First of its kind study could be a game changer in dealing with climate change. SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, TX, Oct. 19, 2022 – Friends of RGV Reef (RGV Reef), a Texas non-profit, is pleased to announce the official launch of a new study to determine the carbon capture potential, also known as carbon sequestration, of …
Carbon Capture Research Begins at Largest Artificial Reef in Texas Read More »
UTRGV students, Jamie Langbein, Marybeth Weihbrecht, Caitlin Brett and Anna Mehner – all wildlife biology grad students in Kline lab set and haul fish traps to catch the smaller red snapper for the Cooperative Tagging Program.  One of the traps came up just absolutely stuffed with triggerfish. They did catch one previously tagged Red …
It’s incredibly difficult & expensive to pull all the wood, glass, insulation, wiring, and plastic out of these boats. After the initial boat gutting process we then had to scrape the fuel tanks and bilge clean. We pressure washed them to the point where there was no oily film when rising the water. This work …
The Snapper Tagging Kings, Capt. Bryan Ray and RGV Reef Cooperative Tagging program sponsor Max Nichols. Brian has tagged 280 snappers with his “Ray” marked tags, more than any other tagger. Surprise surprise, out fishing with folks from BNSF (they donate and ship us all those concrete railroad ties) we caught one of his tagged …
Fisherman of all ages making memories at the RGV REEF off South Padre Island,TX Read More »
The Titans deckhouse coming off so that the giant EMD motor can come out. It’s hard to get a sense of scale about how big it is unless you look at the ladder.  We will probably place quite a few concrete railroad ties where the engine was, both to try to help it sink …
The Titans deckhouse coming off so that the giant EMD motor can come out. Read More »
The Sports Fishing Championship and RGV Reef are working in collaboration with TIFT to bring awareness to increasing fish habitat in the Gulf of Mexico. “The Gulf of Mexico is like a desert. There are very few places for baby fish to hide from predator fish. Without these structures, populations of new fish will …
There are some large Snapper on RGV Reef. Like all large State water snapper they are pretty smart, and need small hooks, light leaders and attractive baits to catch. Trey Colvin and RGV Reef volunteer Keith Jud just swim down and pick the ones they want. But it hurts my lungs just to watch them, …
A big thanks to every one of our Heroes for believing in our vision. It’s funny 3-4 years ago we were probably talking to 5 different organizations asking for help. We now have over 30+ Organizations that are assisting us in making RGV REEF the largest industrial-scale nursery reef in the world. We couldn’t of …
Tagging Volunteer Marybeth Weihbrecht with Captain Victor Gonzalez and son “Pickle” of Capt. Murphy’s Isla Tours fishing at RGV Reef have tagged and released more than 600 undersized Red Snapper this Spring. We get growth and movement info from tag returns. We would like to know if the juveniles that we are raising in RGV …
