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Red Drum Recreational Fishing Survey in Tampa Bay

FWRI surveys recreational anglers from the Tampa Bay area to assess the red drum recreational fishery and quantify the success of hatchery-reared red drum stocking efforts.

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Project Tampa Bay is a large-scale experiment designed to quantify the success of fisheries stock-enhancement efforts in open estuarine systems. Since 2000, hatchery-reared red drum fingerlings have been stocked in the Tampa Bay estuary. Ongoing FWRI research monitors the success of those stocking efforts. One benchmark for gauging the success of stock enhancement is the contribution of hatchery-reared red drum to the recreational fishery.

To monitor the recreational catch of hatchery-reared fish released in Tampa Bay, FWRI researchers conduct recreational angler surveys at fishing access points around the estuary. During the surveys, recreational anglers interviewed at the end of their fishing trips are asked whether they were targeting red drum or some other species and how many fish they caught and released. When harvested red drum are available for inspection, size and weight are recorded, and samples are collected to determine the age and genetic makeup of the fish. Genetic markers are used to determine if the fish originate from wild stock or are hatchery-reared recaptures.

Since the angler survey began, more than 50,500 anglers have been interviewed, and much has been learned about the red drum recreational fishery. Of all anglers surveyed, approximately 14% directly targeted red drum during their fishing trips. Anglers fishing specifically for red drum caught 70% of all fish released and 74% of all fish harvested. The majority of fish that are released by recreational anglers are below the minimum legal size limit. A smaller proportion are above the maximum legal size limit.

Hatchery managers charged with growing and stocking important species and enhancing fisheries will benefit from the results of this research. Monitoring the survival of hatchery-reared red drum that recruit to the recreational fishery allows hatchery managers to optimize their stock enhancement efforts. Small numbers of hatchery-reared red drum have begun to show up in the recreational fishery. As more hatchery-reared fish grow to the legal harvest size, we hope to encounter more hatchery-reared red drum.

To review fishing regulations for red drum and other recreational fish, visit:

http://MyFWC.com/marine/regulation.htm