Juvenile and Adult Food and Game Fish of the Laguna Madre. J. P. Breuer ABSTRACT

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1 Juvenile and dult Food and Game Fish of the Laguna Madre J. P. Breuer BSTRCT Important juvenile and adult finfish were sampled periodically in the Laguna Madre to determine population trends, relative abundance and age composition. In 1974 (as compared with 1973), numbers of juvenile spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus) declined throughout the area while numbers of juvenile red drum (Sciaenops ocellata) declined in the Upper Laguna Madre and rose in the Lower Laguna Madre. Catches of juvenile black drum (Pogonias cromis, southern flounder (Paralichthys lethostigma) and sheepshead (rchosargus probatocephalus) remained low. Compared with 1973, yields of adult fish increased 35% in spring 1974 sampling and 49% in fall sampling with black drum exhibiting the greatest increase. In seven months of sampling commercial trotline landings in the Upper Laguna Madre, the 3,179 fish measured were predominantly spotted seatrout (55.80%), red drum (36.11%) and black drum (6.73%). The percentage of seatrout was up 5.4%, red drum up 11.5% and black drum down 17,9% from The percentage of red drum of Year Classes 0 and I increased from 49% in 1973 to 81% in In ten months of sampling commercial trotlines in the Lower Laguna Madre, the 10,172 fish measured were predominantely red drum (.45.26%), spotted seatrout (41.78%) and black drum (11.58%). The percentage of red drum was down 12.14%, spotted seatrout up 8.3% and black drum up 2.8% from The percentage of red drum in Year Classes 0 and I decreased 18.6% from 86.79% in 1973 to 68.19% in In the summer of 1974 the Lower Laguna Madre contained 1,165 trotlines composed of 7,592 sections of line, 8,900 poles and 94,434 hooks extending a total distance of 70.3 miles including 5.43 miles of abandoned lines and 2,519 abandoned poles. rtificial bait was found on 62% of the hooks; the remaining 38% were bare or were baited with natural baits. Plastic baits were banned effective September 1, partial resurvey in November 1974 showed a reduction in the total number of trotlines (mostly abandoned lines and those in poor condition). There was an increase in the number of hooks with natural baits, from 38% to 94%. Experimentation with baits of vegetable material was also noted in the resurvey. 109

2 Sample data indicated that in Lower Laguna Madre fewer small red drum and more larger red drum were harvested after the ban on plastic bait. INTRODUCTION Routine sampling of juvenile and adult spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus), red drum (Sciaenops ocellata), black drum (Pogonias cromis, southern flounder (Paralichthys lethostigma) and sheepshead (rchosargus probatocephalus) continued in 1974 as in the previous nine years to determine relative abundance of each species. Commercial fish houses were checked regularly to note species and age composition of the trotline catch compared with the previous year. complete count of trotline units was made in the Lower Laguna Madre in early summer. In November a partial count was made to note the amount of change in gear units and types. Data gathered on relative abundance and current commercial fish harvest were used to recommend fisheries management procedures. MTERILS ND METHODS Fish considered to be juveniles are those normally taken in a 18.3 m (60 ft) bag seine and which are generally less than one year old. The principal sampling gear for juvenile fish was a bag seine 1.83 m (6 ft) deep with a 9,54 mm (3/8 in) bar mesh, used at prescribed stations in the Upper Laguna Madre. Samples were collected monthly (except during June, July and ugust) at ten stations in the Lower Laguna Madre. dult fish are considered to be those which are normally caught in a trammel net, are of legal size and which are generally one year old and older. The trammel net used in the Lower Laguna Madre was 366 m (1,200 ft) long and cm (40 in) deep, of 7,62 cm (3 in) stretched mesh inside and cm (6 in) stretched mesh outside webbing. The net was set and fish were driven into it at each of 12 prescribed stations at least three times each spring and fall. Game fish taken were counted and measured (in mm). Lengthsweight relationship tables were used for each species to calculate weights. The area in each sample was calculated and the yield was reported in kilograms per hectare (kg/ha) by species. Fish caught on commercial trotlines were measured in centimeters at various local fish houses with data dictated onto cassette recorders and later transcribed onto data sheets. Total lengths were used in measuring since fish were often measured in cold storage vaults where poor lighting conditions existed. Type of bait used on trotlines was recorded when possible. Trotlines and hooks were counted by dividing the bay into sections using natural topographic features and by canvassing each section with a skiff and outboard motor. Each counted trotline was marked with plastic tape to avoid duplication. Data collected included number of poles, lines, sections of lines and hooks; number of abandoned sections of lines and poles; number and type of bait used and condition of line. 110

