Game Fish By-Catch in Commercially Fished Hoop Nets in the St. Johns River, Florida
Incidental game fish capture and mortality in St. Johns River hoop nets is a major source of controversy between sport and commerical interests. The controversy is most severe in that portion of the river from Lake George southward. Project personnel observed 574 hoop nets that had been fished 3,896 hoop net-days over a 12-month period. Four species of catfish comprised 84.8% of the total harvest while the game fish by-catch represented approximately 13%. Harvestable size game fish (that size game fish retained by the sport fisherman) comprised 1.4% of the total harvest. Initial mortality...
