NEWSROOM
Spotted
Seatrout Telemetry Project Begins On Calcasieu Lake
May
1, 2007
Researchers
from Louisiana State University (LSU) are teaming up with the
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) for a study
on the movement patterns of spotted seatrout in Calcasieu Lake.
The two-year study will begin May 2007 and roughly 120 adult spotted
seatrout will be outfitted with acoustic transmitters or “pingers.”
All
fish with acoustic transmitters will be marked with a yellow dart
tag below the dorsal fin that states “LSU-REWARD-PLEASE
RELEASE.” Fishermen who catch fish with this tag should
release the fish alive and call 1-800-891-3977 to report the tag
number and where and when the fish was caught. It is vital that
these fish be released alive so that researchers can continue
to collect movement data.
The tag number
is given at both ends of the tag. An example of an LSU tag number
is “LT166001.”
Fishermen
who provide recapture information and release the tagged fish
alive will receive a Louisiana Sport Fish Tagging Program hat
and T-shirt, and be entered in an annual drawing for GPS units
and cash prizes of up to $500.
An array of
receivers also will be placed throughout Calcasieu Lake to “listen”
for fish with transmitters. Receivers will be placed on channel
markers in the Calcasieu Ship Channel and on buoys in the main
body of the lake. Boaters and fishermen should not tamper with
or moor to the buoys.
The Coastal
Conservation Association (CCA) and LDWF also tag fish in Calcasieu
Lake. These dart tags are placed in the same location on the fish,
but have different text on them.
Research
Goals
A better understanding
of movement and seasonal migration patterns of spotted seatrout
is critical for effective management of this species. The study
will address questions such as: Do fish leave Calcasieu Lake and
move offshore? If so, do they return and when? Where do fish spawn
and over-winter? Do migration patterns differ by size and sex?
In addition
to exploring seasonal migration patterns, this study will examine
how fish use different habitat types and change their behavior
when their environment changes. The degree to which and how spotted
seatrout use natural and artificial oyster reefs also will be
evaluated.
Artificial
reefs are often assumed to act as beneficial habitat for spotted
seatrout, but few studies have compared habitat use on natural
and artificial reefs to confirm this notion. Some questions that
will be addressed about behavior include: Do fish move to deeper
waters or offshore for refuge during storms/fronts or when water
temperatures peak in the summer? How do fish move in response
to seasonal changes in temperature and salinity? Is there more
feeding activity under conditions of increased tidal flow and
decreased turbidity? Does fish movement closely follow prey distributions,
such as shrimp? And, are large, old females or “sows”
more solitary than smaller females and males?
To
answer of all of these questions, researchers will use acoustic
telemetry. This involves surgically implanting fish with an acoustic
transmitter below the stomach that sends out a sound ping. When
a fish carrying a transmitter passes within the detection range
of a receiver (200 to 300 yards), the receiver records the fish
identification number and date and time of the detection.
While this
study of movement patterns is focused only on Calcasieu Lake,
a system renowned for its large trophy trout and also a hot topic
because of the recent change to more stringent fishing regulations,
this particular project is part of a larger state-wide study aimed
at better understanding stock structure and characteristics, seasonal
migration and habitat use of spotted seatrout.
A volunteer
recreational angler tagging program (CCA, LDWF) is one part of
this larger study. Data from this tagging program provides important
scientific information, collected from recreational anglers, on
movements and stock characteristics (stock size, mortality and
growth). Fishermen wanting to participate in the tagging program
should call 1-800-891-3977 or email fishtags@wlf.louisiana.gov
for more information.
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