3 RESULTS Juvenile Fish Upper Laguna Madre; Of the 75 samples taken in the Upper Laguna Madre in 1974 by 18.3 m (60 ft) bag seine, 47 contained no juvenile game or food fish. The percentage of "no catch" samples declined from 73% in 1973 to 63% in Only four juvenile spotted seatrout were taken in 1974 compared with 14 in The average yield was 1.33 fish/ha (0.54/ac) compared with 3.61/ha (1.46/ac) in the previous year. The peak yield continued its decline from 49.42/ha (20.0/ac) in 1972, 19,22/ha (7.8/ac) in 1973 to 6.18/ha (2.5/ac) in 1974 (Figure 1). Of the 66 samples taken in the Upper Laguna Madre, seven (11%) contained juvenile red drum compared with 21 of 70 (30%) the previous year. The seven samples included nine red drum with an average yield of 3.0 fish/ha (1.2/ac). The January peak yield of 12.4 fish/ha (5.0/ac) was a reduction from the 102.4/ha (41.4/ac) recorded for 1973 and 98.8/ha (40/ac) recorded for 1972 (Figure 1). Three samples contained one juvenile black drum each. No juvenile southern flounder and only one juvenile sheepshead was taken. Juvenile Fish Lower Laguna Madre; Of the 55 samples collected with the bag seine during the ninemonth sampling period in the Lower Laguna Madre, 22 (40%) contained no food or game fish. The remaining 19 samples yielded 239 red drum, 11 spotted seatrout, 10 black drum, 6 southern flounder and 4 sheepshead. In February the average yield of spotted seatrout was fish/ha (5.00/ac). The fall peak of 3.38 fish/ha (1,37/ac) was far below the fish/ha (11.21/ac) found the previous year (Figure 2). The maximum average catch of juvenile red drum/ha (157.58/ac) occurred in January (Figure 2) compared with a peak yield of fish/ha (27.03/ac) in 1973 and /ha (50.54/acl in Extreme cold on February 26 may have killed many juveniles since 221 red drum were caught in January February and only 14 during the next three months. Only six juvenile southern flounder were taken (all in March) compared with 29 taken in 1973 and one in The number of juvenile sheepshead in seine samples continued to decline from a peak of 13/ha in 1971 to 9/ha in 1972, 3/ha in 1973 and 5/ha in 1974 (Figure 3). dult Fish Lower Laguna Madre: dult fish sampling with trammel nets in spring (March 14 May 9) 1974 consisted of 36 strikes covering ha ( ac) (Table 1). Fall (October 8 November 21) sampling consisted of 39 strikes covering ha (179,20 ac) (Table 1). In the spring samples the catch of spotted seatrout averaged 3.24/kg/ha (2.89 lb/ac), compared with 3.54 kg/ha (3.16 lb/ac) in spring 1973, 2.73 kg/ha (2.44 lb/ac) in spring 1972 and 2.70 kg/ha (2.41 lb/ac) in spring

