Population Studies of the Blue Crabs of the San Antonio-Espiritu Santo Bay System - Studies of the Blue Crab Populations of the Texas Coast

Abstract

Trawls and trammel nets were the sample devices that caught enough Blue Crabs (Callinectes sapidus) for comparison studies. Trawls caught best February through June, and trammel nets, May through November. Most crabs taken by trawl were caught at station in low salinity areas. Trammel net catches were best in an area located between San Antonio and Espiritu Santo Bays. Abundance in samples ranged from 8.7 crabs (all sizes) per sample to 1.9 crabs per sample. A general downward trend in crab abundance appeared in 1963. Sample catches were composed of 54.8 per cent males and 45.2 per cent females. A total of 149 crabs were tagged and released. There were 80 males and 69 females tagged. Only one tag was returned, but no catch information was received. Commercial production decreased from 877,000 pounds in 1962 to 509,000 pounds in 1963.