.

[Third Coast Tropical]

To support what Squiers007 has already mentioned...It is important not to take the seagrasses....they are considered EFH (essential fish habitats) and many of the local species (red drum, spotted seatrout, and others) use these habitats as juveniles to provide shelter from predators, as well as providing a source of food, basically serving as a nursery area. Many of the epiphytes Squiers mentioned are preyed upon my juvenile fish species in these areas. Same thing goes for oyster reefs, although the link has not been as clearly established as with seagrasses, they also provide refuge and act as a nursery area for some species as well. And, you definitely dont want any of the "bad" things (Vibrio, etc.) that are sometimes found in these areas getting into your systems.

Just a word of caution....my last trip (approx 1 week ago) to Port A....there were reports of small amounts of Red Tide in the area....not enough to start any fish kills yet, but still present.....if collecting in these areas, you may want to contact one of the biologists at UTMSI or TAMUCC to see if it is still in the area....

[apedroza]

I also agree that the sea grass from Port A is not the best stuff to put in your tank. SO many pollutants are in the Gulf coast waters and you sure don't want them in your tank. If collecting specimens of fish always acclimate before placing them in your tank and never pour the water from the coast in. I have collected many things from the coast (shrimp, saragssum anglers, seahorses) no problems in the past but I always took my time placing them in the tank

[Squiers007]

[/QUOTE] Just a word of caution....my last trip (approx 1 week ago) to Port A....there were reports of small amounts of Red Tide in the area....not enough to start any fish kills yet, but still present.....if collecting in these areas, you may want to contact one of the biologists at UTMSI or TAMUCC to see if it is still in the area....[/QUOTE]

There was a significant amount of red tide present around Corpus Christi and the Port Aransas areas this last week, however I believe it has since declined. It did get bad enough at one point however to kill a good number of fish along Mustang and North Padre Island from what I am told. Just thought I would update everyone, since you definately dont want that in your tank!

[corruption]

While on the topic of Port A catching -- does anyone here on MAAST run a Port A/Gulf Coastal biotopic tank? The wife and I have been pondering doing this off and on for a few years now, and are finally nearing a point that we could refashion one of our previous tanks for this use... Would love to see any other examples that people have made -- I know there were a couple on the Fin-Addict store forums back before they went down! :)

Also, any suggestions on relatively accessible places to go collecting? I'm semi-wheelchair-bound, and can't walk without something to support on-to, so the jetties are pretty much out of the question... I know I can get out in the shoal areas at the national seashore, but any other suggestions?

-Corruption

[FossilReef]

The red tide has passed, but there was a significant number of fish kills. The spot in the Laguna Madre where I normally do a majority of my collecting is a mass graveyard. I tried a couple of other spots along the causeway, but there really isn't much alive that's even worth collecting in the shallows right now; just pinfish and sheepshead minnows.

[Mr Cob]

Why would anyone want to take the sea grass anyways? I never collect the sea grass, only the macro algae from the piers.

[Mr Cob]

Hope the macro algae from the piers/jetties isn't protected as well.

[Squiers007]

Hope the macro algae from the piers/jetties isn't protected as well.

I dont believe it is, but I would check to be completely sure.

[Mr Cob]

I don't see any algaes as being protected.

Thanks for the tip on the sea grass...I've never heard of anyone taking it but definitely good to know it is protected.