4 (Figure 4). Fall samples contained an average of 3.42 kg/ha (3.05 lb/ac) compared with 2.45 kg/ha (2.19 lb/ac) or less for any of the three previous fall sampling periods. The catch of red drum in spring averaged 4,34 kg/ha (3.87 lb/ac) compared with less than 4,32 kg/ha (3.85 lb/ac) average for any of the three previous spring periods. Fall samples contained an average of 3.53 kg/ha (3.15 lb/ac) higher than at any time since 1971 (Figure 4). The catch of black drum in the spring samples averaged 2.36 kg/ha (2.11 lb/ac), up considerably from the 0.40 kg/ha (0.36 lb/ac) in the spring of 1973 and the 0.77 kg/ha (0.69 lb/ac) in the spring of Fall samples yielded 1.68 kg/ha (1.50 lb/ac) compared with 0.53 kg/ha (0.48 lb/ac) in the fall of 1973 and 1.30 kg/ha (1.16 lb/ac) in the fall of Spring samples contained 17 flounder; fall samples, 16 compared with 3 and 7 for the same periods in 1973 and 6 and 2 in 1972 (Table 1), Spring samples yielded 23 sheepshead; fall samples, 35 compared with 15 and 6 in the same periods in 1973 and 8 and 10 in During spring sampling the number of spotted seatrout decreased from 40.07% of the total catch in 1973 to 34.08% in By weight the decrease was from 37.67% in 1973 to 30.98% in The average weight increased from 0.69 kg/fish (1.53 lb) to 0.87 kg (1.92 lb). During fall sampling the number of spotted seatrout decreased from 43.35% of the total catch in 1973 to 41.43% in 1974 but the catch by weight increased from 33,87% in 1973 to 37.50% in 1974 (Table 2). The average weight increased from 0.75 kg/fish (1.66 lb) in 1973 to 0.89 kg (1.97 lb) in the fall of During spring sampling red drum decreased from 41.95% of the total catch in number in 1973 to 40.00% in 1974 and in weight from 53.96% (1973) to 41.55% (1974). The average weight decreased from 1,16 kg/fish (2.56 lb) to 1.00 kg (2.20 lb). During fall sampling red drum decreased from 30.86% of the total catch in number in 1973 to 29.96% in 1974 and in weight from 50.99% (1973) to 38.66% (1974). The average weight increased slightly from 1.24 kg/fish (2.72 lb) in 1973 to 1.27 kg (2.80 lb) in During spring sampling black drum increased in number from 5.29% of the total catch in 1973 to 19.52% in 1974 and in weight from 5.12% (1973) to 22.59% (1974). The average weight increased from 0,87 kg/fish (1.92 lb) to 1.1 kg (2.45 lb). In the fall, black drum increased in number from 12.24% of the total catch in 1973 to 21.01% in 1974 and in weight from 11.85% (1973) to 18.43% (1974). The average weight decreased from 0.94 kg/fish (2.06 lb) in 1973 to 0.87 kg (1.91 lb) in Fish House Checks Upper Laguna Madre: During seven months (JuneMarch) of fish house checks for trotline landings, 3,179 fish were measured. Of these, 1,774 (55.80%) were spotted seatrout, 1,148 (36.11%) were red drum, 214 (6.73%) were black drum, 22 (0.69%) were sheepshead and 21 (0.66%) were southern flounder. Of the 1,148 red drum measured, 13 (1.13%) were of Year Class 0, 918 (79.97%) were of Year Class I, 206 (17.94%) were of Year Class II and

