Justin M. Homan

Tandem baited hoop nets (TBHN) are the most efficient gear used to evaluate channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) populations in reservoirs. However, sampling month and bait used in TBHN have varied among collections in Arkansas and in published studies. Understanding how catch rates and size structure might change by season or bait type will help inform standard sampling protocols used by management agencies. We evaluated catch rates, size structure, and turtle bycatch of TBHN in two lakes in eastern Arkansas (Lake Greenlee and Lake Des Arc) using Zote^TM soap and...

Sportfish managers in coastal North Carolina are often challenged with interpreting estimates of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) relative abundance (catch-per-unit-effort, CPUE) due in part to the influence of environmental factors on boat electrofishing techniques. To accurately assess population abundance using relative abundance indices, the effects of environmental variables on largemouth bass catch should be quantified. We sampled largemouth bass populations in Neuse River tributaries weekly in spring 2006 and 2007 to investigate the relationship between CPUE and...

Investigating trends in striped bass (Morone saxatilis) juvenile abundance is important for determining which factors may affect recruitment. We evaluated the abundance and distribution of juvenile striped bass in the Neuse River from 2006-2007 using beach seines and electrofishing techniques. Overall, little evidence of recruitment was found. Juvenile striped bass were not documented in the system during summer 2006 and were collected in low densities from isolated areas (2 of 34 sample sites) during summer 2007. Because catch was low, we could not adequately describe nursery habitat...