Characteristics of the spotted bass and largemouth bass in a northeastern Mississippi stream, the Buttahatchee River.

摘要

Mississippi has a variety of potential recreational fishing opportunities involving its abundant stream and river resources, yet little is known about their endemic sport fishes. One such fish is the spotted bass Micropterus punctulatus. This study was performed to provide managers with information useful for managing stream populations of spotted bass. Objectives included: identifying relationships between spotted bass population variables and physical habitat characteristics; estimating spotted bass population size and exploitation rates; and describing spotted bass growth rates and food habits in the Buttahatchee River, Mississippi. Meaningful relationships may exist between spotted bass total length and stream width, velocity, and reach length. Spotted bass (≥180 mm) population size estimated in the upstream segment of the Buttahatchee River was 56 fish/segment (approximately 28 fish/km), and the downstream segment was estimated at 175 fish segment (approximately 88 fish/km). Based on a mean angling catch rate, approximately 23% and 63% of the spotted bass population could be harvested from the two segments of the Buttahatchee River in only 37 angler hours (equivalent to 7.4 angler-h/ha or 17.6 angler-h/km). Spotted bass growth was found to be similar to other Midwestern and Southeastern populations. Spotted bass diet, by weight, was dominated by fish and was similar to the diet of largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides.