The commercial trotline fishery in the Laguna Madre, Texas, was simulated using fishery-independent sampling data to estimate landings of black drum (Pogonias cromis). Simulation of a commercial fishery can provide landings estimates and more precise estimates of confidence intervals. It can also provide information (i.e., by catch) not available through self-reported systems.
Very little attention has been given to the penalty necessary to achieve compliance with fishery management laws. A penalty increase from $200 to $2,500 for shrimping in the area from 7.3-m deep water to the outer limit of the Texas Territorial Sea was imposed in 1981. Brown shrimp (Penaeus aztecus) and white shrimp (Penaeus setiferus) commercial catches and shrimping violations were used to determine if this increase reduced illegal shrimping in the closed area. Illegal landings of brown shrimp were reduced. However, violations were not eliminated. The potential profit from violating the...
In September 1974 the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission banned the use of plastic baits on trotlines because these baits were thought to be selective for small «500 mm) red drum (Sciaenops ocellata). The size of red drum landed by commercial fishermen before (1972-1974) and after (1974-1978) the ban was compared with the size of fish collected during Texas Parks and Wildlife Department trammel net surveys in order to determine whether the ban had any effect on either the commercial catch or fish availability. Fish landed by commercial fishermen were significantly larger after the ban...
Spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus) and red drum (Sciaenops ocellata) populations in Texas bays were randomly sampled with 183 m long gill nets November 1975 through March 1976 and November 19'76 through March 1977. Catch rates in areas closed to commercial netting for spotted seatrout were about twice as high as those from areas open to netting. There was no difference between the mean total length of spotted scatrout from closed areas and trout from open areas. Closed areas produced about twice as many red drum as open areas. No generalizatilln could be made about the size of red drum...
The Journal of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies presents papers that cover all aspects of the management and conservation of inland, estuarine, and marine fisheries and wildlife. It aims to provide a forum where fisheries and wildlife managers can find innovative solutions to the problems facing our natural resources in the 21st century.