Longline Field Methods
Established in 1974, the longline survey at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science is one of the longest-running fishery independent shark monitoring surveys in the world.
- At least 8 fixed stations in the Chesapeake bay & coastal Virginia waters
- Stations sampled monthly for 4-6 months per year (summer residents)
- Standardized commercial-style demersal longline gear consisting of 1.25 nautical miles of 4.8 mm tarred nylon mainline, anchored at each end
- 100 hook longline using standard "J" hooks spaced approximately 20 meters apart
- 80 standard "J" hooks + 40 monofilament "Circle" hooks
- Baited with Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus)
- Fished for 4 hours
- Each fish is measured, sexed, tagged and released
- Hallprint Nylon dart tag for sharks < 100 cm TL
- Hallprint Stainless steel head dart tags for sharks > 100 cm TL
