TPWD 1972 F-6-R-19 #1441: Fisheries Investigations, Region 5-B: Job No. I, Fish Harvest Regulations and Stocking Recommendations, Project F-6-R-19

--- Page 1 --- JOB PROGRESS REPORT As required by FEDERAL AID IN FISHERIES RESTORATION ACT TEXAS Federal Aid Project No. F-6-R-19 FISHERIES INVESTIGATIONS, REGION 5-B Job No. I, Fish Harvest Regulations and Stocking Recommendations Project Leader: R. L. McCabe Clayton Garrison Executive Director Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Austin, Texas Lonnie Peters R, J. Kemp Chief, Inland Fisheries Director, Fish and Wildlife Division October 19, 1972 --- Page 2 --- SUMMARY Changes in the Southeast, Oak Prairie, South Central Texas Hunting, Fish- ing, and Trapping Proclamation were approved in amended form by the Parks and Wildlife Commission on September 31, 1971. Live Oak County, which had been under general law during previous years, was placed under regulatory authority during segment 19. Fishing regulations will be in compliance with the 1971-72 Proclamation. Possession and bag limits on channel, blue, and flathead catfish were removed "in the Nueces River below Wesley Seale Dam to Nueces Bay, in Medio Creek where it forms the boundary between Bee and Goliad Counties, and in the Aransas River where it forms the boundary of San Patricio County with Refugio County....'"' In all other areas of Region 5-B under regulatory author- ity, channel, blue, and flathead catfish now have a possession limit of fifty (50) in the aggregate and a minimum size limit of eleven (11) inches. Another change removed the portion of Lake Corpus Christi in San Patricio and Jim Wells Counties from a list of areas with special regulations and brought the whole lake under regulatory law. A new regulation affecting the entire South Central district states that "all freshwater trotlines must be identified by a legible tag, constructed of a material as durable as the trotline, bearing the name and address of the fisherman and the date it was set out." There were no newly constructed or renovated waters in Region 5-B; there- fore, no stocking ratio determinations were necessary. Surveys to determine species composition and abundance of young game fish were conducted at the Frio, Nueces, and San Antonio Rivers, and at Lake Corpus Christi and Alice City Lake. Management practices have been ineffective in improving the river fisheries in area 5-B and plans to discontinue river surveys at the end of segment 19 have been made and approved. Alice City Lake received releases of 2,000 advanced young channel catfish during segment 19. Releases of advanced fingerling flathead catfish are recom- mended for Alice City Lake and Lake Corpus Christi when they become available from Region 5 hatcheries. --- Page 3 --- JOB PROGRESS REPORT State Texas Project No. F-6-R-19 - Project Title: Fisheries Investigations - Region 5-B Job No. I Job Title: Fish Harvest Regulations and Stocking Recommendations Period Covered: January 1, 1971 to December 31, 1971 OBJECTIVES: To situate fish harvest regulations and stocking needs for Region 5-B waters. 1. To recommend fish harvest regulations to the Texas Parks and Wild- life Commission. 2. To recommend stocking ratios for newly constructed or renovated waters. 3. To determine the species composition and abundance of young game fishes in specified waters having established fish populations. 