(1964) Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the Waters of Region 5-B: Basic Survey and Inventory of Fish Species Present in the Lower Nueces River

--- Page 1 --- JOB COMPLETION REPORT As required by FEDERAL AID IN FISHERIES RESTORATION ACT TEXAS Federal Aid Project No. F-6-R-12 FISHERIES INVESTIGATIONS AND SURVEYS OF THE WATERS OF REGION 5-B Job No. B-23 Basic Survey and Inventory of Fish Species Present in the Lower Nueces River Project Leader: Charles T. Menn J. Weldon Watson Executive Director Parks and Wildlife Department Austin, Texas Marion Toole Eugene A. Walker D-J Coordinator Assistant Director for Wildlife January 21, 1965 --- Page 2 --- ABSTRACT The basic survey of the Lower Nueces River from Wesley Seale Dam to Nueces Bay revealed that channel and blue catfish, largemouth bass and white and black crappie are the principal game fish species. Rough fish species including alligator, spotted and longnose gars, gizzard shad, smallmouth buffalo, striped mullet, bluegill, freshwater drum, Rio Grande perch and lined sole dominated the netting collections both in numbers and in weight with 88.43 per cent of the total number and 97.04 per cent of the weight. No developmental or management work is presently proposed or recommended. --- Page 3 --- JOB COMPLETION REPORT State of Texas Project No. _F-6-R-12 Name: Fisheries Investigations and Surveys of the Waters of Region 5-B Job No. B-23 Title: Basic Survey and Inventory of Fish Present in the Lower Nueces River Period Covered: January 1, 1964 through December 31, 1964 Objectives: To determine the physical, chemical and ecological conditions and the relative numbers of fish species present in the lower portions of the Nueces River lying within San Patricio, Jim Wells and Nueces Counties. Procedures: Field trips were made during the months of February, May, August and November. On each trip, nine netting collections and 10 seining collections were made. Standard, 125-foot long, gill nets were set overnight at established netting stations. Each fish was weighed in grams and measured in millimeters. Internal examinations were made to determine sex, stage of sexual development and incidence of parasitism. Specimens taken in seining collections were preserved in 10 per cent formaldehyde in the field and taken to the Mathis field office for identifi- cation and tabulation. Water analyses were made on each field trip. Notes were made on pollution, aquatic vegetation and topographical data. Maps prepared by the Texas Highway Department were used to pinpoint netting, seining and water analyses stations. A list of the fish species taken in nets and seines is included in Table 1. The scientific and common names used in this table were taken from Hubbs' --- Page 4 --- Table 1. A list of fish species recorded from Lower Nueces River Alligator gar Spotted gar Longnose gar Ladyfish Finescale menhaden Gizzard shad Striped anchovy Mexican tetra Smallmouth buffalo Pugnose minnow Red shiner Bullhead minnow Channel catfish Blue catfish Tadpole madtom Gulf killifish Sheepshead minnow Mosquitofish Sailfin molly Amazon molly Striped mullet Tidewater silverside White bass Largemouth bass Warmouth Bluegill White crappie Black crappie Fountain darter Leatherjacket Freshwater drum Pinfish Rio Grande perch Naked goby Lined sole Lepisosteus spatula Lacépede L, oculatus (Winchell) L. osseus (Linnaeus) Elops saurus Linnaeus Brevoortia gunteri Hildebrand Dorosoma cepedianum (LeSueur) Anchoa hepsetus (Linnaeus) Astyanax mexicanus (Filippi) Ictiobus bubalus (Rafinesque) Opsopoeodus emiliae Hay Notropis lutrensis (Baird and Girard) Pimephales vigilax (Baird and Girard) Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque) i. furcatus (LeSueur) Satan gyrinus (Mitchill) Fundulus grandis Baird and Girard Cyprinodon variegatus Lacépéde Gambusia affinis (Baird and Girard) Mollienesia latipinna LeSueur M. formosa (Girard) Mugil cephalus Linnaeus Menidia beryllina (Cope) Roccus chrysops (Rafinesque) Micropterus salmoides (Lacépéde) Chaenobryttus gulosus (Cuvier) Lepomis machrochirus Rafinesque romoxis annularis Rafinesque nigromaculatus (LeSueur) ——e fonticola (Jordan and Gilbert) Oligoplites saurus (Bloch and Schneider) Aplodinotus grunniens Rafinesque Lagodon rhomboides (Linnaeus) Cichlasoma cyanoguttatum (Baird and Girard) Gobiosoma bosci Lacépéde Achirus lineatus (Linnaeus) --- Page 5 --- Findings: Physical Description That portion of the Nueces River from Wesley Seale Dam, at Lake Corpus Christi, to Nueces Bay on the Texas coast was intensively surveyed during this segment (see map). This section of the river, which is approximately 38 miles in length, flows in a southeasterly direction to Nueces Bay. The average depth varies from approximately 4 to 10 feet, while the average width ranges from about 40 feet below the dam to about 200 feet in the lower reaches of the river. The river banks are sharply cut, indicating flooding in the past. Willows, ash, hackberry, live oak, mesquite, retama, and huisache trees are numerous along the river. Netting Collections Nine netting stations were set up during this survey. They represented the different types of habitat present. An overnight set was made at each station during February, May, August and November. The nets were run the following morning, and data for each fish were recorded. A total of 511 fish of 17 species weighing 963 pounds was taken in the netting collections. Game fish species included channel and blue catfish, white bass, largemouth bass, white and black crappie. Collectively, the game fish comprised 11.57 per cent of