Spotted Seatrout Study

The demographics and reproductive biology of spotted seatrout Cynoscion nebulosus in six northwest Florida estuaries

Spotted seatrout were collected from the six westernmost estuarine systems in northwest Florida - Perdido, Pensacola, Choctawhatchee, St. Andrew, St. Joseph, and Apalachicola Bays - to determine if and how life history parameters and demographics differed among them. Most specimens were collected by hook-and-line, with gill nets and tournaments providing the remainder. Length frequency data on the recreational fishery were obtained from volunteer anglers and hook-and-line sampling by study personnel. GSI's were highest late April-July; and the spawning season varied slightly among the estuaries. Macroscopic maturity stage data indicated spawning peaked during May and June. Size at 50% maturity of females was 230 mm FL, equating to an age of 1. Males appeared to mature at similar or even smaller sizes. Size distributions from the hook-and-line fishery were similar among estuaries. Recruitment occurred at -250 mm FL; modes were 275-375 mm FL; and virtually none were >650 mm FL. St. Joseph and St. Andrew Bays had the most truncated distributions. Fish ages 1 and 2 composed 69-89 % of the recreational fishery, with few over age 3. Age distributions did vary considerably among bays and between years, seasons, and sexes within bays. Estimates of instantaneous total mortality rate (Z) were variable (0.49 - 2.05), and were highest in Perdido Bay and lowest in St. Andrew and Pensacola Bays.

Overall goal: collect the life history and demographic information necessary to rationally manage spotted seatrout in Northwest Florida.

Specific objectives: develop estuary-specific information on age and growth, mortality rates, spawning seasonality, age/size at maturity, and age and size composition of spotted seatrout in the recreational fishery for Apalachicola, St. Joseph, St. Andrew, Choctawhatchee, Pensacola and Perdido Bay systems, as well as test the hypothesis that these life history parameters and demographics differed among each of these estuaries.

Dates of data: 1994-1996

Minimum and maximum latitude and longitude points of where data were collected:

29 36' - 30 34' degrees N

84 42' - 87 30' degrees W

This was an estuarine project and sampling was restricted to Perdido , Pensacola , Choctawhatchee , St. Andrew , St. Joseph , and Apalachicola Bays in the Florida Panhandle.

This project was a joint project with Steve Bortone at the University of West Florida.

Various data sets

To fishery Scientists and other qualified researchers upon request

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NOAA Data Quality Act Documentation and Pre-Dissemination guidelines

Data set is not for use in litigation. While efforts have been made to ensure that these data are accurate and reliable, NOAA cannot assume liability for any damages or misrepresentations caused by inaccuracies in these data, or as a result of these data being used on a particular system. NOAA makes no warranty, expressed or implied, nor does distribution constitute any such warranty

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