4, To recommend stocking of specified waters having established fish populations which exhibit deficits of young game fishes. PROCEDURES: On March 26, 1971, a meeting of biologists and game management officers was conducted for the purpose of formulating changes in hunting and fishing regulations in the regulatory counties of Region 5-B. The proposed changes were forwarded through proper channels to Austin headquarters for approval prior to presentation to the public at hearings in each county under regulatory authority. The Proclamation changes, along with records of each hearing, in- cluding public testimony, were then submitted to the Parks and Wildlife Com- mission for final consideration. --- Page 4 --- Ds PROCEDURES: (Cont.) Date Time Town County Number Attending May 3 8:00 pm Beeville Bee 4 May 3 2:00 pm Sinton San Patricio 2 May 3 10:00 am Rockport Aransas 1 May 5 10:00 am San Diego Duval 0 May 5 2:00 pm Alice Jim Wells 0 Sept 14 8:00 am George West Live Oak 0 Sept 14 10:00 am Sinton San Patricio 0 Sept 14 2:00 pm Alice Jim Wells 0 There were no newly constructed or renovated waters in Region 5-B; there- fore, no stocking ratio determinations were necessary during segment 19. Fisheries surveys were conducted at sites on the Frio, Nueces, and San Antonio Rivers, Alice City Lake, and Lake Corpus Christi. Information pertaining to the location and description of each area was given in the 1969 job progress report. Overnight gill netting and marginal seining were the major sampling tech- niques used during spring and fall surveys of each site. Limited use of a hoop net and trawl provided supplementary data. Netting equipment consisted of straight mesh gill nets (1; 1%5 or 2-inch mesh and 100-feet long), experimental gill nets (l-to 34-inch mesh and 150-feet long), and graduated mesh gill nets (%-to 3-inch mesh and 100-feet long). Three seines were utilized in making fish collections. They included a 20-foot straight seine with 1/8-inch mesh, a 20-foot bag seine with 1/8-inch mesh, and a 32-foot bag seine with 1/8-inch mesh. Other sampling equipment consisted of a 10-foot otter trawl and a 3-foot diameter hoop net. All game fishes and a representative sample of rough fishes, taken by net and trawl, were weighed and measured individually. Numbers and bulk weights were recorded for each species and game fish-rough fish ratios were determined. Seine samples were preserved in formalin and later categorized by species and size range. Surface water samples were taken at each site and tested for temperature, dissolved oxygen, carbon dioxide, turbidity, alkalinity, pH, chlorides, and total hardness. All fish species encountered during segment 19 are included in Table l. Common and scientific names are in accord with those found in Special Publi- cation No. 6, A List of Common and Scientific Names of Fishes from the United States and Canada (Third Fdition), a publication of the American Fisheries Society. --- Page 5 --- Spotted gar Longnose gar Alligator gar Gizzard shad Threadfin shad Mexican tetra Carp Golden shiner Blackspot shiner Pugnose minnow Red shiner Proserpine shiner Blacktail shiner Bullhead minnow River carpsucker Smallmouth buffalo Blue catfish Black bullhead Channel catfish Flathead catfish Mosquitofish Sailfin molly Tidewater silversides White bass Green sunfish Warmouth Bluegill Longear sunfish Redear sunfish Largemouth bass White crappie Black crappie Freshwater drum Rio Grande perch Table 1 Species Checklist Lepisosteus oculatus Lepisosteus osseus Lepisosteus spatula Dorosoma cepedianum Dorosoma petenense Astyanax mexicanus Cyprinus carpio Notemigonus crysoleucas Notropis atrocaudalis Notropis emiliae Notropis lutrensis Notropis proserpinus Notropis venustus Pimephales vigilax Carpiodes carpio Ictiobus bubalus Ictalurus furcatus Ictalurus melas Ictalurus punctatus Pylodictis olivaris Gambusia affinis Poecilia latipinna Menidia beryllina Morone chrysops Lepomis cyanellus Lepomis gulosus Lepomis macrochirus Lepomis megalotis Lepomis microlophus Micropterus salmoides Pomoxis annularis Pomoxis nigromaculatus Aplodinotus grunniens Cichlasoma cyanoguttatum --- Page 6 --- FINDINGS: The Trapping Wildlife cluded: Te Fish Harvest Regulations Southeast, Oak Prairie, South Central Texas Hunting, Fishing, and Proclamation was approved in amended form by the Texas Parks and Commission on