Initial survival of red drum fingerlings stocked in Texas bays, during 1984-85

Overall survival of pond reared red drum fingerlings held in cages was 86.2 plus or minus 2.2%, indicating that current harvesting, transporting and stocking procedures are adequate for stocking fish that will survive. Red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) were stocked in the San Antonio Bay system during May and July 1984, in lower Laguna Madre during July 1984 and in the Corpus Christi Bay system during January 1985. Random samples of fish from each trailer load were placed in cages to determine initial 24 hour survival after release. There were no significant difference (P greater than 0.05) in fingerling survival between bay systems. There were, however, significant differences (P less than 0.05) in survival among stocking dates, suggesting differences in the condition of fingerlings among stockings. Mean survival ranged from 34.0 plus or minus 3.5% on 13 July to 100.0 plus or minus 0.0% on 15 May and 4 July.