the netted specimens and 2.96 per cent of their weight. Tables 2 and 3 show the results of netting by station. A single specimen of white bass was taken below the dam, It apparently came from the lake where they are found in limited numbers. White and black crappie were found in the river, mostly in the lower reaches. Rough fish species including alligator, spotted and longnose gars, gizzard shad, smallmouth buffalo, striped mullet, bluegill, freshwater drum, Rio Grande perch and lined sole dominated the netting collections both in numbers and in weights with 88.43 per cent of the total number and 97.04 per cent of the total weight. Gars of one species or another were taken at all stations and were evenly distributed in the river. Collectively, the three species of gars made up 36.79 per cent of the netting collections by number. Upon examination of their stomachs, shad, silversides, unidentifiable fish remains, grasshoppers, crayfish, and unidentifiable insect remains were found. Visceral round worms were found in several gars. Though gizzard shad were taken at each station, they were more numerous at the lower stations. In the case of smallmouth buffalo, the reverse was true. Table 4 shows the length-weight statistics for fish taken in netting collections. The "K' factors of all fish were considered normal for fish of this area. --- Page 6 --- €7°88 L£G°TT 00°O0T 6S°0 6£°O EL°e 86°0 cere’ 86°0 9L°T 020 CL°S CLS GS*? 88°ST Gc. 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A seining collection was made at each station on each field trip with the exception of the last trip when no collections were made at stations 4, 5, 6 and 8 due to high water. Insofar as possible, the stations represented various types of habitats. All told, 8,604 specimens of 26 species were taken in the 36 seining collections. Table 5 shows the number of each species recorded at each station. Mosquitofish, tidewater silversides, and red shiners, in that order, were the most frequently encountered species. All together, they comprised 72.63 per cent of the total number taken. Mosquitofish and red shiners were taken at every station and tidewater silversides were taken at 9 of the 10 stations. Sheepshead minnows, sailfin mollys, bluegills, etc., were found in lesser numbers in the river. From all indications there is an ample supply of forage fish in the river. Chemical Analysis Two water sampling stations were set up during this survey; one at Bazemore Park and one below State Highway 9 bridge. Each station was visited four times during this study. Surface water samples were tested for dissolved oxygen, dissolved carbon dioxide, total alkalinity, salinity and pH. Dissolved oxygen values ranged from 3.0 to 8.6 p.p.m. and dissolved carbon dioxide ranged from 0.0 to 2.0 p.p.m. Methyl orange alkalinity ranged from 105 to 138 p.p.m. Chlorides varied from 160 to 230 p.p.m. and pH ranged from 7.8 to 8.4. All these values are considered normal for this area. No fish kills were observed or reported in this section of the river during the study period. However, the area game warden reported that a meat processing firm was dumping blood into the river, but fish were not affected. Pollution was not a problem in this section of the river during the study period, Ecological Conditions Rainfall in the lower Nueces River drainage ranges from 25 to 30 inches annually. During mid-October, the river rose some 8 feet above its banks due to overflow from Lake Corpus Christi, which is immediately upstream. The rise did not alter the fish population. Aquatic vegetation consists mostly of arrowhead, cattails, Chara, star- grass and algae. 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Since there is sufficient flow in the river, aquatic vegetation is not considered a problem and is not likely to become one. Good soil conservation practices have been used in this area, but more are needed to prevent soil pollution. Many landowners have planted coastal bermuda along the river. This practice has been very successful in stabilizing soil. No nutria were seen along the river nor was there any indication of their presence. Discussion: At the present time there is a limited population of largemouth bass and white and black crappie. Many anglers limit their fishing to catfish, however. No flatheads were found, but there is a good channel and blue catfish population. No actual count of fishermen was made, but nearly all of them observed were at one of three places; the Highway 359 crossing, Bazemore Park or the Highway 9 crossing. Presently, there are no commercial fishing camps located along the river, but there are a number of bait stands nearby. Recommendations: A commercial netter is recommended to harvest unlimited numbers of gars and smallmouth buffalo from this portion of the river. Any catfish taken in their nets, however, should be returned to the water immediately. The area game warden has reported that he has taken a number of fish traps out of the river. This work should be continued. For the purpose of keeping a check on the populations, a limited survey and creel census should be made in the future for making management proposals. No developmental or management work is presently proposed or recommended. > ee : jf, Prepared by Charles T. Menn Approved by CA iekagves Gf be Project Leader Coordinator Date _ January 21, 1965 Kenneth C. Jurgens Regional Supervisor --- Page 12 --- ca LAKE LOWER NUECES RIVER CORRUS f HRI ST qs ATHIS WESLEY o) SEALE DAM {SODEM COLLECTION STATIONS A Seining J @ Gill netting Y =~, B water analysis © 0 12 3 4 aie fROBSTOWN Seg