September 31, 1971. The following changes were in- A possession limit of fifty (50) in the aggregate and a minimum size limit of eleven (11) inches was imposed on channel, blue, and flathead catfish in all the regulatory counties of Region 5-B. The portion of Lake Corpus Christi in San Patricio and Jim Wells Counties was removed from a list of areas with special possession and bag limits and was placed under regulatory law. Special possession and bag limits were removed on channel, blue, and flathead catfish "in the Nueces River below Wesley Seale Dam to Nueces Bay, in Medio Creek where it forms the boundary between Bee and Karnes Counties, in Blanco Creek and the Sarco River where they form the boundary between Bee and Goliad Counties, and in the Aransas River where it forms the boundary of San Patricio County with Refugio County...." In all regulatory counties of the South Central District "all freshwater trotlines must be identified by a legible tag, con- structed of a material as durable as the trotline, bearing the name and address of the fisherman and the date it was set out." Live Oak County, which had been under general law during previous years, was placed under regulatory authority during segment 19. Fishing regulations will be in compliance with the 1971-72 Proc- lamation. Fishery Surveys Frio River (Live Oak County) Surveys were conducted over a one mile area of the river adjacent to Tips County Park extending above and below State Highway 72 bridge. Data obtained from seven experimental gill nets set overnight during the two sampling efforts showed no significant variation from past surveys. Of the 98 individuals taken, 19.4 per cent were game fishes and 80.6 per cent were rough fishes (Table 2). The game fish-rough fish ratio was lower than in 1970 when game fish comprised 33.8 per cent of the total yield, yet higher than the 1969 ratio when game fishes accounted for only 4.5 per cent of the total yield. --- Page 7 --- Table 2 Frio River Netting Results, April and November 1971 Species No. ZNO. Wet. TW. Avg. K Avg. Wt. Alligator gar 3 3.06 4.7 4.16 1.6 Spotted gar 13 13.27 20.3 17.98 1.6 Longnose gar 9 9.18 31.1 27.55 365 Gizzard shad 32 32.66 9.8 8.68 0.3 Smallmouth buffalo 15 15.31 28.7 25.42 1.9 Carp 2 2.04 1.9 1.68 1.0 Channel catfish* 7 7.14 5.5 4.87 1.64 0.8 Blue catfish* 1 1.02 1.5 L.33 1.76 1.5 Flathead catfish* 1 1.02 1.1 0.97 1.59 Lil White bass* 3 3.06 1.5 1.33 2.76 0.5 Warmouth* 2 2.04 0.6 0.53 4.58 0.3 White crappie* 4 4.08 1.5 1.33 2.76 0.4 Black crappie* 1 1.02 0.3 0.27 3.66 0.3 Freshwater drum 4 4.08 4.2 34/2 1.1 Rio Grande perch 1 1.02 0.2 0.18 0.2 See Total 98 100.00 112.9 100.00 Game fish 19 19.38 12.40 10.63 Rough fish 79 80.62 100.9 89.37 -__oo eee * Denotes game fish --- Page 8 --- FINDINGS: (Cont.) During the spring survey marginal seining produced adequate numbers of forage species with an abundance of red shiners and bullhead minnows. Mod- erate numbers of gizzard shad, threadfin shad, mosquitofish, and proserpine shiner were found. Small numbers of young-of-the-year channel catfish and largemouth bass were seined. Seining was not attempted in the fall due to flood conditions and steep muddy banks. The setting of a hoop net with a 50-foot lead had negative results. Water analyses results are given in Table 3. High alkalinity and chloride readings were present in the April sample but were normal the following No- vember. These high readings were apparently related to drought conditions and low water levels which had persisted for several months prior to the survey. Nueces River (Jim Wells, San Patricio, and Nueces Counties) An area of the Nueces River below the Wesley Seale Dam extending south into Nueces County was sampled during May and December. The area is subject to wide fluctuations in water levels and frequent flooding. Fishing pressure is high for channel and blue catfish