5 (0.96%) were of Year Class III. Fish House Checks Lower Laguna Madre: During ten months of 1974 (no sampling in pril or May) of fish house checks for trotline landings, 8065 fish were measured. Of these, 3,650 (45.26%) were red drum, 3,370 (41.76%) were spotted seatrout, 934 (.11.58%) were black drum, 81 (1.00%) were flounder and 30 (0.37%) were sheepshead (Table 3). Of the 3,650 red drum measured, 64 (1.75%) were of Year Class 0, 2,425 (66.44%) were of Year Class I, 1,109 (30.38%) were of Year Class II and 52 (1.43%) were of Year Class III (Table 4). In six of the ten months, red drum was the most common fish caught (Table 3). Spotted seatrout dominated the catch in July, September and November while black drum was dominant in December 1974, as it was in December In the surveyed commercial trotline catches from the Lower Laguna Madre, red drum numbers averaged 45.26% (range: 21.99% 64.33%) of the total catch in 1974, representing a 12.14% decline from 1973 when red drum comprised 57.40% of the catch (Table 3). In 1974 spotted seatrout numbers averaged 41.78% (range: 3.30% 61.44%), an increase of 8.22% from 1973 when spotted seatrout comprised 33.48% of the total catch. Black drum numbers averaged 11.58% (range: 0% 65.38%) of the 1974 total catch, a 2.78% decrease from 1973 when black drum comprised 8.80% of the total catch. The number of Year Class 0 red drum in trotline samples decreased from 266 (4.55%) in 1973 to 64 (1.75%) in The number of Year Class I red drum decreased from 4,807 (82.24%) in 1973 to 2,425 (66.44%) in The number of Year Class II red drum increased from 685 (11.72%) to 1,109 (30.38%) in Thus, in 1973 nearly 87% of the red drum taken by trotline were under two years old while in 1974 only 68% were this age, representing substantial decrease in the harvest of small fish in In 1974, Year Class 0 red drum entered the commercial catch in ugust and reached a maximum of 7.5% of the total catch in December (Table 4 and Figure 5). Year Class I red drum ranged from 24% to 90% (average 66%) of the total catch. Year Class II fish ranged from 2% to 75% (average 30%) of the total catch. Year Class III fish ranged from 0% to 3% of the total catch. Figure 5 also compares trammel net catches with commercial trotline catches of red drum during the fall. Spring comparisons were not possible since no fish house surveys were done in pril or May. During October and November, 85% of the red drum caught on trotlines were of Year Class I, compared with 68% of those caught in trammel nets (Figure 5). Year Class II red drum comprised 12% of the trotline catch compared with 7% of the trammel net catch, Year Class 0 red drum comprised only 2% of the trotline catch in October and November compared with 24% of the trammel net catch. However, the trammel net used for taking population samples effectively captured cm (12 in) red drum which were included 113

6 in the net catch totals. Commercial trotlines also captured small red drum but since fish under cm Q4 in) were under the minimum legal size limit they were not landed and were not included in the commercial catch statistics. Survey of the Trotline Fishery Lower Laguna Madre; The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission prohibited the use of artificial baits on trotlines effective September 1, Prior to this a complete survey of the trotline fishery was conducted in the Lower Laguna Madre. Between May 20 and July 17, 1974 all trotlines, stakes and hooks were counted (Table 5). * Conditions of trotlines were categorized as follows: model line. Both lines and stakes properly marked; mainline strung tightly; clean drops and hooks free of algal growth. These lines were obviously tended regularly. B wellused line which needed some maintenance. Mainlines needed tightening; some hooks and drops missing; some baits absent or covered with algae. These lines were being fished with some degree of regularity but were not being properly tended. C Long neglected. Some panels down; mainline marking strips short; some broken stakes and sagging mainline; baits, if present, covered with algal growth. These lines were abandoned for both fishing and for maintenance but were still catching fish. <a D Long abandoned. Many sections down; poles broken or absent, not marked; lines, drops and hooks covered with algae. These lines were no longer catching fish. Lines in Categories and B were generally considered "legal" as to end stake and mainline markings; lines in Categories C and D were not. Lines were not checked for distance from channels, distance from other lines or for possession of valid trotline tags. In this survey 438 lines (38%) were in Category, 467 (40%) in Category B, 102 (9%) in Category C, and 158 (13%) in Category D. The total length of these lines combined was over 70 miles. There were 7,572 sections of active lines, 94,434 hooks and 8,900 poles. In addition there were 636 sections of abandoned, downed lines and 2,519 abandoned poles. Plastic strips or other artificial baits were observed on 722 lines (62%); 435 lines (38%) were baited with natural baits or unbaited. Eight lines were not checked. From November 22 through 27, 1974 selected areas of the Lower Laguna Madre were rechecked to determine the degree of change in the trotline fishery following the ban on plastic baits. Three representative areas were resurveyed. The total number of trotlines declined 40%, from 228 to 138. The total number of sections declined 41%, from 1383 to 814, The number of abandoned 114

