Fingerling Production Of Striped Bass (Morone Saxatilis), Spotted Seatrout (Cynoscion Nebulosus), And Red Drum (Sciaenops Ocellatus), In Saltwater Ponds¹

Abstract

ABSTRACT Striped bass (Morone saxatilis) production in two ponds (0.5 ha) at the Marine Fisheries Research Station, Palacios, Texas, during 1975 totalled 55, 645 fingerlings (11, 290/ha) averaging 41 mm in TL. Overall survival was 55.6%. Thirty thousand 7‐day‐old fry stocked in 0.1 ha pond produced 5,245 fingerlings (52, 450/ha) in 40 days or 0.75 kg/ha/day. Survival was 17%. Seventy thousand 6‐day‐old fry stocked in a 0.4 ha pond produced 50, 400 fingerlings (126, 000/ha) in 45 days or 1.68 kg/ha/day. Survival was 72%. Spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus) production in nine ponds (1.23 ha) during 1975 totalled 6, 230 fingerlings (5, 065/ha) averaging 48.7 mm TL. Production ranged from 0.00 to 0.89 kg/ha/day. Overall survival was 3% ranging from 0. to 18.6%. Copepods comprised 55.6% of the diet of spotted seatrout less than 25 mm TL. Spotted seatrout 25 mm TL or greater fed primarily on polycheates (40.5%) and secondarily on palemonid shrimp (34.2%). Red drum (Sciaenops ocellata) production in 10 ponds (4.8 ha) during 1975 totalled 295, 119 fingerlings (61, 483/ha) averaging 39.6 mm TL. Production ranged from 0.13 to 2.17 kg/ha/day. Overall survival was 20% ranging from 1.9 to 65.0%. Red drum less than 25 mm TL fed almost exclusively on copepods (97.3%). Copepods (50%) and aquatic insects (45.4%) were the primary and secondary food items of red drum 25 mm TL or greater.