Ben Gahagan and Bill Hoffman - "Striped Bass Science"

Thank you for tuning into the SeaBros Fishing Podcast! On this episode we were excited to host Ben Gahagan and Bill Hoffman from the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF). 

Ben Gahagan is the Recreational Fisheries Program Leader at DMF.  In his career he has served on multi-jurisdictional technical committees, stock assessment teams, and used a variety of techniques to understand the migratory movements and stock composition of fish as small as river herring and as large as Atlantic bluefin tuna. Ben is a lifelong angler and outdoorsman, he has been lucky enough to spend many hours pursuing those same fish and many other finned, furred, and feathered critters.

Bill Hoffman is a senior fisheries biologist for the state, where he has been working for 26 years. He manages the Fisheries Research and Monitoring project which includes leading a team that collects critical data, both at sea and dockside, for a variety of Massachusetts commercial fisheries to support stock assessment analysis and fisheries management decisions. On the fisheries research side, Bill specializes in tagging fish using acoustic telemetry.  He has conducted multiple studies focusing on questions that range from understanding basic fish migration patterns of cod and striped bass to fishery-induced mortality for striped bass, cod, cusk, and haddock. When he is not at work, he can be found on his own boat fishing for giant bluefin tuna or in a tree archery hunting for whitetail deer on the Northshore of Massachusetts and in New Hampshire.  

Last fishing season we collaborated with Ben, Bill, and the rest of their team, in helping them collect data for their recent efforts in analyzing post release mortality for striped bass. In doing this, we are working towards establishing healthy release best practices for this species.  Ben and Bill are developing these resources for recreational anglers that target striped bass and they include proper fish handling upon landing, how to use circle hooks, fishing tactics, etc.

In this conversation we discuss this research program and our fishing trips from last season. We also discuss other ongoing research projects for striped bass and for several other species, including Atlantic mackerel and bluefin tuna. As always, our guests share a lot of stories, laughs, and some incredible knowledge.

We hope you enjoy this podcast as much as we did!
Stay Tight,
The Sears Brothers

Sponsors, Information, and Links from this podcast episode:

Guests:
Ben Gahagan
Bill Hoffman
ben.gahagan@mass.gov
bill.hoffman@mass.gov
https://www.ma

Monahan's Marine
@monahansmarine
MBG24 for 10% Off in Store

Mass Bay Guides
Ultimate Fishing Adventures 
@massbayguides

Black Oak LED
Premium Marine Lighting
Giantbluefin 20% Off

Afuera Coffee Company
massbayguides 15% Off First Coffee Order

SatFish
SatFish is the premier offshore angler’s tool kit. Code: SEABROS for $20 OFF 1st Year Subscription

SatFish technology combines:

• High-def satellite Sea Surface Temperature, chlorophyll
• High-def bathymetry & depth contours,
• Wind forecasts, and real-time buoy reports,

SatFish "The Science of Being Lucky"

L.T. Marine Products
Commercial Grade Fishing Equipment: Rod Holders, Gaffs, Harpoons
@ltmarineproducts
10% Off Promo Code: seabros