TPWD 1970 F-6-R-17 #1356: Fisheries Investigations - Region 5-B, Job No. II: Stocking Recommendations

JOB PROGRESS REPORT ZVZZZE? As required by FEDERAL AID IN FISHERIES RESTORATION ACT TEXAS Federal Aid Project Noe Fm6-R—l7 FISHERIES INVESTIGATIONS - REGION 5-B Job No, II Stocking Recommendations Project Leader: Roger Lo McCabe Jo Ra Singleton Executive Director Parks and Wildlife Department Austin, Texas Marion Toole Eugene A. Walker D-J Coordinator Director, Wildlife Services October 26, 1970 SUMMARY- "a There were no newly constructed or renovated public waters in Region 5-3 which warranted stocking surveys. Basic inventory samples were taken from the Frio, Nueces, and San Antonio Rivers and from Corpus Christi and Alice Lakes.’ Various sizes of straight mesh and experimental gill nets and seines were used during sampling efforts. Spring and fall collections were con— ducted for gathering physical data and game fishnrough fish percentages. Surface water samples were tested for temperature, pH, alkalinity, . dissolved oxygen, carbon dioxide, and turbidity. No detrimental readings were revealed from waters investigated. 1 The Frio and Nueces Rivers exhibited large rough fish p0pulation and poor catfish reproduction. The overall game fish populations at the San Antonio River and Lakes Corpus Christi and Alice were considered satis- factory, although flathead catfish numbers seem to be declining in Lake Corpus Christi. Additional channel catfish stockings are recommended for the Frio and Nueces Rivers in the amounts of 1,000 and 5,000 fingerlings, respectively. Concentrated efforts in rough fish removal by contract fishermen should be encouraged in the lower Nueces River. Flathead catfish releases should be carried out at Lake Corpus Christi as fingerlings become available from State hatcheries. JOB PROGRESS REPORT State Texas Project No. Fm6mle7 Project Title: Fisheries Investigations _ Region 5~B ' Job No. _____£l_______,_ Job Title: Stockin;_Recommendationsh__ Period Covered: _Janparx l_-l969_t9-Pecsmbsr.31.-l9fi9_---___.-._. Objectives: To determine the waters in Region SeB which would benefit from stocking. 1. To recommend stocking ratios for newly constructed or renovated waters. 2. To determine the abundance of age group Owl in waters having established fish populations. 3. To recommend stocking of waters having established fish populations but lack game species in age group Owl. Procedures: There were no newly constructed or renovated public waters in Region 5mB which warranted stocking surveys during this segment; therefore, investim gations were made in basically the same areas as in 1968. Sampling was conducted on the Frio, Nueces, and San Antonio Rivers and at Corpus Christi and Alice Lakes. Spring and fall collections were made on all except Lake Corpus Christi, where data were gathered from one survey and six supplemental sampling trips made in conjunction with a fish aging study (Job IV) being conducted there. Collections were made using various sizes and numbers of nylon straight mesh (100- to 400wfoot) and standard experimental (l50wfoot) gill nets, a 20-foot straight seine, and a 32mfoot bag seine. Gill net mesh sizes ranged from one to four inches square, while both seines were constructed of oneu fourth of an inch mesh nylon material. Gill nets were set overnight at each of the locations. Seine drags varied from two to eight, due to inhibitive conditions found at some of the sampling sites. Collections were categorized and counted, then weighed and measured for physical data. These data were tabulated by species and game fish _ rough fish percentages were calculated. Procedures: (Continued) Basic water tests were run at each location to determine general water quality. Surface samples were tested for temperature, pH, alkalinity, dis~ solved oxygen, carbon dioxide, and turbidity. Findings: Frio River A twoemile portion of the Frio River located one-half mile west of Three Rivers, Live Oak County, was sampled during May and December. The average width of the river at this location is approximately 40 feet and the average depth is about six feet. Steep banks occur on either side except in the area of a pool created by a small dam located at the Tips County Park site. Large numbers of fish congregate in this pool and fishing pressure is rela— tively heavy. Night fishing is popular; therefore, netting in the pool itself is difficult. Gill net productivity is usually low for game species above and below the pool, as can be seen in Table 1. Approximately 8,000 fingerling channel catfish were released in this area of the Frio River on September 18, 1968. Extremely heavy rains and consequent flooding occurred soon after the release and many of these cat- fish were believed to have relocated. Seining yielded numerous yearling channel catfish, white crappie, and black crappie. Several