Analysis of Populations of Sports and Commercial Fin-fish in the Coastal Bays of Texas
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Juvenile game fish were sampled in 1968 in all Texas bay areas with 60 ft. bag seines; adult fish were sampled in Galveston Bay by drag seine and in Aransas Bay and the Upper and Lower Laguna Madre with trammel nets. A general and significant increase in the relative abundance of juvenile redfish, Sciaenops ocellata, was noted. In the case of trout, Cynoscion nebulosus, flounder, Paralichthys lethostigma, black drum, Pogonias cromis, and sheepshead, Archosargus probatocephalus, there was either a decline in general abundance or no significant change from the previous year. While variations in abundance of adult fish occurred within bays, no coastwide patterns could be discerned. These samples were obtained in order to determine relative abundance, seasonal fluctuations in abundance and success of spawning. Captured fish of sufficient size and in good condition were tagged and released to study movements, migrations and rate of fishing harvest.