Imitation Oyster Bars Can Bring Real Results

By FRANK SARGEANT The Tampa Tribune

Published: Apr 30, 2008

Though Tampa Bay has made huge strides toward recovery in water quality and habitat during the past 20 years, there are still vast areas of sandy "deserts" without grass or other cover, and those areas don't seem to be progressing as well as many areas of live flat.

There are numerous theories on why some areas simply can't seem to get started back on the road to productivity as fish nurseries, but one that seems highly reasonable is that "wave scouring" prevents the first sprouts of sea grass from taking hold. Large waves sweep the flats during storms, and there is also a sort of miniature tidal wave effect every time a large ship passes offshore of many flats; a roller as much as 3 feet tall rears up at the edge of the shallows and crashes down on the sand, washing away anything attempting to gain a foothold.

The energetic volunteers of Tampa Bay Watch are now pushing hard on a series of artificial oyster bars they say might be a remedy for this situation in many areas. The bars, made by encasing empty oyster shells in long mesh bags, create a breakwater wherever they are placed.

And, according to Peter Clark, executive director of Tampa Bay Watch, before long the old shells become the base for thousands of "spat" or baby oysters, which drift with the tides and affix themselves to any hard surface they come in contact with. In a matter of a few years, the small man-made oyster bar can grow into a sprawling natural bar covered with live oysters.

The bars not only protect shallow flats from wave erosion, but also once they become living reefs, the live oysters begin filtering the water, further clarifying it. This makes it easier for sea grass to grow, thanks to greater light penetration. A single oyster can filter up to 10 gallons per hour, according to Serra Herndon of Bay Watch.

Last, but not least, the bars themselves form habitat for baby crabs, killifish and many other bait species, which in turn attract snook, trout, reds, sheepshead and other inshore species.

The artificial bars also can be placed in front of mangrove shorelines to prevent washouts and destruction of this highly productive habitat. That's the goal of the next reef construction project, slated for May 6-7 at Whale Island, just north of Bunces Pass and west of the Sunshine Skyway in Pinellas County.

An even better-known location to anglers, Tarpon Key, also will get the reef treatment; some 355 feet of shell bar will be built along the southwest shore of this famed fishing location northeast of Fort DeSoto. This project will be under way May 5-7 from 9 a.m. to noon.

Bay Watch will need volunteers to shovel tons of oyster shells into mesh bags for boat transport to the sites. Both operations will be staged out of the Fort DeSoto boat ramp, off the south end of the Pinellas Bayway. To volunteer, call Rachel Arndt at Tampa Bay Watch, (727) 867-8166.

CCA AUCTION/BANQUET: Walk-up tickets are available for Thursday night's Coastal Conservation Association auction and banquet, starting at 6 at A La Carte Pavilion on Dana Shores Drive in Tampa. Auction items include guided fishing trips, Yamaha outboards, Maverick fishing boats, fishing tackle, marine electronics, sporting art, jewelry and a lot more.

Tickets are $125, including dinner and CCA membership, or $195 per couple. The banquet is also an opportunity to meet local media personalities including captain Bill Miller of Catch 47 TV; captain Mel Berman of WFLA, 970 AM; captain Mike Anderson of "The Reel Animals" TV show, among others.

For more information, call (813) 238-2220.

OFFSHORE RULE: As of

June 1, all offshore anglers pursuing reef fish will be required to carry dehooking devices and to use non-stainless circle hooks to increase the survival of released grouper, snapper and other bottom species. The new federal rule also requires anglers to carry and use venting devices; sharpened hollow needles that are used to deflate the abdomen of fish brought up from the depths, so they can swim back down after release.

Jeff Strane of Tampa manufactures one of the better devices for this chore, the Pre-Vent, which includes a hideaway needle for safe handling; www.teammarineusa.us. Aquatic Release Conservation of Daytona Beach also offers venting tools.

For more information, visit www.dehooker4arc.com.