Events

Speaker: Ivonne Blandon
(Fisheries Biologist studying Tarpon Migration)

By: Todd Fleming
Vice President – Alamo Fly Fishers

Through the first half of the 20th Century, tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) were plentiful on the Texas coast, and especially on the middle coast. Landmarks such as the Tarpon Inn in Port Aransas were made famous by this legendary fish that attracted presidents and dignitaries to catch a “silver king” from our local waters. The pinnacle of a fishing career often came with the explosion of chromed muscle that signaled a tarpon hook-up. There was nothing more thrilling than feeling the power of this magnificent creature, and watching the tail-walking aerial acrobatics of these graceful beauties.

Tarpon Photo by Scott Sommerlatte

Then, the tarpon seemed to just disappear. By the early 1970’s this sought-after sport fish was rarely seen off Texas, and even more rarely landed. And no one really knows why. Biologists point to several factors that likely contributed to the species’ decline. The construction of reservoirs and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway diminished and altered freshwater inflows; coastal development filled-in critical habitat, and water quality declined as population and industry expanded. In addition to those changes, commercial fishing pressure in Mexico increased over the years and often targeted tarpon.

Our speaker this month is Ivonne Blandon, a fisheries biologist and genetics expert with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Ms. Blandon, a native of Panama, obtained her B.S. from the University of Panama, and her M.S. from Auburn University. She is currently working as a Natural Resources Specialist V at the Marine Development Center in Corpus Christi. Ms. Blandon has been leading research on tarpon genetics to evaluate migratory populations in the Gulf of Mexico. Her presentation will be a summary of this research, and explain the potential role sport fishermen can play in the conservation of this species.