7 sections declined 73%, from 79 to 21. The total number of hooks declined 33%, from 16,875 to 11,303. The total number of poles on lines decreased by 44%, from 1688 to 952. However, the number of abandoned poles increased from 282 to 1300 in spite of the removal of 798 previously abandoned poles by Coastal Fisheries personnel and the removal of an unknown number of illegal poles and lines by Law Enforcement personnel, This increase in the number of abandoned poles was not due to the salvage of trotlines but to the abandonment of the poles by fishermen prior to the change in bait regulations. The number of lines containing natural baits increased 64%, from 46 to 128; the number of lines with artificial bait decreased 94%, from 182 to 10. The number of Category lines increased 54%, from 45 to 98; the number of lines in all other categories decreased 74100%. The sample areas included miles of lines in the original survey but only 7.66 miles in the resurvey, a 33% reduction. In an effort to evaluate the effectiveness of the ban on artificial baits on the harvest of small red drum, the harvest by commercial trotlines in the Lower Laguna Madre during the last four months of 1973 and 1974 were compared. These data are presented in Table 6. During SeptemberDecember 1973 there were no regulations concerning trotline baits, and 62% of the hooks fishing were baited with plastic. During SeptemberDecember 1974 the use of plastic was prohibited, and a sample survey indicated that only 6% of the trotline hooks had artificial baits. The number of Year Class 0 red drum declined from 9.64% of the total catch during SeptemberDecember 1973 to 2,52% during the same period in 1974 (Table 6). The number of Year Class I fish increased from 80.56% to 82.89% of the total catch; the number of Year Class II increased from 8.39% to 13,58%. Fall trammel net catches contained 19% Year Class 0 red drum in 1973 and 24% in 1974 (Figure 5). Therefore, while Year Class 0 red drum were apparently more abundant in the fall of 1974 than in the fall, of 1973,they were caught less frequently on trotlines. The data also show that while Year Class I red drum were 8% less abundant in the fall of 1974 than in 1973, they were taken 2% more frequently on trotlines. While Year Class II red drum were almost 4% more abundant in the fall of 1974 than in 1973, they were taken over 5% more frequently on trotlines. The regulation prohibiting artificial baits on trotlines for the purpose of decreasing the harvest of smaller red drum and increasing harvest of larger fish appears to be accomplishing its purpose, SUMMRY ND RECOMMENDTIO Juvenile Fish: The relative abundance of juvenile spotted seatrout decreased in the Lower Laguna Madre in 1974$ the relative abundance of juvenile red drum increased. Catches of juvenile southern flounder, black drum and sheepshead were low. 115

