During 2008, we initiated a new study to assess the problem of harmful interactions between bottlenose dolphins and the sport fishery along the Northwest Florida – Alabama Gulf Coast. Sport anglers and boat operators report increasing incidences of dolphins stealing hook-and-line caught fish, regulatory discards, and bait. Aside from anecdotal information, little else is known [...]

Dolphins in the Sarasota Bay area have been observed and reported stealing bait or catch off fishing lines, stalking fishing boats to eat catch thrown back by fishermen, and even begging from boats. Such angler-interaction behaviors are defined as depredation: the act of stealing or damaging a prey item already captured by some other process. [...]