Relationships between catch rates of sport fish and environmental conditions in Everglades National Park, Florida

Higman, James

Increased fishing pressure in Everglades National Park (Everglades National Park) resulted in a request by the National Park Service to determine if regulation of the of the sportfishery was required. Over a period of seven years a program was developed by the University of Miami to measure the catches of gamefish and effort within ecologically different fishing areas of Everglades National Park. Anglers were interviewed at Flamingo in the central part of Everglades National Park. Discussed are sampling procedures, calculation of catch per unit effort and sample size determination. It was found that most sportfish stocks have not been reduced; the seasonal availability of the most popular sportfish, spotted seatrout, mangrove snapper, and red drum are apparently related to the congregation of fish for spawning and by the responses of fish to changes in environmental conditions, including salinity, temperature, and rainfall. Study Period: 1959-1965; Habitat: Estuarine and coastal marine; Study Type: Quantitative; Biological Component: Sportfish; Gear Type: Hook & Line; Temporal Frequency: Monthly; Abiotic Parameters Measured: Air & water temperature, salinity, rainfall; Dominant Taxon/Taxa Studied: Red drum spotted seatrout, gray snapper.