Estimation of relative abundance of recreationally important finfish in the Virginia portion of the Chesapeake Bay : annual progress report, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Sportfish Restoration Project F104R2, July 1992 - June 1993, Revised edition 1994

This document is a revised edition of an original manuscript presented to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Virginia Marine Resources Commission in partial fulfillment of contract obligations (Sportfish Restoration Project F104R2)

Juvenile Finfish and Blue Crab Stock Assessment Program Bottom Trawl Survey annual data report series, volume 1991

This report presents a summary page for each tow conducted by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Juvenile Fish and Blue Crab Trawl Survey during 1991. The sampling methods and summarized data are presented in Bonzek et al. (1992). Data analysis and calculations of juvenile indices for selected species are presented in Colvocoresses et al. (1991). The purpose of this report is simply to provide a hard copy record of trawl results. It also provides a method to retrieve information about one or several particular trawls without consulting computerized archives. · · All data about each tow are presented, except that length data are summarized to number measured, minimum size, maximum size, mean size, and standard error. Each page contains four major subsections:: Station Data, Atmospheric and Hydrographic Data, Comments; and Catch Summa:ry Data. Each subsection is further divided into groups of related data, such as Station Identification Data or Atmospheric Data

Juvenile Finfish and Blue Crab Stock Assessment Program Bottom Trawl Survey Annual Data Summary Report Series Volume 1990

This report summarizes data collected by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) monthly trawl survey cruises for January through December, 1990. The trawl survey is a long term, broad scope monitoring program. Its primary goal is to produce annual indices of juvenile (young-of-year) abundance of commercially, recreationally and ecologically important marine and estuarine finfish and crustaceans. The objective is to provide indices of sufficient accuracy and precision for· both immediate resource !fianagement needs and long-term understanding of environmental influences on fishery resources. A second important product of this effort is the documentation and monitoring of habitat utilization by juveniles and smaller adults of these species. The program also provides a sound framework for the procurement of biological samples for life history studies and other concurrent scientific investigations relevant to fishery resource management. At present the program consists of a monthly random stratified design survey of the lower Chesapeake Bay initiated in 1988 (Chittenden, 1989) and fixed station mid-channel transects in each of the three major Virginia tributaries: the York, James, and Rappahannock rivers (Wojcik and Van Engel, 1988a, 1988b, 1989). The river survey is based upon a sampling program initiated in 1955 ( a random stratified design was used from 1973-79). Changes in gear type and sampling methods used over the history of the river survey are summarized in Figure 1. The following tables and figures include data for all finfish species and blue crabs caught during 1990. Data are also presented showing station locations and showing the atmospheric and hydrographic data collected at each station