Annual cycle of sportfishing activity at a warmwater discharge into Galveston Bay, Texas.

Date

1973

Authors

Landry, A.M., Jr.
Strawn, K.

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Abstract

A survey of sportfishing activity at the P.H. Robinson Generating Station discharge into Galveston Bay, Texas (USA) was taken from 21 Oct. 1968 through 8 Nov. 1969. During 108 daily checks, 1063 fishermen were interviewed and 2635 fish counted. Fishing activity was related to season and temperature of the heated effluent. Maximum fishing pressure and largest catches occurred during the period Dec. 1968 through April 1969 and Nov. 1969 when discharge water temperatures and flow rates were minimum. Lowest angling activity and catch rates were recorded from June through Sept. 1969 when water temperatures approached 40 C in the upper part of the fishing area. Atlantic croaker, Micropogon undulatus; sea catfish (hardhead), Arius felis; sand seatrout, Cynoscion arenarius; black drum, Pogonias cromis; red drum, Sciaenops ocellata; and spot, Leiostomus xanthurus, in order of decreasing abundance, accounted for 96.7% of the fish counted during the study. Seine, trawl, and trammel net data taken from the outfall area indicated that creel survey data of fishing pressure and angling success were valid indicators of fish concentration.

Description

p. 573-577.

Keywords

marine fish, sport fishing, thermal pollution, temperature effects, biotic pressure

Citation