year-round and for white bass during the fall spawning season. Table 4 gives the results of gill netting efforts. Overnight sets of four experimental gill nets produced a poor rough fish-game fish ratio. Twenty-three game fish were caught and represented only 27.1 per cent of the total yield. Channel and blue catfish accounted for 91.3 per cent of the game fish netted. Longnose gar, spotted gar, smallmouth buffalo, and freshwater drum were the major rough fishes present. Gizzard shad, which had dominated net yields in past years, were not found in the nets and only two were taken by seine. Both netting and seining produced numerous blue crabs (Callinectes sp.). Marginal seining was not attempted during the spring survey due to the inaccessability of the area. Fall seining revealed large numbers of bluegills, bullhead minnows, and pugnose minnows; 14 immature white bass and 3 young-of- the-year channel catfish were taken. Other fish species, represented in small numbers, included mosquitofish, pugnose minnow, gizzard shad, warmouth, and freshwater goby. Water analyses results are considered normal for the area (Table 5). --- Page 9 --- Table 3 Frio River Water Analyses Results, 1971 enema nenmnennennneennenennnennenenee ee eee April 27 November 24 Location Tips Park Tips Park Depth Surface Surface Water temperature (°F.) 73° 58° Dissolved oxygen (ppm) 10.0 14.0 Carbon dioxide (ppm) <4.0 2.5 M. O. alkalinity (ppm) 500.0 230.0 Turbidity (JTU) 10.0 65.0 pH 6.9 7.3 Chlorides (C17) (ppm) 850.0 250.0 Table 4 Nueces River Netting Results, May and December 1971 _ Species No. 7No. Wet. AWt. Avg. K Avg. Wt. Alligator gar 1 1.17 9.5 4.94 9.5 Spotted gar 4 4.71 6.1 3.17 Le5 Longnose gar 19 22.35 69.0 35.5 90 3.6 Smallmouth buffalo 15 17.65 78.5 40.84 5.2 Channel catfish* 14 16.47 7.25 3.75 1.66 0.8 Blue cat fish* 7 8.24 12.22 6.35 1.66 2.4 Bluegill* 2 2.35 0.2 0.11 4.51 0.1 Freshwater drum 23. ~—-27.06 9.55 4.94 0.6 eee Total 85 100.00 192.2 100.00 Game fish 23.27.06 19.6 10.21 Rough fish 62 72.94 172.6 89.79 _ eee * Denotes game fish 1 Based on 9 fish 2 Based on 5 fish 3. Based on 15 fish --- Page 10 --- FINDINGS: (Cont.) Table 5 Nueces River Water Analyses Results, 1971 a December 21 I Location State Hwy. 359 Crossing Depth Surface Water temperature (°F.) 66° Dissolved oxygen (ppm) 8.0 Carbon dioxide (ppm) 4.0 M. O. alkalinity (ppm) 110.0 Turbidity (JTU) 30.0 pH 7.25 Chlorides (C1) (ppm) 30.0 Total hardness (ppm) 160.0 a San Antonio River (Karnes County) The San Antonio River was sampled at Conquista Park in April and November. The park is located on F. M. 791 east of Falls City, Texas. This area of the river is characterized by steep banks, deep pools, and rapids created by lime- stome outcroppings. Four experimental and eight l-inch mesh gill nets yielded 122 specimens (Table 6). Game fish accounted for 21.3 per cent of the total yield as com- pared with 34.8 per cent in 1969 and 18.7 per cent in 1970. The per cent of game fish by weight showed little deviation from past surveys. Red shiners and bullhead minnows were abundant in the spring seining collection. Young-of-the-year channel catfish were well represented in the fall, giving a good indication of a successful spawn. Fall seining also pro- duced many bullhead minnows and Mexican tetras, with fewer numbers of gizzard shad, sailfin mollies, bluegills, and green sunfish. Results of water analyses are given in Table 7. A higher than normal turbidity reading was found during the October survey as a result of the heavy rains which occurred in the area prior to and during the survey. No other abnormal readings were noted. --- Page 11 --- = Table 6 San Antonio River Netting Results, April and October 1971 a+r eee ee EEE ree Species No. bNO. Wt. Wt. Avg. K Avg. Wt. Spotted gar 2 1.64 3.2 2024 1.6 Longnose gar 15 12 «30 12 a2 8.55 0.8 Gizzard shad 53 43.44 29.1 20.39 0.5 Smallmouth