TPWD 1961 F-5-R-8 #665: Experimental Stocking of Channel Bass, Sciaenops ocellata, in Red Bluff Reservoir and the Pecos River of Texas

Job Completion Report State of TEXAS Project No. F—S-R-B Name: Fisheries Investigations and Survexs of the waters of Region 3wB. Job No. E11 Title: Engerimental Stocking of Channel Bass, Scaenops ocellatusa in Red Bluff Reservoir and the Pecos of Texas._ Period covered: April 12 1960 - March 312 1961 OBJECTIVES To determine if any of the above game species may be successfully introduced into these inland waters and to obtain data pertaining to their ecological requirements. PROCEDURE All personnel assigned to this project traveled to the Texas coast in April of 1960. Seining was the method used to captnre the young fish required for experimental release, and 100 foot, é—inch mesh, straight seines and 30 foot, gminch mesh, bag seines were the equipment used. Four days were spent seining in the Laguna Madre in the Flour Bluff coastal area, near Corpus Christi, Texas. The fish captured were transported by truck to Imperial Reservoir on the Pecos River. near Imperial, Texas, where the following releases were made: 1. Channel bass or redfish9 2&6 individuals averaging about 76.3 mm. in length. 2. 300 golden croakers, Micropogon undulatusy averaging about 59 mm. in length. 3. 3O spotted squeteague, anoscion nebnlosuey averaging about 96 mm. in length. h. 50 southern flounder, Paraliohthgs lethostigmap averaging about 85 an. in length. In addition to the above, a few fish'were released in Red Bluff Reservoir near the NeW'Mexico border. Included in these releases were: 1. 3O spotted squeteague' 2. 50 red fish 3. 2S flounder Six months after the fish were transplanted. gill nets were set in Imperial Reser~_ voir in an attempt to recapture some of the fish released. (Note: It was impossible? for practical reasons? to complete the procedure ap- proved in the job description. An insufficient number of redfish were captured and the physical condition of these fish, after being_transported in trucks for a distance of more than.300 miles, was such that it was deemed essential to the success of the entire effort that the fish be released as soon as was possible. DiscussionS'with Marine Biologist Earnest Simmons, and with other marine personnel, were the basis for -2- J deciding to include the other marine species in the experimental transplantations. These fish were also included because they were secured at no additional cost.) RESULTS According to reports and observations by the lake keeper at Imperial Reservoir several of the released fish were caught by fishermen within a few months after they were introduced into the lake. On September 8, 1960, gill nets set by project personnel captured two of the redfish released in April. After less than five months in the inland waters these fish averaged #50 grams in weight and were in excellent condition. There was no recognizable evidence of sexual development. At the same time one golden croaker that weighed 93 grams was caught in the nets. The stomach of this fish was empty and there was no evidence of sexual development. Two jaW'tags were recovered during the year. These identifying tags were attached to the adult redfish released in the Pecos River near Imperial in December, 1959. Since the person capturing these fish did not weigh the fish or retain them, no grovth or other data such as sexual development was obtained. The two fish from which the tags were taken were described as weighing about three pounds and being over a foot in length. COSTS The following estimates are believed to be a near maximum figure because they in— clude items that could partly be charged to other work. _ Su arrision & Labor Travel Ex enses Title Man days Salary idollarsi Number Per diem.idollars5;Mi1eage (dolla1-, on job per day- total of days total cost miles cost Project leader 6 25 150 h 36 1000 80.00 Asst. . leader u 22 88 h 36 1800 1th.00 Field assistants 16 11 176 16 1th 100.00 Total _ £15 215 325.00 ' Total costs equals $95h.00 If the above total cost estimate is used and only living fish_delivered at the reservoirs are considered, then the estimated cost per fish delivered was $1.31. It is pointed out that of the above costs $630.00, or 66 percent of total costs, were required for salaries and in-the-field—maintenance of personnel. If salaries are not included in the costs of this 30b the cost of each fish was about 73 cents. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Although a lesser number of redfish than was desired were captured, it is believed that a colony of at least several individual fish survived the transplantation in Imperial Reservoir. It is not expected that a large percentage of the fish released in Red Bluff survived. Since the primary step of determining if survival of the fish _3- has been answered in an affirmative manner by the recapture of a few fish, it is con- cluded that further investigation is desirable. 'However, a reduction of the costs involved is necessary and is believed to be possible through a reduction in the vehicles and personnel used to secure the fish on the coaSt, and also it is believed that a less expensive means of transporting the fiSh to the inland waters may be found. It is recommended that this work be continued during the next segment._ \ (“a Prepared by Lawrence S. Campbell _ ' Approved by ' Project Leader ’ ' Director Inland Fisheries Division Date August 22, 1961 -» a. I II lilgi