Why Fish Jump

By Dennis Dobson

"Why do fish jump?" one angler asks another. "Because they don't have fingers," the second angler replies. While this time-worn joke is just that, a joke, it is based, at least to some small degree, on actual observation. This is more than can be said for most, if not all, of the other theories I've heard over the years trying to explain this phenomenon. We'll get back to the observations that provide the genesis for this hackneyed joke in a bit. First, though, let's establish the boundaries of this discussion and debunk a few myths.

I am not talking about why fish jump once they are hooked. I think most of us agree that a chunk of sharp steel lodged unforgivably in the mouth and the resistance provided by a tight fishing line probably offer all of the reason necessary for a fish to jump and fight once it's hooked. From lots of experience over the years I know that getting impaled by a hook is not a pleasant way to spend your time. In actual fact, it isn't getting hooked that hurts so much, at least in my case. What hurts, and can lead to PTHD (Post-Traumatic Hook Disease) is the client yanking repeatedly as hard as they can on a fishing line attatched to a hook that's imbedded in my flesh while exclaiming, "Dennis, it's hung-up! I can't break it free! And my wife wonders why I occasionally wake up in the middle of the night shaking with cold sweats and muttering un-printable curses at people she has never met). There is, as I have been known to point out, a reason we in the guide business refer to it as 'Chuck and Duck'.

I am talking about why otherwise unmolested fish rocket out of the water, for no apparent reason, and then crash, splash or dash back beneath the surface. Often, only to jump again and yet again.

Every angler has probably seen this happen. Over the years on Oregon's north coast, where I live and guide, I have seen thousands of salmon, trout, steelhead and sturgeon jump out of the water for no obvious reason. While guiding in Alaska I have witnessed, in addition to all five Pacific salmon species, as Dolly Varden, pike, grayling and even whitefish do the same. At one time or another over a fishing career that now spans more than forty years I have watched virtually every species of gamefish on the planet do exactly the same thing. From bass to barracuda, from sailfish to sunfish, everywhere I go fish seem to be jumping. I am sure you have seen the same thing.

Here in salmon and steelhead country the two most often cited "scientific" reasons fish jump are either: 1) They are trying to loosen the eggs in their skeins prior to spawning or 2) They are trying to rid themselves of sea-lice. (All three of the local dominant sport fishing species - salmon, steelhead and sturgeon - are anadromous. That is, they are born in freshwater, migrate to the sea as juveniles, reach maturity in the ocean and return to freshwater to spawn. This accounts for terms such as "sea lice" although these small parasites are not limited to the ocean and are commonly found in freshwater rivers and lakes as well). Not only have these two common responses been promoted by otherwise reasonably bright people, many of whom actually work in the fishing industry in one capacity or another and should therefore know better, but they also assume facts not in evidence. Let me explain what I mean.

Based on the reasoning described above every fish that has ever jumped out of the water has to have been either a female preparing to spawn or a fish of either sex infested with parasites. I find it extremely difficult to believe that only female fish, caught in the throes of an ancient urge to procreate, or only fish of either sex, whether ocean-going or landlocked, suffering the inconsequential itch of a parasitic stowaway are prone to jump. Frankly, my credulity just doesn't stretch that far. From lamprey eels, often a foot or more in length, on both ocean-going salmon and landlocked lake trout to barnacles on whales and marlin - often numbering in the hundreds, even thousands - any number of fish species provide a free ride for parasites far more uncomfortable than water-borne "lice".

There is yet a third common explanation for the jumping behavior of many fish. Although based on frustration some anglers, taking the "because they don't have fingers" explanation a step further, will tell you each of those fish is simply jumping out, rolling over and flipping them the fin. While as an angler I agree there are few things quite as frustrating as casting endlessly, with few if any hook-ups, to show for the effort, to fish you know are there because you can see them jumping. I just don't take it personally.

There is also the AFL-CIO hypothesis. I have heard some anglers comment that some species of fish, particularly salmon and steelhead, must be union fish. The reason these 'affliated' fish jump, they reason, is to check the time by the angle of the sun on the horizon to see if their coffee break is over yet. While I must admit this theory, at least at first glance, has possibilities - after all, I at least have never caught a fish that was wearing a timepiece (although I did catch one once that had swallowed a pocketwatch) - upon further investigation I am afraid this otherwise engaging piece of logic simply doesn't hold up to the cold, hard, observable facts. Yes, I know that many fish travel in 'schools' but we have no scientific data indicating that telling time is a subject covered in these schools. Besides, ask yourself this: What about Daylight Saving Time? Huh? How would any fish know, regardless of how far they might have progressed in school, when to 'Jump Forward' or when to 'Fall Back'?

Having deflated the 'spawning female-only', 'parasite-encrusted' , 'no fingers' and 'union organized' explanations for why fish jump, let's return to simple observation for a hint or two concerning why so many species of fish, in so many varied environments, engage in this activity.

In both science and philosophy there is a general rule known as "Occam's Razor". This rule states that an explanation for an unknown phenomena should first be attempted in terms of what is already known about it. Simply put, this means that when all else fails let what you already know about something lead you to an answer relating to something you don't yet have an answer for. Using Occam's Razor as a guideline we arrive at an answer regarding why fish jump that is simple, yet elegant, and deeply satisfying as well.

Have you ever watched from a deer stand or on a nature show as deer frolic? Have you ever seen chimpanzes chase each other just for the joy of it? Have you ever seen bear cubs tumble and rough house? Did you watch as your youngster, in that never-never land between toddler and teen, ran pell-mell at the speed of light playing with friends simply because it felt good? If you have, then you already know why fish jump.