buffalo 21 17.21 63.6 44.57 3.0 River carpsucker 1 0.82 1.8 Le26 1.8 Carp 1 0.82 1.9 1.33 1.9 Channel catfish* 16 13.11 11.3 7.92 1 67 0.7 Flathead catfish* 4 3.28 17.6 12.34 1.90 4.4 Largemouth bass* 2 1.64 0.4 0.28 2.37 0.2 Longear sunfish* 2 1.64 0.2 0.14 4.91 0.1 White crappie* 2 1.64 1.0 0.70 2.92 0.5 Rio Grande perch 3 2.46 0.4 0.28 0.1 ——---rrrr Total 122 100.00 142.7 100.00 Game fish 26 21.31 30.5 21.38 Rough fish 96 78.69 112.2 78.62 _ TT ale nw Denotes game fish --- Page 12 --- -10- FINDINGS: (Cont.) Table 7 San Antonio Water Analyses Results, 1971 April 8 October 20 Location Conquista Park* Conquista Park* Depth Surface Surface Water temperature (°F.) 64.4° 75° Dissolved Oxygen (ppm) 9.0 14.0 Carbon dioxide (ppm) é5 65 M. O. alkalinity (ppm) 260.0 210.0 Turbidity (JTU) 33..0 120.0 pH 6.8 8.2 Chlorides (C17) (ppm) 140.0 40 Total hardness (ppm) 330.0 310.0 al. * Denotes below rapids \ Lake Corpus Christi (Live Oak, Jim Wells, and San Patricio Counties) Fisheries surveys were conducted in April and December at Lake Corpus Christi. Additional data were obtained in November when project personnel assisted the Bureau of Sports Fisheries and Wildlife in an annual pesticide monitoring survey. Nine experimental, three l-inch, one 1ls-inch, and three variable mesh (s- 3-inch) gill nets were set during the year. A total of 199 game fish (152.5 1b.) and 236 rough fish (181.7 1b.) were caught (Table 8). Game fish represented 45.8 per cent of the total number and 45.6 per cent of the total weight. The game fish-rough fish ratio was consistent with past survey results. The seining collection contained many bluegill and redear sunfishes of all sizes. Forage species were abundant and included bullhead minnow, mosquitofish, pugnose minnow, and blackspot shiner. Ten young-of-the-year largemouth bass were recorded as compared with 3 in 1970 and 9 in 1969. Water analyses data showed favorable water quality (Table 9). No oxygen reading was taken during the December survey due to the contamination of a reagent used in the process. --- Page 13 --- -1l- Table 8 Lake Corpus Christi Netting Results, April, November, and December 1971 ae Species No. ZNO « We. AW. Ave. K Avg. Wt. Alligator gar 1 0.23 1.2 0.36 1. 2 Spotted gar 28 6.43 67.4 20.17 2.4 Gizzard shad 106 24.37 30.7 9.19 0.3 Smallmouth buffalo 9 2.07 29.0 8.68 3.2 Carp 2 0.46 1.7 0.51 0.9 Channel catfish* Al 9.42 12.9 3.86 1.54 0.3 Blue catfish* 69 15.86 112.0 33.51 1.57 1.6 White bass* 13 2.99 5.5 1.64 2.60 0.4 Largemouth bass* 3 0.69 1.1 0.33 2.41 0.4 Redear sunfish* 12 2.76 1.1 0.33 385 O.1 Bluegill* 8 1.84 0.7 0.21 4.29 0.1 White crappie* 21 4.83 10.4 3.11 2.86 0.5 Black crappie* 32 7.36 8.8 2.63 3.45 0.3 Freshwater drum 90 20.69 51.7 15.47 0.6 emcee eeeeeennneeemeenemeemeemeennnemenenenee semen eee Total 435 100.00 334.2 100.00 Game fish 199 45.75 1d2 5 45.62 Rough fish 236 54.25 181.7 54.38 -———————-_-r—rrrr / ats ra Denotes game fish --- Page 14 --- 212% FINDINGS: (Cont.) Table 9 Lake Corpus Christi Water Analyses Results, 1971 April 30 December 17 Location Lake Corpus Christi** Lake Corpus Christi** Depth Surface Surface Water temperature (OF.) 77 65° *Dissolved oxygen (ppm) 12.0 * X Carbon dioxide (ppm) é5 <5 M. O. alkalinity (ppm) 165.0 130.0 Turbidity (JTU) 30 52 pH 6.8 7.0 Chlorides (C17) (ppm) 713.0 35.0 Total hardness (ppm) 180.0 130.0 * PAO reagent contaminated; no reading *%* Denotes Weber's Camp Alice City Lake (Jim Wells County) Eight experimental and five l-inch mesh gill nets were utilized on Alice City Lake. Netting produced 461 fish with a total weight of 196.6 pounds (Table 10). Channel catfish, black crappie, and white crappie were present in fewer numbers than in past samples; gizzard shad and black bullhead numbers increased. The game fish-rough fish ratio was lower than in either 1969 or 1970, with game fish representing only 23.0 per cent