Fishery harvest and population dynamics of red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) from Florida Bay and adjacent waters
Tilmant JT, Rutherford ES, Thue EB. 1989. Fishery harvest and population dynamics of red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) from Florida Bay and adjacent waters. Bulletin of Marine Science. 44(1):126-138
A fisheries harvest monitoring program has provided catch and effort data on the harvest of red drum from Florida Bay since 1958 and lengths have been measured since 1974. The annual estimated total harvest from Florida Bay declined from 1973 to 1978, but increased dramatically in 1984. Although fishing effort has continued to increase since 1984, total reported catch of red drum has seriously declined. The red drum fishery is comprised of newly recruited fish. Prior to a 18-inch minimum size limit imposed in 1985, 51% of the annual harvest were 1-year-old fish, 38% were 2-year-olds, and less than 121% were 3 years or older. A virtual population assessment suggests that the park's fishable population of red drum declined from around 120,000 fish in 1974 to a low of 90,000 in 1977, but then increased to over 180,000 by 1980. Recent declines within the red drum population are not likely due to fisherman harvest unless such harvest has impacted offshore breeding stocks. Increased recruitment to the fishery followed high rainfall years, suggesting improved recruitment and/or survival of early stage juveniles during periods of increased upland runoff. Study Period: 1958-1985; Study Type: Quantitative; Gear Type: Dockside interview, field observations; Biological Component: Sportfish; Dominant Taxon/Taxa Studied: Sciaenops ocellatus.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Tilmant, James; Rutherford, Edward; Thue, Edith
- Units
- EVER
- Keywords
- Animal Studies, Fishing, Florida Bay Everglades National Park FL, Monitoring, Population, red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus)