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Science Response 2015/011

Recreational fishery catches, spawner abundance, and biological characteristics of Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis) in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence in 2014

Context

The recreational fishery for Striped Bass in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence re-opened in 2013 and was permitted again in 2014. In 2014, anglers were granted an additional 21 days during the spring and summer retention periods (combined) and a new seven-day retention period in the autumn. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Gulf Ecosystems and Fisheries Management branch requested a compilation of the recreational fishery information and an update on the size of the spawning stock and information on biological characteristics for southern Gulf Striped Bass for 2014.

This report provides an examination of the recreational fishery information collected by Conservation and Protection staff during the three Striped Bass retention periods (May 1 to 25, August 1 to 21, and September 24 to 30) in 2014 in DFO Gulf Region and in the Chaleur Bay portion of the province of Quebec. It also provides an update of the current biological characteristics and spawner abundance estimates in the Northwest Miramichi estuary in 2014.

The estimated minimum number of harvested Striped Bass in the Miramichi River during the May retention season was approximately 450 fish, while between 9,600 and 12,000 bass were estimated to have been caught and released. Insufficient recreational fishery survey data precluded estimation of the numbers of bass released or kept during the 2014 August and September retention periods. The catches of Striped Bass during all retention periods are incomplete. The limitations of the creel survey and angler reported catch and effort data are discussed.

The estimated spawner abundance in the Northwest Miramichi in 2014 was 138,300 fish (median value, 5th to 95th percentile range of 81,800 to 251,900) and sufficient to meet the population’s recovery objective for the fourth consecutive time since 1993. The fork length distribution of Striped Bass sampled at DFO index trapnets in May was dominated by fish measuring between 40 and 50 cm, a size which was proportionally less abundant in sampled catches at DFO index trapnets in the autumn of 2014. The fork length distribution in autumn 2014 was dominated by Striped Bass measuring between 30 and 40 cm fork length.

This Science Response Report results from the Science Response Process of December 10, 2014 to Update, striped bass spawner abundance and fisheries catches for 2014.

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