of the total number and 48.1 per cent of the total weight. In an attempt to increase game fish numbers, 2,000 advanced young channel catfish were stocked in the lake in December 1971. Seining activities produced only six 0-1 age group largemouth bass and no O-1 age group channel catfish. Forage fishes were abundant with large numbers of bluegill, gizzard shad, Mexican tetra, tidewater silverside, and bullhead minnow. The seine collection was supplemented by both daytime and nighttime trawl- ing efforts. Even though the catch was limited, nighttime trawling was most effective, producing small numbers of 0-1 age group channel catfish, threadfin shad, and gizzard shad. Additional data were obtained from the setting of a hoop net in which 30 fishes were caught. The yield, however, was limited to black bullheads and several sunfish species. --- Page 15 --- -13- FINDINGS: (Cont.) Surface water samples were taken and analyzed during each survey (Table 11). Results of the analyses were considered normal for the lake and no significant changes in water quality were observed during the year. Table 10 Alice City Lake Netting Results, May and November 1971 __Species————C“‘NO ~~ NOw~—SCOWtyw’—~S*s=~=*é‘WSW”SW”*C*CACg@sw:«&K Ag. WE Gizzard shad 201 43.60 59.1 30.06 0.3 Smallmouth buffalo 1 0.22 1.4 0.71 1.4 Carp 2 0.43 5.0 2.54 2.5 Golden shiner 59 12.80 10.8 5.50 0.2 Channel catfish* 32 6.94 49.6 25.23 1.82 1.6 Black bullhead 92 19.96 2501 13.07 0.3 Largemouth bass* 13 2.82 28.9 14.70 2.63 2.2 Warmouth* 6 1.30 0.6 0.31 O.1 Redear sunfish* 2 0.43 0.3 0.15 2.98 0.2 Bluegill* 20 4.34 1.9 0.97 4.15 0.1 White crappie* 18 3.91 7.4 3.76 2.81 0.4 Black crappie* 15 34.25 59 3.00 3.36 0.4 sna RRR ene ee eT Total 461 100.00 196.6 100.00 Game fish 106 22499 94.6 48.12 Rough fish 355 77.01 102.0 51.88 a nce * Denotes game fish --- Page 16 --- -14- FINDINGS: (Cont.) Table 11 Alice City Lake Water Analyses Results, 1971 May 20 November 12 Location Alice City Lake Alice City Lake Depth Surface Surface Water temperature (°F.) 76° 68° Dissolved oxygen (ppm) 10.0 11.0 Carbon dioxide (ppm) ~2.5 2.5 M. O. alkalinity (ppm) 250.0 90.0 Turbidity (JTU) 70 10.0 pH 6.5 Zoek Chlorides (Cl-) (ppm) 40.0 5.0 Total hardness (ppm) 125.0 70.0 Stocking Recommendations Alice City Lake received 2,000 advanced fingerling channel catfish (6-8 inches) during this segment. As in past years, data, as well as fisherman interviews, indicate a continuing decline in the flathead catfish population in Lake Corpus Christi. It is recommended that hatchery reared advanced fingerlings be released into the lake if and when they become available from Region 5 hatcheries. Introductions of flathead catfish should be made at Alice City Lake at a rate of 25 per acre. This stocking would provide another popular sports fish for the lake and would provide a predator for the control of the in- creasing black bullhead population. RECOMMENDATIONS: The lower Nueces, San Antonio, and Frio Rivers are subject to great variations in water levels. Although they are as shallow as 1-2 feet in some areas during drought periods, they may rise to overflow 30-foot banks during periods of heavy rainfall. Due to these extreme variations in water levels, fish populations are highly migratory. Management practices, such as the release of hatchery reared fishes into the river, are never realized by the sportsman. Therefore, plans have been made to discontinue fisheries --- Page 17 --- -{5- RECOMMENDATIONS: (Cont.) management surveys of these waters at the end of segment 19. Under Job VI (Pollution Investigations), semiannual water analyses will be done at per- manent sampling stations; pollution and fish kill investigations will be conducted when necessary. @ Prepared by Kenneth K. Sellers Approved by AD, Assistant Project Leader Elgin M. C. Dietz Regional Director for Inland Fisheries Date October 19, 1972