Owl age group largemouth bass and adult bluegill and redear sunfish were also taken. Abundant red shiners, tidewater silver~ sides, gizzard shad, pugnose minnows, and mosquitofish comprised the forage species. Results of the water analyses (Table 2) revealed no adverse conditions at the time of sampling. Discharge from the city water filtration plant in the immediate area apparently renders no harmful effects. ‘ Nueces River The lower portion of the Nueces River between Wesley Seale Dam and U. S. Highway 77, lying mostly in Nueces County, was also sampled during May and December. Steep banks and deep water characterize this portion of the river. Fishing pressure varies throughout this 20~mile stretch. Trotlining is popular in many areas, while rodmandureel fishermen frequent Bazemore and Nueces River Parks. Channel and blue catfishes are the most sought-after game species. Rough fish species are well established in the river and comprise a large percentage of the gill net catches (Table 3). Blue crabs are relatively abundant in the lower extremity and cause heavy gill net damage. Table l Frio River Netting Results, 1969 Alligator gar Spotted gar Longnose gar Gizzard shad Smallmouth buffalo Channel catfish* Black bullhead Flathead catfish* White crappie* Freshwater drum Game fish Rough fish .J I V denotes game fish Table 2 Frio River Water Analyses Results, 1969 Date: May 23 May 23 I Dec. 11 Location: Above dam Water Plant Water Plant Discharge Discharge Depth: Surface Surface Temperature: 780 F 540 F Dissolved Oxygen (ppm): . . 9.0 Carbon Dioxide (ppm): I.. f 1 . 5.0 M. 0. Alkalinity (ppm): Turbidity (Secchi): pH: Table 3 Nueces River Netting Results, 1969 Alligator gar Spotted gar Longnose gar Gizzard shad Smallmouth buffalo Carp Channel catfish* Blue catfish* Striped mullet White bass* White crappie* Freshwater drum Game fish Rough fish a z < denotes game fish Findings: (Continued) Seining areas are extremely limited and only a few Owl age largemouth bass and sunfish were captured during the two sampling surveys. Forage species were abundant, with red shiners, sheepshead minnows, pugnose minnows, bullhead minnows, and sailfin mollies comprising the majority of the yield. A total of 5,500 fingerling channel catfish were released in this portion of the Nueces River on September 18, 1968. It is believed that the survival of these catfish was greatly reduced due to predation and com- petition with the existing pepulation. No abnormal conditions were revealed from water analyses (Table 4). San Antonio River May and November sampling was carried out on a threemmile portion of the San Antonio River in Karnes County from the FM 791 crossing to Conquista Park. Steep banks and deep water predominate, although limestone bedrock underlying shallow areas provides fast moving water in several locations. Fishing pressure is consistently moderate at Conquista Park and adjoining areas. Good catches of channel catfish are commonly taken on trotline and rod and reel, while flathead catfish are reportedly taken less frequently. The game fishmrough fish ratio for this river was noticeably better than the two preceeding rivers, which can be attributed to more conducive habitat. Table 5 shows netting results for the Spring and fall surveys. Several yearling channel catfish were taken with gill nets and numerous Owl age group catfish were captured with seines and released. A single Owl age group largemouth bass was also captured during spring seining. Dissolved oxygen readings were slightly lower than normal during both surveys and the carbon dioxide was slightly higher (Table 6). Alkalinity readings were high, as usual, due to the large expanses of limestone outm croppings along the river basin. Lake Corpus Christi This 22,000macre impoundment lies within Live Oak, Jim Wells, and San Patricio Counties and is the largest lake in Region 5—B. It is controlled by the Lower Nueces Water District and provides the domestic and industrial water supply for the city of Corpus Christi and much of the surrounding area. Data from the November fisheries survey were supplemented with those from six sampling trips made in conjunction with an experimental fish aging study. Game species accounted for 52.2 per cent by number but only 23.3 per cent by weight of the total netting yield for November (Table 7). As Table 7 indicates, only one white bass was taken during the fall survey. Table 4 Nueces River Water Analyses Results, 1969 Date: May 21 December 19 Location: Nueces River Bazemore Park Park Depth: Surface Surface 0 Temperature: 78 F Dissolved Oxygen (ppm): Carbon Dioxide (ppm): M. 0. Alkalinity (ppm): Turbidity (Secchi): pH: Table 5 San Antonio River Netting Results, 1969 Per‘Cent Spotted gar Longnose gar Gizzard shad Smallmouth buffalo Channel catfish* White crappie* Rio Grande perch Game fish Rough fish * denotes game fish