What you just saw is called depredation, when a hooked fish is fully or partially eaten by another animal before it is landed. Shark depredation happens regularly under these bridges and is the focus of my research. #MonstersUnderTheBridge

[Photo credit Jenni Bennet]

Depredation is bad for many reasons. As a game fish, almost all tarpon are released after they are caught. With depredation, the #tarpon that school under the bridge, potentially preparing to spawn, are dying before they can reproduce. This could cause population declines.

Depredation is bad for sharks. There is some evidence that depredation is a learned behavior and with time wild animals could alter their natural feeding behaviors because of it. It also causes conflict between sharks and anglers. #MonstersUnderTheBridge

Finally, depredation is bad for fishing guides and anglers. It can damage gear, cause frustration, and some guides can lose clients because of it. It takes an emotional and financial toll. What do we do about it? How do we keep fishing and keep this from happening? #SharkWeek2020

With @lucaspgriffin and @sci_angler we’re tagging #tarpon and great #hammerhead #sharks under the bridge. Data from these tags shows how both species use the bridges. This can identify high depredation zones and save tarpon by having anglers break their line.

It can also help keep the sharks safe, so they don’t end up with nasty wounds from boat propellers, like this one. #MonstersUnderTheBridge #SharkWeek #SharkWeek2020