8 The number of "no catch samples remained high< 47 of 75 (63%) in the Upper Laguna Madre and 22 of 55 C40%) in the Lower Laguna Madre. This indicates either a general reduction of juvenile fish populations or a movement of juvenile fish away from the established station locations. The question could be resolved by extensive and regular supplemental seine sampling to evaluate established stations and by periodically replacing those stations which have deteriorated through environmental change. This additional sampling has not yet been possible because of the excessive physical demands of the sampling procedure and the lack of adequate sampling time, dult Fish: Yields of all species increased in 1974 in both spring and fall samples. Catches of black drum increased greatly in both spring and fall samples, thus increasing the relative contribution of this species to the total catch. There was a corresponding decrease in relative contribution to the total catch of spotted seatrout in the spring samples and of red drum in both spring and fall samples. Fish House Checks: Regular surveys of selected fish houses provide a good measure of commercial trotline landings from bays. The data could be expanded to involve all landings, including fish taken by hook and line, shrimp trawls and illegal nets. Trotline catches should be separated as to type of bait used. The term "natural baits" as recommended by coastal fisheries personnel was intended to mean fish and shellfishalive or dead normally available to fish and used as bait for fish. Fishermen, however, interpret the term "natural" to mean "nonartificial" and have been experimenting with such "natural" materials as cranberries, beets, potato peels, cabbage, lettuce, whole kernal corn, English peas, bacon rind, oleander leaves and grapes. It may be the intention of some fishermen to utilize these new "natural" baits to circumvent the regulations against the use of artificial baits. Most fishermen seem to be searching for a readily available and inexpensive bait (to replace plastic) which could be used in seasons when traditional natural baits are unavailable or cannot be used. Since the reason for the prohibition of plastic baits was based on data which proved that they were selective for small red drum, and since no data are available to indicate that any of the new "natural" baits exhibit this selectivity, no recommendations as to the use of these new baits can be made at this time. 116

9 <* i» Table 1. Relative abundance of selected fish species in trammel net samples, Lower Laguna Madre, Spring (Mar 14May 9) Species % Total by Total Weight % Total by Weight Yield verage Weight/fish Spotted seatrout ( kg lb) kg/hectare (2.89 lb/acre).87 kg (1.92 lb) Red drum ( kg lb) kg/hectare (3.87 lb/acre) 1.0 kg (2.20 lb) Black drum , ( kg lb) kg/hectare (2.11 lb/acre) 1.1 kg (2.45 lb) Flounder (25.69 kg lb) kg/hectare (0.18 lb/acre) 69 kg (1.51 lb) I Sheepshead (38.85 kg lb) kg/hectare (0.27 lb/acre).77 kg (1.69 lb) Total kg ( lb) kg/hectare (9.30 lb/acre) Total Sample rea hectares ( acresl

10 Table 2. Relative abundance of selected fish species in trammel net samples, Lower Laguna Madre, Fall (Oct 8Nov 21) Species % Total by Total Weight % Total by Weight Yield verage Weight/fish Spotted seatrout kg ( lb) kg/hectare (3.05 lb/acre).89 kg (1.97 lb) Red drum kg ( lb) kg/hectare (3.15 lb/acre 1.27 kg (2.80 lb) Black drum kg ( lb) kg/hectare (1.50 lb/acre).87 kg (1.91 lb) Flounder kg (20.08 lb) kg/hectare (0.11 lb/acre) 57 kg (1.26 lb) 00 I Sheepshead kg (59.02 lb) kg/hectare (0.33 lb/acre).77 kg (1.69 lb) Total kg ( lb) kg/hectare (8.14 lb/acre) Total Sample rea hectares (179.2 acres)

11 Table 3, Comparison of number and percentage of fish caught by species by commercial trotlines in the Lower Laguna Madre by month in 1973 and Month Jan. Feb. Mar. pr. May June July ug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Red drum Trout Drum Sheepshead » Flounder 2 0, Red drum Trout Drum Sheepshead Flounder Total

12 Table 3, (Cont'd.) Total Month Red drum Trout Drum Sheepshead Flounder Red drum Trout Drum Sheepshead Flounder Dec Total O 1

13 Table 4. Commercial redfish landings taken in the Lower Laguna Madre on trotlines giving number of fish, size range in millimeters and percentage of catch by year class and months in Month 0 I Year Class II III January February Size Cmm) March pril Size Cmm) * it ii II n 1! May i II II ii ii June July Size Cmm) ugust September Size Cmm) October Size Cmm)

14 TRMMEL NET TROTLINE YER CLSS o O 0 70 / / s / / 0) is 40 H y 10. Q Jan Feb Mar pr May June July ug Sept Oct Nov Dec Figure 5. ages of age groups of red drum catch on commercial trotlines and in trammel net samples. *

