b'Cubera Collaboration ContinuesBy Dayna Hunn & Jim Whittington , Research Associates,FWRIC ubera Snapper, known scientifically as Lutjanus cyanopterus, is one of the most formidable and fascinating fish inhabiting the Atlantic Ocean. Renowned for their size, power, and distinctive toothy appearance, these giants have captivated anglers and marine scientists alike. Over the past few years, interest on this species has been peeked due to an increased abundance of Cubera in and around local inlets. Their popularity among fishermen and limited information has fostered a unique project with the West Palm Beach Fishing Club and the FWCs Tequesta Fisheries Biology Laboratory.Since 2020, sub-adult Cubera have been op-portunistically tagged with internal acoustic transmitters in the Jupiter Inlet and Loxahatchee River. These transmitters have a battery life of ap-proximately 5 years, allowing biologists to track their movements as they grow. The Tequesta lab has an established array of 137 acoustic receivers spanning from St Augustine to Boynton Beach Inlet in riverine, coastal and offshore waters. When a tagged fish swims close enough to a receiver, a unique ping is emitted and recorded. Biologists swap receivers every 68 months, download the data and analyze the detections to determine movement patterns. In addition to Tequestas core Sarah Webb & Dayna Hunn with Cubera acoustic array, various other agencies and entities have receivers that span throughout the South Atlantic. Many of these groups are members of the FACT network; an open-source data sharing organization focused on acoustic telemetry to better understand and conserve the marine environment. This collaborative effort has helped begin to paint a picture of where these snappers spend their teenage years. With the generous help of local guides Capt. Ryan Nitz, Capt. Chip Matthews, and Capt. Mike Haines, and Fishing Club members Pete Schulz and Jay Young, a total of 30 Cubera have been tagged thus far in and around Jupiter Inlet as well as the Loxahatchee River. These fish ranged in size from 18 inches to 30 inches. The smaller fish tend to stay in the Loxahatchee River system, using the various mainstems and backwaters. The larger fish travel to deeper waters up and down the Florida east coast as far north as Cape Canaveral and as far south as the Dry Tortugas; an area documented to be a Cubera spawning aggregation site. Besides, helping with tagging operations, the Palm Beach County Fishing Founda-tion has graciously donated 8 acoustic receivers to the Tequesta lab. These receivers are located outside the Palm Beach Inlet and range in depth from approximately 30ft to over 500ft. These receiver stations have been placed strategically to monitor sites important to many marine organisms and provide a gate to intercept anything moving along the coast.This line has detected over 40 separate species but more importantly has become a hotspot for the Cubera Snapper, where 7 different individuals have been detected on this line.One snapper took up residence for over 150 days and returned the following summer, indicating this area is a critical habitat for this species. This type of partnership and support between West Palm Beach Fishing Club members, the Fishing Clubs Foundation and the Tequesta lab provides valuable data that helps inform sustainable fishing regulations and practices. This data is crucial for understanding their life cycle and identifying critical habitats that need protection and enhancement. The Fishing Club works closely with county, state, and federal agencies to advocate for science-based fishing regulations. These efforts aim to balance the interests of recreational fishing with the need to protect vulnerable fish populations and without the support of the West Palm Fishing Club many of these projects wouldnt be as successful.'