Activity Report for the Period
May 12 - June 9, 2011
Summary During this period there was 1 Reef Monitoring Trip. On June 4 a trip was made to visit the Southern Star and Joe Curtis-Mary Landry (4-Boys) Shrimp Boats in FH-13.
100331A Southern Star 526F13
Position: 30°02.082'N / 88°30.916'W 76' Depth
This 80' Shrimp Boat was deployed in about 76' of water within FH-13. She is sitting upright with the Bow facing at about 130° with a Water Clearance of about 45'. The reef is showing some good growth and encrustation although the name is mostly still visible on the Stern except for the last 3 letters “TAR”. The tire on the stern is also still present. Sea urchins litter the hull even along the bottom. Several Flounder (4-6/1-4lbs) were observed around the perimeter of the wreck. Other fish observations included Red Snapper (50-75/1-20lbs.), Gag Grouper (3-6/1-6lbs.), Sheepshead (12-16/2-6lbs.), Triggerfish (4-6/1-3lbs.), Mangrove Snapper (4-6/2-3lbs.), and Spadefish (125-150). Most of the larger Red Snapper were in the upper mid-water and along the fringe areas of the reef. A large sea anenome was flowering inside a shelf in the wheelhouse. No significant tropical fish were sighted (a single cocoa damsel), but the higher profile allowed for significant barnacle growth and a healthy Blenny population as well as a lone Sand Bass. A dive computer malfunction prevented depth readings, but the sounder showed the water clearances have not changed much if any since her deployment. Bottom scouring is not significant at this point in time either.
060424B Joe Curtis-Mary Landry Reef 434F13
Position: 30°03.459/88°32.189
This 70' Steel Hull Shrimp Boat was sunk in about 66' of water at the North end of FH-13. The original name of the vessel was the “Four Boys”. Since it’s deployment, the Rigging has detached lowering her profile. Growth and encrustation is evident with significant crops of soft corals littering the deck, especially the aft deck. Several Arrow Crabs were observed on these corals and throughout the reef. While a few urchins were observed, their numbers were much lower than the count on the Southern Star. Fish Counts were slightly lower with Red Snapper (35-50/1-20lbs.), Grouper (4-6/3-9lbs.), Sheepshead (4-6/1-4lbs.), Triggerfish (2-4/1-3lbs.), Mangrove Snapper (3-5/1-3lbs.), and Spadefish (150-175). The larger Red Snapper here were also in the upper mid-water and fringe areas of the reef. A previous visit made on October 4, 2008 showed a nice Goliath Grouper had setup residence, but he was nowhere to be seen on this visit.
