Population Studies of the Sports and Commercial Fin-Fish and Forage Species of the Lower Laguna Madre - Analysis of Populations of Sports and Commercial Fin-Fish and of Factors which Affect these Populations in the Coastal Bays of Texas

The important forage, food and game fish of the lower Laguna Madre are discussed. Data on spawning, movements and migrations, growth and preferred habitats were presented for each of 6 forage species and 10 food and game species. Pinfish and pigfish predominated during spring and summer months, while anchovies and silversides predominated in the winter. During the transitional fall months, silver perch and mojarra were abundant. Adult skipjack, pompano, spot, golden croaker, sand trout and flounder were common summer and fall residents. Redfish and spotted sea trout were present all year, with many wintering in the Gulf. Black drum were scarce only in the spring. Monthly samples of redfish, drum and trout indicate total populations ranging from 7 to 29 pounds per acre.