Population Studies of the Sports and Commercial Fin-Fish and Forage Species of the Matagorda Bay System - Analysis of Populations of Sports and Commercial Fin-Fish and of Factors Which Affect These Populations in the Coastal Bays of Texas
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Croaker, Micropogon undulatus; anchovy; Anchoa mitchilli; and brown and white shrimp, Penaeus aztecus and P. setiferus, were the most abundant forage items taken in the 10-foot trawl samples. Total forage sample weight reached peaks in April and July. The most abundant species taken in juvenile samples were spotted sea trout, Cynoscion nebulosus, and southern flounder, Paralichthys lethostigma, with few redfish, Sciaenops ocellata, black drum, Pogonias cromis, and sheepshead, Archosargus probatocephalus, being taken. All species show a decline in availability as compared with the previous year. Tag return data on black drum indicate a general movement toward the Tres Palacios River. There are indications of some inter-bay movement of this species.