A comparison of lead lengths for mini-fyke nets to sample age-0 gar species
Mini-fyke nets are often used to sample small-bodied fishes in shallow (<1 m depth) water, especially in vegetated shoreline habitats where seines are ineffective. Recent interest in gar (Lepisosteidae) ecology and conservation led us to explore the use of mini-fyke nets to capture age-0 gar and specifically how capture is affected by lead length of the fyke net. In the summers of 2012, 2013, and 2015, mini-fyke nets with two different lead lengths (4.57 m and 9.14 m) were set at random sites in backwaters and coves of the Red River arm of Lake Texoma, Oklahoma. Mean CPUE (catch-per-unit-effort; number per net night) was significantly lower for mini-fyke nets with short leads (0.52) compared to those with long leads (1.51). Additionally, Spotted Gar (Lepisosteus oculatus) were captured at a higher rate than the other three gar species present in Lake Texoma, although this could have been an artifact of sampling location. We found that differences in length-frequency of captured gar between gear types were nearly significant, with total length ranging from 47mm to 590mm. Mini-fyke nets with longer leads increased the efficiency of sampling for age-0 gar by increasing catch rate without affecting estimates of other population parameters and appear to be useful for this purpose.
Citation Information
Publication Year | 2016 |
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Title | A comparison of lead lengths for mini-fyke nets to sample age-0 gar species |
Authors | James M. Long, Richard A. Snow, Chas P. Patterson |
Publication Type | Article |
Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
Series Title | Proceedings of the Oklahoma Academy of Science |
Index ID | 70196907 |
Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
USGS Organization | Coop Res Unit Atlanta |