"Understanding the Increase in Hooked Tarpon Consumption by Sharks"
Research led by biologists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst has quantified the rate at which great hammerhead sharks are eating Atlantic tarpon hooked by anglers at Bahia Honda, Florida, revealing a 15.3% depredation rate for tarpon fought for more than five minutes. The study suggests that increased reports of depredation are expected as the great hammerhead shark population stabilizes, posing a challenge for both tarpon conservation and angling. To manage the health of both species, researchers recommend solutions that minimize impact on tarpon, hammerheads, and anglers, such as using fishing gear to land tarpon faster and avoiding fishing during outgoing tides when depredation events are most likely to occur.