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Dr. Sam McClatchie

@fishocean.bsky.social
495 followers 1.3K following 324 posts

Fisheries oceanographer (retired, NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center). Led the NOAA CalCOFI program for 11 years (2007-2011) prior to returning to New Zealand. Developer of Fishing Maps (www.fishingmaps.info).

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Dr. Sam McClatchie @fishocean.bsky.social · 06/06/2026
Some background from the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists on the disingenuous reasoning behind the NSF decision to "descope" the ocean observatories mooring arrays (see the comments to the article as well). lnkd.in/eM9HzHzR
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Dr. Sam McClatchie @fishocean.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
The CalCOFI Conference starts at UCSD SIO tomorrow. lnkd.in/ebHANR_H It's free to watch online lnkd.in/ez2ZTReY It starts at 09:00h which is 04:00h for me in New Zealand, so I'd best get some coffee prepared.
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Dr. Sam McClatchie @fishocean.bsky.social · 09/05/2026
Fishing Maps Mobile for Android version 1.0.3 is live on Google Playstore. play.google.com/store/apps/d... Access the User Manual from the app using the 3 dot icon on the top right of the screen. You can request a free 7-day trial of the app (see the link on the app login screen).
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Dr. Sam McClatchie @fishocean.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
Is it weird to feel that I want to be polite when talking to a machine like Claude?
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Dr. Sam McClatchie @fishocean.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
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Dr. Sam McClatchie @fishocean.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
The Gulf of Panama upwelling is really cranking at the moment.  t.mtrbio.com/fishingmaps #gamefishing #sportfishing #fishingmaps #yellowfintuna #marlin
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Dr. Sam McClatchie @fishocean.bsky.social · 25/01/2026
SST, fronts, currents and chlorophyll maps available daily for gamefishing Costa Rica.  #sportfishing #gamefishing #fishingcostarica #yellowfin #marlin
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Dr. Sam McClatchie @fishocean.bsky.social · 17/01/2026
Interpreting satellite maps for gamefishing involves looking for consistent patterns in SST, fronts, currents and chlorophyll (when available) over several days. Selecting the frontal zones is made easier by using the SST frontal gradient maps.  #gamefishing #biggamefishing #yellowfin #marlin
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Dr. Sam McClatchie @fishocean.bsky.social · 11/01/2026
Nothing like a few sunny days in New Zealand to bring out the chlorophyll in Fishing Maps. www.fishingmaps.info #oceanography #fisheries #sportfishing #marlin #tuna
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Dr. Sam McClatchie @fishocean.bsky.social · 08/01/2026
Are single pass Sea Surface Temperature (SST) images the best way to detect fronts for gamefishing? Checkout the new blog on the Fishing Maps (zurl.co/zlvlj) website. zurl.co/9DtXs
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Dr. Sam McClatchie @fishocean.bsky.social · 07/01/2026
Consistent patterns in the sea surface temperature, currents, and chlorophyll create the structure that allows plankton concentrations to develop over several days. In this example off Tutukaka, New Zealand, over a 4 day period, SST is cool inshore of the 100 metre line.
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Dr. Sam McClatchie @fishocean.bsky.social · 03/01/2026
Yellowfin tuna are back in New Zealand and the summer recreational gamefishing is going off. What's going on? zurl.co/qs0oh
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Dr. Sam McClatchie @fishocean.bsky.social · 29/12/2025
Which level 2 SWOT product is this Lily? Are you accessing the files from PO-DAAC? I think it's time for me to see if I can use these data for my Fishing Maps product (www.fishingmaps.info) instead of, or in addition to, the 8km resolution Copernicus product that I currently use.
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Dr. Sam McClatchie @fishocean.bsky.social · 29/12/2025
We know the southern hemisphere is special, but what's that got to do with ocean eddies? In the northern hemisphere, high sea surface height (SSH) in the centre of an eddy is associated with clockwise rotating currents.
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Dr. Sam McClatchie @fishocean.bsky.social · 26/12/2025
There are strong sea surface temperature (SST) contrasts off the Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand, with cool water nearshore. The gradients are not sharp enough to produce well defined fronts, probably due to recent windy weather.
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Dr. Sam McClatchie @fishocean.bsky.social · 24/12/2025
Cloud-free Sea Surface Temperature off the Mahia Peninsula, on the east coast of New Zealand reveals distinct temperature variations north and south of a significant eddy. 🌊 #Oceanography #NewZealand
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Dr. Sam McClatchie @fishocean.bsky.social · 22/08/2025
There are times when the patterns of temperature on the ocean are simply beautiful, whether you are into the science or not. www.fishingmaps.info #fisheries #oceanography
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Dr. Sam McClatchie @fishocean.bsky.social · 22/07/2025
With return of sunny weather, the main recreational bluefin tuna fishing areas in New Zealand (Waihau Bay and Hokitika) are developing more complex surface temperature structure and fronts, and we are seeing some unusually clear chlorophyll imagery coming through. (www.fishingmaps.info). #fisheries
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Dr. Sam McClatchie @fishocean.bsky.social · 16/06/2025
Does anyone else think "What was I on?" when they start to refactor their code?
