Sampling Update –

May 2024

Sampling Update –

May 2024

Map of Tampa Bay indicating catch locations and fish species

We've been busy!

The first season of field sampling is well underway. We began sampling for our target fish species - snook, red drum, sheepshead, and spotted seatrout - in early April, throughout six sub-regions of Tampa Bay. Our goal is to catch 10 of each species, in each of the sub-regions, 4x/year. Catch locations and species (as of May 20th) can be seen in the map above.

Sub-Areas of Tampa Bay

Map of Tampa Bay showing the six sampling sub-regions

The six sampling sub-regions of Tampa Bay (shown above) are: Old Tampa Bay, Hillsborough Bay, Mid-Bay West, Mid-Bay East, Lower-Bay West, and Lower-Bay East.

Photos from the field

Pelicans foraging close to Tampa Bay Surveillance charter boat

Brown pelicans hoping for a meal

Early morning sun over Tampa Bay

Early morning on Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay Surveillance interns Ryan and Daisy fishing from a charter boat on Tampa Bay

Ryan and Daisy smiling and fishing

Tampa Bay Surveillance intern and staff give smiling thumbs ups from the fishing boat

Thumbs up from Ryan and AJ!

Lead investigator of Tampa Bay Surveillance Project, Steve Murawski, holding up tiny fish

Steve catches a big one!

Early morning cast netting on Tampa Bay

Early morning cast netting

The back of a College of Marine Science t-shirt with shark logo

Kylee reppin' CMS

Osprey sitting atop of a sign that says: No Trespassing, No Fishing, No Netting

No Trespassing | No FISHING! | No Netting

Photo of a snowy egret perched on the side of a boat

Snowy egret visits the crew

Devon Firesinger, Tampa Bay Surveillance Chemist, on the water with St. Pete in the background

Devon with St. Pete in the background