Keys News
Keys News
Cleaning stations: not so simple symbiosis among reef creatures
Friday, 10 June 2011 15:04 Written by sw Last Updated on Friday, 10 June 2011 15:05
One of my memories as a kid was pulling into the gas station and having the guy come out, fill up the tank, clean the windshield, and ask if he could check the oil. Yes, I am that old.
Those days of personal attention, however, are long gone. Now our relationship at the station consists mostly of swiping a credit card at the pump, or tossing the cash through the glass window to the attendant.
Not so on the reef. Same cleaning station, same cleaning service nowadays as there has been since the reefs were formed. This is one of the most intriguing relationships to see on the reef, and I encourage you to take the time to stop and watch when you can. This is the ultimate in cooperation, trust, symbiosis and hygiene. Or so one would intuitively think.
Let's take a closer look. I found quite a bit of information on the subject, beginning with "Reef Fish Behavior," a book by Ned DeLoach and Paul Humann. This book is part of the collection that you can get through Reef Environmental Education Foundation in Key Largo (www.reef.org). That led me to a wealth of research dating back to the original work done by Conrad Limbaugh. If you Google the term "cleaning station" with any of the following names, you will get more information than you can read in a week - trust me on that: Karen Cheney, Robert Freckleton, Isabelle Cote, Alexandra Grutter and Sergio Floeter. While I am not a scientist - I have to look up the scientific names to see the photo of the fish observed in the study - I can from time to time interpret some of what they are writing about.
Honesty vs. cheating
When I first began my research, I thought this would be a no-brainer. A fish or turtle pulls into the station, gets its windshield cleaned and oil checked by a wrasse, a goby or a shrimp, and exits back into the normal flow of reef traffic. Done deal. What I found was it can be as simple as previously noted, but there are, as is usually the case, complications. And I thought life would be simple when I moved here!
The original work from Limbaugh (no relation to Rush that I could find) treated the relationship as beneficial to both parties - the cleaner and the client. In the earliest definitive treatise on the subject, in 1961, Limbaugh created a topic that has been shaped and polished over the years as more information has been gathered. That's how I found the others I listed above. They cover it all.
As more variables have been considered and observations amassed over the years, we now have a complicated web that includes honesty versus cheating - a game theory construct - and cleaner, client and parasite abundance variations that affect the range of behaviors in this relationship.
In the honesty vs. cheating scenarios, both the cleaner and the client can be either - you should see that bunch of equations! Through all the math in the research, it boils down to this: some fish are honest, and some are not. Some behavior is provoked, and some seem to do it just for the heck of it.
On the provoked end of the scale, a lack of sufficient numbers of parasites on the client instigates a nip or bite that takes healthy tissue - that's cheating. So when you are watching a cleaning station on the reef on your next dive, if you see a client suddenly flinch, it's likely the cleaner just cheated - provoked or not. And how does the client cheat? Sometimes he eats the cleaner. Maybe that's why there are so many of those little yellow juvenile wrasses - cleaners - and not quite as many of the larger adult bluehead wrasses - a lot of the juvenile yellows don't grow up to be blue.
On the abundance research, all three parties - cleaners, clients and parasites - are part of a big matrix that runs the gamut from mutually beneficial - the original Limbaugh theory - to intrusive or harmful - the ultimate in cheater activity. Makes perfect sense to me. The more parasites, the more the cleaners have to eat, and the less likely they will cheat. Or the more clients there are, the more active the cleaning stations will be, and the length of time a client spends in the station depends on the amount of parasites they bring to the table.
And here is the kicker: it all changes all the time as environmental conditions and water quality change. I think they are still trying to assemble that equation.
All in all, it was a fascinating subject to study, even though I will never understand all of the equations, models and theories. My take on all this? I have the utmost respect for the researchers who count the number of parasites on the side of a fish in a lab under high-powered magnification. And I sure wish I could get paid to do that. But all those little cleaners have to fill up to survive, so if there are lots of parasites, there is plenty to go around, hence the abundance of cleaners and non-intrusive behavior.
Alternatively, in ecosystems with lower parasitic activity, the cleaners still have to eat. So, ouch! - just got a chunk of meat with that nip.
The next time I watch a cleaning station, I won't know if it's mutually beneficial or intrusive. I just know it's interesting to watch! Now my life is simple again.
If you have information on unusual marine life sightings or great diving conditions, please write to me. I welcome your feedback.
Tim Grollimund is a freelance photographer and PADI divemaster based in Key Largo. He can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Anglers land 450-pound sword
Friday, 10 June 2011 14:59 Written by sw
With summertime fishing now in full swing, there is lots to report this week. First and foremost, there was a 450-pound swordfish caught during the daylight hours aboard the B n M out of none other than Bud n Mary's Marina last week.
Congratulations on a great job of perseverance and for staying with it for four hours to Capt. Nick Stanczyk and crew, who landed one of the largest swordfish in recorded recent history in the areas of the Upper Keys on rod and reel. The fork length of the behemoth was 103 inches "to the lower jaw."
Mahi mahi continue to be in great supply this week offshore of the Keys anywhere from 8 to 28 miles offshore. Both Catch 22 and Reel McCoy had six sailfish releases last week, finding some June tailing fish just a few miles from shore that were coaxable with live bait.
Hard northeasterly running Gulf Stream current made for rough conditions in the deep water over the last few days, however there were also plenty of fish inshore located as close as just outside the main reef line. The majority of the dolphin caught were school-size, but there were a handful of fish that exceeded 25 pounds.
The tight edge of the reef is very active with a large population of spawning yellowtail snapper. In addition, there have been several large mutton snappers caught near the same general area over the sandy bottom just inches outside the base of the hard reef where the sand meets the coral. I always used to like it in around 90 to 100 feet for muttons myself, depending on the spot.