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Dr. Sam McClatchie @fishocean.bsky.social · 02/03/2025
Most people don't realise that operational products require real people behind the scenes to keep things going smoothly.
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Dr. Sam McClatchie @fishocean.bsky.social · 09/02/2025
Coincidence that NOAA NCEI and NOAA NWS websites are both experiencing difficulties? I certainly hope so.
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Dr. Sam McClatchie @fishocean.bsky.social · 09/02/2025
Would someone who has reliable information please tell me why the website for NOAA's National Center for Environmental Information is down? I'd love to be told there is a good reason not to be paranoid.
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Dr. Sam McClatchie @fishocean.bsky.social · 31/01/2025
We are only half way through the fishing season, so it looks like our startup will survive the second year. Of course we have invested in some expensive advertising this year, but we are hoping this will pay forward as we become a trusted supplier of quality maps. #fisheries #oceanography
Google Earth location of Huia, New ZealandCloud-free SST for Kaipara-Manukau #GHRSSTGamefishing boats lined up at dawn off Little HuiaCurrents and sea surface height for Kaipara-Manukau
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Dr. Sam McClatchie @fishocean.bsky.social · 27/01/2025
Good to see the second edition of my book published <https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-76136-2> #fisheries #oceanography
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Dr. Sam McClatchie @fishocean.bsky.social · 18/01/2025
Explaining fronts to recreational big game fishers: How do you know if a temperature break (or a front) is strong or weak? Ideally you want to target stronger fronts. Use the color scale on the temperature break map to help you decide if a front is strong enough to target. #oceanography #fisheries
sea surface temperature gradient mapSST map of New Zealand
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Dr. Sam McClatchie @fishocean.bsky.social · 10/01/2025
This is an unusually clear image of Chlorophyll fronts off the Manukau Harbour on the west coast North Island of New Zealand. Data are a melded sensor product from Copernicus. Mapped by Fishing Maps for recreational big game fishing (www.fishingmaps.info). #fisheries #oceanography
Chlorophyll satellite image off Manukau Harbour, New Zealand
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Dr. Sam McClatchie @fishocean.bsky.social · 27/12/2024
I'm wondering if my consistent blocking of bots & rubbish on my custom #Oceanography & #Fisheries feed is finally starting to work. Only one bot post today! It took a while to clean up my feed on Twitter too when I had an account ... I expected BlueSky to have fewer bots, but they are still a pest.
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Dr. Sam McClatchie @fishocean.bsky.social · 20/12/2024
The proofs for the second edition of my #CalCOFI book arrived yesterday. Which is pretty cool ... until you realise that you have to deal with each minute query from the publisher! #fisheries #oceanography
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Dr. Sam McClatchie @fishocean.bsky.social · 12/12/2024
There's a new blog in the articles section of the Fishing Maps website explaining to gamefishers the effect of wind on the surface ocean temperature structure. #fisheries #oceanography www.fishingmaps.info/articles/why...
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Dr. Sam McClatchie @fishocean.bsky.social · 05/12/2024
A question: If I block someone or a bot on my custom feed (Oceanography and Fisheries), does it block for everyone who views the feed, or just me? I'm trying to weed the rubbish that pops up and get the most useful feed.
SST off Baja
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Dr. Sam McClatchie @fishocean.bsky.social · 01/12/2024
Animation of chlorophyll off Tutukaka, New Zealand. Data are from a #Copernicus melded sensor, 300m to 1km resolution, level 3, global product. I create these Fishing Maps (www.fishingmaps.info) in #python for use by the recreational sport #fishing community. #fisheries #oceanography
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Dr. Sam McClatchie @fishocean.bsky.social · 30/11/2024
If you are posting about #oceanography or #fisheries or both, please add these hashtags so your post will appear on the Oceanography and Fisheries custom feed.
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Dr. Sam McClatchie @fishocean.bsky.social · 20/11/2024
Hi Robbi -- I'd be pleased to be added, if appropriate.
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Dr. Sam McClatchie @fishocean.bsky.social · 17/11/2024
Goodbye Elon!
X account deactivated
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Dr. Sam McClatchie @fishocean.bsky.social · 15/11/2024
If you are posting topics in fisheries, oceanography, and/ or fisheries oceanography, don't forget the #fisheries and #oceanography hashtags to be sure that your post will land on the Oceanography and Fisheries feed. And add the wave icon to get your post on the Oceanography feed.
