Mississippi Gulf Fishing Banks, Inc.
Partial Activity Report for the Period
January 14 - April 8, 2010

Summary
During this period there were 2 Reef Construction Trips and 2 Reef Monitoring Trips. On January 18 and February 20, attempts were made to dive the Great Wicomico Reef in FH-13 but was met with extremely poor visibility rendering the efforts fruitless. On March 30, 56 Bay Balls were deployed in FH-10 and 224 Bay Balls were deployed in FH-9/11. On March 31, the 80' Shrimp Boat “Southern Star” was deployed in FH-13. While that deployment was going on, more Bay Balls were scheduled to be deployed in FH-9/11, FH-8, and at Cat Island. A separate report on that activity should be covered by the DMR (Mississippi Department of Marine Resources). Please note that Loran C navigation beacons were turned off on February 8, 2010 so those coordinates will no longer be provided on reports. Click Here for the PDF Report

100330A-100330J Bay Balls 516F10-525F9
Bay Balls are smaller versions of the Reef Balls deployed previously offshore. These artificial reef structures are 3 feet wide, 2-1/2 feet tall, and weigh about 325 pounds each. Matthews Brothers deployed the material using a 140' X 40' Spud Barge and a Crane. The Barge was spudded down at a location buoyed by the DMR. Then the Crane was used to hoist and deploy 4 balls at a time around the barge in 7 spaced drop points, yielding 28 Bay Balls per location. The Balls were gently lowered to the bottom and then released. The coordinates given are that of the Center of the Barge after it was positioned. A bow heading was taken to assist in determining the alignment of the deployed reef balls. Side Imaging shows how the Bay Balls deployed on the bottom, basically forming an “Alley” of reef material. Winds initially were from the NW @ 5 knots but turned from the SouthWest and then more Westerly @ 20 knots by days end. Tidal Range was from -.2 @ 7:40PM to 1.3' @ 10AM. For this deployment, the tide started at 1.2'and fell to 0.1' by days end.

Bay Ball Deployments: 28 Bay Balls in 7 groups of 4 around each of these coordinates:

30°15.967'N / 88°38.967'W Bow @ 25° 100330A 516F10 15' Depth
30°15.887'N / 88°38.969'W Bow @ 175° 100330B 517F10 12' Depth
30°15.878'N / 88°54.080'W Bow @ 285° 100330C 518F9 18' Depth
30°15.760'N / 88°54.062'W Bow @ 280° 100330D 519F9 18' Depth
30°15.943'N / 88°53.703'W Bow @ 255° 100330E 520F9 17' Depth
30°15.786'N / 88°53.806'W Bow @ 250° 100330F 521F9 18' Depth
30°15.803'N / 88°53.669'W Bow @ 270° 100330G 522F9 18' Depth
30°15.511'N / 88°54.208'W Bow @ 225° 100330H 523F9 17' Depth
30°15.365'N / 88°54.185'W Bow @ 185° 100330I 524F9 17' Depth
30°15.622'N / 88°53.760'W Bow @ 120° 100330J 525F9 17' Depth

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100331A Southern Star 526F13
Position: 30°02.082'N / 88°30.916'W 76' Depth
This 80' Shrimp Boat was deployed by Walter Marine, East of the Ladnier Barge & Culverts in about 76' of water. Water Clearance was recorded at about 45' with the Deck showing at about 67'. It appears to have landed upright with the Bow facing at about 130°. Winds were South @ 5 knots.

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Author: Mark Primo Miller, Gautier, MS 39553