Survey of the Fishes Found in the Inshore Gulf of Mexico and of Post-Larval Fishes in Aransas, Port Mansfield, and Port Isabel Ship Channels - Analysis of Populations of Sports and Commercial Fin-Fish and of Factors Which Affect These Populations in the Coastal Bays of Texas

Most abundant scrap fish caught in the standard shrimp trawl in the Gulf were the croaker, Micropogon undulatus; the two sand trout, Cynoscion nothus and arenarius; and the hardhead catfish, Galeichthys felis. The first three, along with the larger of other species less abundant, would be suitable for some form of scrap fish utilization. In both the Gulf off Port Aransas and that off the Port Mansfield/Port Isabel area, October was the month of greatest abundance of scrap fish. The most abundant species in the post-larval channel samples were menhaden, Brevoortia patronus; croaker, Micropogon undulatus; and redfish, Sciaenops ocellatus. Greatest numbers of post-larval fish were entering the passes in March and in December. Gulf salinity and temperature remained very constant and similar to that of previous years; channel salinity varied little, but temperature ranged from a low in February of 11.4 degrees C. to a high in August of 30.6 degrees C. to a later low in December of 11.5 degress C. on the 30th.