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Posttournament Survival and Dispersal of Adult Striped Bass
Author(s) -
Young Shawn P.,
Isely J. Jeffery
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
north american journal of fisheries management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.587
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1548-8675
pISSN - 0275-5947
DOI - 10.1577/m05-105.1
Subject(s) - bass (fish) , biological dispersal , fishery , biology , medicine , population , environmental health
We conducted a telemetry study from November 2004 to June 2005 at J. Strom Thurmond Reservoir in South Carolina and Georgia to quantify posttournament survival of striped bass and their dispersal from tournament weigh‐in sites. During November–December 2004, 30 adult striped bass weighing 1.0–10.0 kg were angled, held in “striped bass tube” live‐holding systems for 2–5 h, transported to a predetermined weigh‐in and release site, and surgically implanted with telemetry transmitters. All striped bass survived transport, recovered from the surgical procedure, and were immediately released. The postrelease survival rate after 120 d was 87%. Surviving striped bass dispersed from the release site within 2–9 d. Fifty‐four percent returned to their capture sites. Capture, holding, displacement, and weigh‐in appeared to have no long‐term adverse affects on behavior. Live release of striped bass may now be a viable option after tournaments during periods of cool water temperatures.