Chlorophyll image Bay of Islands, New ZealandCurrents and Sea Surface Height image Bay of Islands, New ZealandTemperature breaks (gradients) image Bay of Islands, New ZealandSea Surface Temperature image Bay of Islands, New Zealand
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Dr. Sam McClatchie @fishocean.bsky.social · 08/11/2024
The Tutukaka, New Zealand maps (www.fishingmaps.info) show that there have been some good temperature breaks north of the Barrier over the last several days on the edge of a large patch of warm water, with transition from coastal to oceanic water. #fisheries #oceanography #RemoteSensing #GHRSST
SSTSST breaksChlorophyll
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Dr. Sam McClatchie @fishocean.bsky.social · 22/10/2024
"... Recent research since the last IPCC report does suggest that the IPCC has underestimated this risk and that the passing of this tipping point is a serious possibility already in the next few decades" en.vedur.is/media/ads_in... #oceanography #fisheries
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Dr. Sam McClatchie @fishocean.bsky.social · 22/10/2024
If you are posting about #fisheries or #oceanography, or both, don't forget to use the hashtags so your post will show up on the Oceanography& Fisheries feed.
SST off Whangaroa New Zealand
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Dr. Sam McClatchie @fishocean.bsky.social · 18/10/2024
That feeling when you you've been trying to figure out why a plot won't work and you finally realize that the array is empty ...
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Dr. Sam McClatchie @fishocean.bsky.social · 09/10/2024
If you're posting anything to do with #oceanography or #fisheries, or both, don't forget to use the hashtags so your post will show up on the Oceanography&Fisheries feed.
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Dr. Sam McClatchie @fishocean.bsky.social · 28/08/2024
Writing blogs for my game fishing map business is both a pleasure and a challenge because the audience is so different from the scientific forums I am so familiar with. I have to keep it short, focused on their interests, not too technical. Latest blog: www.fishingmaps.info/articles/fin...
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Dr. Sam McClatchie @fishocean.bsky.social · 18/08/2024
It's great to have two oceanography feeds, but I'm not sure why you didn't find the Oceanography&Fisheries feed that was already there!
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Dr. Sam McClatchie @fishocean.bsky.social · 17/08/2024
🌊 Great to have this #oceanography feed! If you were not aware, there is also the Oceanography&Fisheries feed that I maintain. You can follow with #Oceanography&Fisheries. If you use the hashtags #oceanography or #fisheries in any of your posts, they will pop up on the Oceanography&Fisheries feed.
new fishing vessels
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Dr. Sam McClatchie @fishocean.bsky.social · 14/08/2024
I'm starting to build a collection of regular blogs and articles on my Fishing Maps website. After decades of writing for a scientific audience, changing to writing content for recreational fishers is fun, but also challenging. Blogs are here: www.fishingmaps.info/articles/
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Dr. Sam McClatchie @fishocean.bsky.social · 25/07/2024
Beautiful example of counter-rotating eddies off Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Maps by Fishing Maps (www.fishingmaps.info).
Map of sea surface height and current vectors off Puerto Vallarta4 days of maps of sea surface height and current vectors off Puerto Vallarta
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Dr. Sam McClatchie @fishocean.bsky.social · 09/05/2024
I must be very out of touch with the mindless social media bots and idiots. I had to remove a tag for "krill" and now for "plankton" from my Oceanography & Fisheries custom feed. Both tags attracted peculiar posts, some rather distrubing, that are nothing to do with science, or anything really.
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Dr. Sam McClatchie @fishocean.bsky.social · 25/04/2024
If I think a paper is fundamentally flawed or needs major revision, I don't waste time on the smaller details. I don't think this is a popular approach with editors, but my service is being requested for free, and my time is valuable.
mackerel by david millar
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Dr. Sam McClatchie @fishocean.bsky.social · 18/04/2024
I was able to produce the post linked here on Fediscience.org with the 500 character limit, but I find the 300 character limit on BlueSky is a bit too constraining, so here's the link to the Mastodon post: fediscience.org/@Huia_fishoc...
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Dr. Sam McClatchie @fishocean.bsky.social · 18/04/2024
Is there a minimal number of clicks way to block accounts on BlueSky? I'm getting rubbish on the Oceanography and Fisheries feed from people who write nonsense about "plankton". It easy to detect them, but too many clicks to block them.
Artisanal fishers
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Dr. Sam McClatchie @fishocean.bsky.social · 21/02/2024
Explaining operational fisheries oceanography to fishers is tricky, involves a lot of simplification, generalization, and labelling. What the fishers are really after is the bottom line: "Where to fish? Try the temperature breaks to either side of the cool core eddy."
Cool core cyclonic eddy off Gisborne/ Mahia in New Zealand.SST off Gisborne/ Mahia in New Zealand with the position of the cool core eddy superimposed.
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