Fresh bait is always the best bait. Ballyhoo are available and have been reasonably catchable right at the same spot where you are bottom fishing for snapper. If you've got the chum bag over, it never hurts to take a gander around once in a while. You just never know what's 30 feet back and maybe right near the glare if it's tough to see. "Keep your eyes peeled" is the general message here.
Mutton snapper and other bottom varieties have a difficult time turning down a live or fresh chunk of ballyhoo presented at or near the bottom. You may have to step up your lead to 8 ounces if the current is running hard.
Tarpon fishing has just about reached the peak in my opinion. If you are hoping to catch a silver king, think about getting set up on a spot before this month gets away from you. They're biting!
Lots of fish have been caught recently in the channels close to Islamorada, both ocean and bayside, and have been catchable for fly fishermen, which tells me they are just about as thick as the fleas in the tall grass. Permit have been caught fairly regularly by those visiting the patches and structures on the ocean side from 10 feet of water to the patches, to the big wrecks at the main reef line.
Guides soaking crabs for tarpon have even had action with permit lately in the channels near Long Key and Islamorada while waiting for a tarpon bite.
Mangrove snapper are starting up and make for good night fishing. The full moon in July traditionally has been the peak time for mangrove or gray snapper in my experience. Now is also the time for cubera snapper. There has been some large fish caught recently off Key Largo for these behemoth snappers, and the guys I spoke to who caught them last week were using live lobsters for bait.
Whatever you choose to go for this summer, I hope you have success beyond what you expect. Good luck with it but keep it "reel," and I'll catch you next time.
Capt. Donald Deputy has been covering Upper Keys fishing for The Reporter for over 10 years now. Reach him with your personal fish tales and photos at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
New digs for new Rector of St. James
Tuesday, 01 April 2008 21:12 Written by george Last Updated on Thursday, 24 April 2008 11:14
Key Largo Baptist gets new home
Monday, 31 March 2008 20:45 Written by George Last Updated on Monday, 21 April 2008 20:57
If all goes as planned, Key Largo Baptist Church will be the first Keys church to be able to invite the faithful to come to Sunday services...by boat! Prudential Keyside Properties congratulates the congregation on their purchase of 6 waterfront acres in Key Largo. The church has begun planning for their new sanctuary on the bay at mile marker 105, about a mile South of the current church. The property, listed by Prudential Keyside, currently is a vacant parcel with 30 existing boat slips. Their member and agent, BJ Born of Realty Options, negotiated on their behalf to secure the property.
She mentions that the current home near the new bridge and causeway at the top of Key Largo, is zoned commercial and will be available. Call US at Prudential if you know of a buyer, and we'll work with her and the church on the buyer's behalf.
Reasons To Visit Paradise
Tuesday, 11 March 2008 15:47 Written by Sue Sparkes Last Updated on Thursday, 17 April 2008 11:42
Of course, in the winter time, the reasons to visit Paradise (aka The Fabulous Florida Keys) are obvious: it's warm here, you can wear shorts and sandals anywhere (even to church!), the skies are blue & the sun is bright, our water isn't frozen over, winter sports include fishing for marlin and sailfish, and it's perfectly acceptable to order a frosty cocktail while watching one of our famous Keys sunsets!
But even in the summertime, there are many reasons to visit: great fishing and diving (whether you scuba or just snorkel), lots of beautiful and interesting land-based attractions, wonderful fresh-caught seafood and palm trees waving in the breezes. You can still wear shorts and sandals anywhere, the skies are still blue & sun bright, and the cocktails are still frosty, all day long.
One of the biggest attractions for me is the people. Having spent most of my life in a large metropolitan area (Miami), it was an amazing experience to relocate a mere 35 miles farther south and find out what it's like to live in a small town! People here are just plain friendly, and always ready & willing to lend a hand to someone in need. You shouldn't be surprised if folks smile at you and nod their heads, or wave and call out a greeting, as you pass them on a daily walk. And, if you hear a car horn toot here, it's probably someone saying "hello." People in the Keys are generally very laid-back and relaxed, so honking in traffic just isn't done in anger!
Since our "Main Street" throughout the Keys is US1 (locally known as the Overseas Highway), it's easy to get around and find places, once you get to know the system. Locals give all directions by "Mile Marker", based on where the place you're looking for is located along the Overseas Highway. Key Largo is the northernmost island in the chain, and the "top" of Key Largo is at Jewfish Creek, near Mile Marker 107. Key West is the southernmost island, and it's "tip" is Mile Marker 0. So, if you know which Mile Marker you're starting from, it's easy to know how far it is (and which direction) to your destination's Mile Marker. Of course, there are side streets (and entire subdivisions) branching off from the main road, so directions can get a little more complicated (turn left at Mile Marker 99, then right on Ocean Bay Drive, then go over the little hump bridge and make your 2nd left...), but compared to big cities, it's a snap! US1 in the Keys actually runs from Northeast to Southwest and West. To simplify directions, most locals will say "North" or "South", or even "Up" or "Down" to indicate direction. Another important factor to know is "Oceanside" or "Bayside" in the Upper Keys. In the Lower Keys (Marathon down to Key West), the "Bayside" becomes "Gulfside" -- that's because in the Upper Keys, the body of water to our west is Florida Bay, while in the Lower Keys, the waters deepen and become the Gulf of Mexico.
So what are you waiting for? Get those plane tickets booked, or pack up the car, and come on down to see us! And while you're planning your vacation, consider renting a lovely home or condo instead of some yukky, small, hotel room. Our Vacation Rentals department would be happy to show you just how affordable a rental property can be. Give us a call today and find out what "friendly" is all about!