15 Table 4. Commercial redfish landings taken in the Lower Laguna Madre on trotlines giving number of fish, size range in millimeters and percentage of catch by year class and months in Month 0 Year I Clas s II III January ; February Size (ram.) , March pril * n ii n ii it 1! May 1! H II II II n June ' i July LI ugust ( September , October Size Cram) ,

16 Table 4. (Cont'd.) Month 0 I Year Class II III November December , Total *No samples taken during month. 122

17 Table 5. Tabulation of data obtained in the survey of the trotline fishery in the Lower Laguna Madre between May 20, 1974 and July 18, 1974 giving number of trotlines, sections of line, hooks, abandoned sections of line, poles on line, abandoned poles, total number of poles, number and type of bait (plastic and natural) and number and condition of lines. Date of Lines of Sections of Hooks of bandoned Lines of Poles on Lines of bandoned Poles Total Poles & Type of Bait and Condition of Line , P14 N12 9 Bll C , P86 N38 12 B60 C , P89 N30 55 B35 C5 D , P44 N14 30 B13 C10 D5 I , P18 N26 8 B19 C4 D , P61 N16 8 B53 C2 D , P17 N18 4 B23 C , P35 N20 8 B32 C5 D , P67 N7 28 B23 C10 D , P64 N B26 C0 D16

18 Table 5. (Cont'd) Date of Lines of Sections of Hooks 7,577 of bandoned Lines of Poles on Lines 834 of bandoned Poles 60 Total Poles 894 & Type of Bait P80 N19 and Condition of Line 9 B88 C2 D ,172 13, , ,760 P107 N81 94 B66 C20 D , P40 N40 33 B18 C16 D13 Total 1,159 7,572 94, ,900 2,519 11,419 P722 N C102 B467 D158 N3 I vg. No. Sections Per Line = 6.53 vg. No. Hooks Per Line =81.43 vg. No. Hooks Per Section =12.47 Total Length of Lines (Type, B. C. and D) = 341,088 ft, or miles. Total Length of Other bandoned Lines = 28, 670 ft, or 5.43 miles. = model line E = wellused line C = long neglected line D = long abandoned line N = natural bait P = plastic bait

19 Table 6. Comparison of data on commercial trotlinecaught red drum in the Lower Laguna Madre for the last four months of 1973 and 1974 by age group. Month 0 I Year Class II III Total Sept , change Oct ,54 7 1, change +0,28 9,83 +10, Nov , change Dec ,46 2 0, , change Total change

20 Spotted seatrout lloi H I II I I I I I M 4n Red drum i / ii ri i f i ' i i Figure 1. verage number of juvenile spotted seatrout and red drum, Upper Laguna Madre,

21 Spotted seatrout I I I II I I I M I 111! I I I rtw "TTTT h (389) Red drum i i ii i i i i i i i I i i I f ii i 11 TI I I i! I I I TI i 11 I i i i I I I n it I *3f Figure 2. verage number of juvenile spotted seatrout and red drum, Lower Laguna Madre, / 127

22 Sheepshead 11 9 ' I M > I I I I i i p 1 I i M i i i i i I i i i ii i i i Figure verage number of juvenile sheepshead, Lower Laguna Madre, «

23 Red drum v r V Spotted seatrout V cr S 1971 F S 1972 F S 1973 F S 1974 F Figure 4. verage yield of adult spotted seatrout and red drum, spring and fall sampling, Lower Laguna Madre,

24 TRMMEL NET TROTLINE YER CLSS O y / / / / a U H s 10 Q Jan Feb Mar pr May June July ug Sept Oct Nov Dec 1974 Figure 5. ages of age groups of red drum catch on commercial trotlines and in trammel net samples. v * * *>

25 K itimks&e T GLVESTON...,.,! ii mm II mill III [ SH 11.T c.2 GBY Coastal fisheries project report

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