I am convinced that Mother Nature sees to it that every organism above a certain point in the food chain is blessed with enough sense of self to enjoy being what they are. One universal expression of this joy is the exuberance of physical activity. The whole-body rush as adrenaline and endorphins flood the system. The invigorating flush of heat and motion. The stretch and play of supple muscles, the dynamic tension between skin and ligament, bone and tendon as we each discover our physical limits. The range of emotions your face undergoes as you fight a fish leads us to the same conclusion. First surprise, followed in short order by confusion, concentration, determination and finally pride and joy as you bring the fish to net, all point to the same reason.

Fish jump because they can. Because it feels good. It's that simple.

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Search Crews Find Body, Life Raft and Life Ring

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ, May 22, 2007 (USCG)- The Coast Guard is utilizing multiple search assets this morning in an attempt to find the fishing vessel Mary James, believed to be the source of a mayday call that was received Sunday evening. Since the search began, the Coast Guard has found one body, a life raft and a life ring, about 22 miles southeast of Manasquan Inlet, N.J.p>The body has not yet been identified. It is being picked up and transported ashore by a Coast Guard Station Manasquan Inlet rescue Search Crews Find Body, Life Raft and Life Ring.

All indications are that the body, as well as the mayday call and debris, originated from the fishing vessel Mary James, a 40-foot scallop boat which moors at the Red Lobster Shack in Manasquan, N.J. The crew of the Nautilus, sister ship to the Mary James, confirmed having spoken to the crew of the Mary James Sunday evening and that it utilizes a two-person crew.

Searching are Coast Guard rescue crews aboard an HH-65C Dolphin rescue helicopter from Air Station Atlantic City, an HC-130 Hercules long-range surveillance aircraft from Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., rescue boats from Station Manasquan Inlet and Station Barnegat Light, N.J., and the Cutter Finback, an 87-foot coastal patrol boat homeported in Cape May, N.J.

Coast Guard search and rescue coordinators received a mayday call on marine radio at about 11:15 p.m. Sunday. The Coast Guard immediately began issuing an urgent marine information broadcast (UMIB) on marine radio for any vessels to keep a sharp lookout, assist if possible and report any sightings to the Coast Guard.

An Air Station Atlantic City rescue helicopter was diverted from a previous case to begin searching. A subsequent helicopter search at about 2:30 a.m. resulted in the location of a life raft with no one aboard. Another helicopter search resulted in the location of the life ring, with the vessel name of Mary James printed on it.

18th Cent Schooner Cutty-Sark Ablaze

May 21, 2007 The Boating Channel) The Clyde-built Cutty Sark was built in 1869 on the River Clyde in Glasgow. The ship is one of the last sailing clippers to be built. She was preserved in dry dock at Greenwich in London, but was damaged in a fire on 21 May 2007 whilst undergoing extensive restoration. Like many ships of her era, she had a wrought iron frame structure covered by wooden planking. At the time of the fire, 50% of the planking from the ship was in storage for restoration. Of the 50% that remained on site, not a lot was damaged; "where I stand there is not a huge amount of damage to the planking that was left on", said Chris Livett, Chairman of Cutty Sark Enterprises.

On 21 May 2007 the Cutty Sark caught fire and was reported by the BBC to be completely ablaze. The extent of any damage is not known but there is concern that it may have affected the framework of the ship. The fire was reported to the fire service at 4:46 a.m. British Summer Time (GMT+1) by members of the public. A representative of the fire brigade said at 7:09 a.m. that the fire was well under control and that damage was extensive but until the experts can make a full damage assessment survey, it is unknown just how much has been lost. The fire was declared by a journalist on site to have been out at 07:21 a.m., with most of the wooden structure in the centre having been lost.

In an interview with the chief executive of the Cutty Sark Trust it was revealed that at least half of the "fabric" (timbers, etc) of the ship is not on the site as it is being dismantled for the preservation work, and that they are most worried about the iron framework around which the fabric is attached.

Aerial video footage at 7:22 a.m. shows extensive damage but seems to indicate that the ship has not been destroyed in its entirety. A fire officer present at the scene said in a BBC interview that when they arrived, there was 'A well developed fire throughout the ship'. The bow section looks to be "relatively unscathed" and the stern also appears to have survived without major damage. The fire seems to have been concentrated on the centre of the ship. One journalist commented that "you can see right through from one side to the other". However, no one currently on site knows just how much had already been removed for the preservation work.

The latest reports confirm that 50% of the ship was not on the site. Of the remaining material on site around 80% (now thought to be less) of that has at least been damaged.

The Chairman of Cutty Sark Enterprises who has inspected the site said at around 8:35 a.m., "The decks are unsalvageable but all the planking had already been removed; however the damage is not as bad as originally expected."

It has already been stated that the ship can be restored, the damage being less than originally thought. Up to 50% of the original material is currently being stored offsite during restoration.

It has also been officially stated that once restored the ship will still be the original Cutty Sark and not in anyway a re-creation. It has been shown in courts throughout the world with other types of vehicle (mainly automobiles) that if a greater part of the original frame is used then the vehicle is not in any way shape or form a re-creation) In this instance due to the fact that 50% of the ship was not involved in the fire, and of the remaining half that was on site, the bow was predominatly undamaged, the stern appears fairly intact, and the rest whilst damaged should at least in part be repairable. As such the ship will still have a majority of the original parts and will still be the "Cutty Sark" and not in part or whole a re-creation whatsoever.

The cause of the fire is currently unknown but is being treated as "suspicious" by the authorities. Wikinews has news related to: Cutty Sark ablaze, fire treated as 'suspicious'

Certain eye witnesses reported seeing a silver car near the scene, at early hours in the morning. CCTV footage is currently being examined by the police