Species composition, distribution, and relative abundance of fishes in the coastal habitat off the southeastern United States

Ichthyofauna of the coastal «10 m depth) habitat of the South Atlantic Bight were investigated between Cape Fear, North Carolina, and the St. John's River, Florida. Trawl collections from four nonconsecutive seasons in the period July 1980 to December 1982 indicated that the fish community is dominated by the family Sciaenidae, particularly juvenile forms. Spot (Leiostomus xanthurus) and Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus) were the two most abundant species and dominated catches during all seasons. Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortin tyrannus) was also very abundant, but only seasonally (winter and spring) dominant in the catches. Elasmobranch fIShes, especially rajiforms and carcharinids, contributed to much of the biomass of fishes collected. Total fish abundance was greatest in winter and lowest in summer and was influenced by the seasonality of Atlantic menhaden and Atlantic croaker in the catches. Biomass was highest in spring and lowest in summer, and was influenced by biomass of spot. Fish density ranged from 321 individuals and 12.2 kg per hectare to 746 individuals and 25.2 kg per hectare. Most species ranged widely throughout the bight, and showed some evidence of seasonal migration. Species assemblages were dominated by ubiquitous year-round residents of the coastal waters of the bight. Diversity (H') was highest in summer, and appeared influenced by the evenness of distribution of individuals among species. (PDF file contains 56 pages.

Sexual differentiation and gonad development in striped mullet (Mugil cephalus L.) from South Carolina estuaries*

This study examined the sexual differentiation and reproductive dynamics of striped mullet (Mugil cephalus L.) in the estuaries of South Carolina. A total of 16,464 specimens were captured during the study and histological examination of sex and maturity was performed on a subsample of 3670 fish. Striped mullet were sexually undifferentiated for the first 12 months, began differentiation at 13 months, and were 90% fully differentiated by 15 to 19 months of age and 225 mm total length (TL). The defining morphological characteristics for differentiating males was the elongation of the protogonial germ tissue in a corradiating pattern towards the center of the lobe, the development of primary and secondary ducts, and the lack of any recognizable ovarian wall structure. The defining female characteristics were the formation of protogonial germ tissue into spherical germ cell nests, separation of a tissue layer from the outer epithelial layer of the lobe-forming ovarian walls, a tissue bud growing from the suspensory tissue that helped form the ovary wall, and the proliferation of oogonia and oocytes. Sexual maturation in male striped mullet first occurred at 1 year and 248 mm TL and 100% maturity occurred at age 2 and 300 mm TL. Female striped mullet first matured at 2 years and 291 mm total length and 100% maturity occurred at 400 mm TL and age 4. Because of the open ocean spawning behavior of striped mullet, all stages of maturity were observed in males and females except for functionally mature females with hydrated oocytes. The spawning season for striped mullet recruiting to South Carolina estuaries lasts from October to April; the majority of spawning activity, however, occurs from November to January. Ovarian atresia was observed to have four distinct phases. This study presents morpholog ical analysis of reproductive ontogeny in relation to size and age in South Carolina striped mullet. Because of the length of the undifferentiated gonad stage in juvenile striped mullet, previous studies have proposed the possibility of protandric hermaphrodism in this species. The results of our study indicate that striped mullet are gonochoristic but capable of exhibiting nonfunctional hermaphroditic characteristics in differentiated mature gonads

Seasonal composition and abundance of decapod and stomatopod crustaceans from coastal habitats, southeastern United States

Decapod and stomatopod crustaceans were collected by trawl during seasonal cruises from Cape Fear, North Carolina to Cape Canaveral. Florida at depths from 4 to 20 m. A total of 60 species of decapod and 3 species of stomatopod crustaceans were collected. Fifteen species accounted for 95% of the total number of individuals and 96% of the total biomass. Season was an important factor affecting the number of individuals and species collected during the study. No consistent changes in number of species. total number of individuals, and mean total weight occurred with latitude. Cluster analysis indicated season and latitude were important factors determining species assemblages in the coastal zone. Although changes in species composition occur seasonally, most species groups delineated by cluster analysis were not consistently collected nor restricted to particular site groups. A seasonally ubiquitous faunal assemblage in the coastal zone was composed of numerically dominant species. Those assemblages which were characterized as being restricted to site groups consisted of relatively rare species or those which were associated with hard-bottom habitat

Summer inshore fishing

With the heat of the summer, inshore fishing slows somewhat compared to spring and fall. However, in summer many different fishes are available to inshore anglers. Among these are: spotted seatrout, red drum, black drum, flounders, whiting, Spanish and king mackerel, sheepshead, and crevalle jack. As a general rule, summer fishing is better at dusk and dawn. During this time of the year estuaries and coastal waters are filled with a variety of bait fishes and shrimps preyed upon by game fish. As a result, live baits will catch more fish than artificial lures at this time

Species associations and day-night variability of trawl-caught fishes from the inshore sponge-coral habitat, South Atlantic bight

Biomass, species composition, diversity, and community structure of demersal fishes were studied during the spring of 1978 in the sponge-coral habitat of the South Atlantic Bight. These results were compared with sampling at an open-shelf site. Otter trawl catch rates were an order of magnitude higher in the sponge-coral habitat than at the open-shelf site. Density and biomass estimates in the sponge-coral habitat averaged 384 individuals/ha and 31.0 kg/ha, respectively, whereas at the open-shelf site they averaged 57 individuals/ha and 3.2 kg/ha. In sponge-coral habitat samples, 101 species of demersal teleosts were taken. The Sparidae accounted for the greatest number of species (9), as well as 59% of the total number and 48% of the weight of demersal teleosts. Species diversity was highest in night-trawl tows in the sponge-coral habitat. Species associations, described by numerical classification, showed major differences in faunal assemblages between reef and open-shelf sites and between day and night samples

State of South Carolina’s coastal resources : seatrout update

This describes the sea trout as well as historical trends and other data or harvesting

State of South Carolina’s coastal resources : sheepshead

This describes the sheepshead fish as well as historical trends and other data or harvesting

State of South Carolina’s coastal resources : red drum

This describes the red drum fish as well as historical trends and other data or harvesting