Movement patterns of gray triggerfish, Balistes capriscus , around artificial reefs in the northern Gulf of Mexico

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (5) ◽  
pp. 418-427 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. Herbig ◽  
S. T. Szedlmayer
Keyword(s):  
Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Movement Patterns ◽  
Artificial Reefs ◽  
Northern Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Balistes Capriscus ◽  
Gray Triggerfish

Marine Artificial Reef Research and Development: Integrating Fisheries Management Objectives

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Artificial Reef ◽  
Fork Length ◽  
South Texas ◽  
Spawning Season ◽  
Artificial Reefs ◽  
Batch Fecundity ◽  
Balistes Capriscus ◽  
Gray Triggerfish

<em>Abstract</em>.—Artificial reefs in the northwest Gulf of Mexico act as preferential habitat for Gray Triggerfish <em>Balistes capriscus </em>(Gmelin, 1789) and are heavily targeted by local and international fishing efforts. Three artificial reefs off the south Texas coast were studied to investigate the reproductive characteristics of this ubiquitous reef member whose importance to both commercial and recreational fishing has resulted in a dramatic reduction in Gulf of Mexico-wide estimated biomass for the past 20 years. Characteristics examined included sex ratio, peak spawning season, batch fecundity of females (1 × 10<sup>6</sup> oocytes), fork length (FL, mm) at maturity, and batch fecundity as a function of FL or weight (i.e., Δ1 × 10<sup>6</sup> oocytes = ΔFL). These characteristics were investigated to build a foundational understanding of an understudied region of the Gulf and a relatively new artificial reef habitat. Reef sites managed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Artificial Reef Program were sampled for 1 year, yielding 112 individuals. The sex ratio was 1:1 males to females but varied among sample sites, suggesting that an unidentified factor may have influenced aggregations of males and females. Spawning season was similar in other regions of the Gulf of Mexico (i.e., between June and August with a peak in July). Female batch fecundity was 7.36 × 10<sup>5</sup> ± 2.69 × 10<sup>5</sup> mature oocytes, and the batch fecundity to FL relationship was 14.353 × FL<sup>1.88</sup>, similar to other populations of Gray Triggerfish in the Gulf of Mexico.

scholarly journals Artificial Reefs in the Northern Gulf of Mexico: Community Ecology Amid the “Ocean Sprawl”

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anja Schulze ◽  
Deana L. Erdner ◽  
Candace J. Grimes ◽  
Daniel M. Holstein ◽  
Maria Pia Miglietta
Keyword(s):  
Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Community Ecology ◽  
Artificial Reefs ◽  
Northern Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Ocean Sprawl

Age and growth of gray triggerfish (Balistes capriscus) from a north-central Gulf of Mexico artificial reef zone

2019 ◽  
Vol 95 (2) ◽  
pp. 177-195
Author(s):  
Amanda E Jefferson ◽  
Robert J Allman ◽  
Ashley E Pacicco ◽  
James S Franks ◽  
Frank J Hernandez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Artificial Reef ◽  
Age And Growth ◽  
North Central ◽  
Balistes Capriscus ◽  
Gray Triggerfish ◽  
Reef Zone

scholarly journals Experimental assessment of circle vs. J hook performance and selectivity in the northern Gulf of Mexico recreational reef fish fishery

2017 ◽  
Vol 74 (5) ◽  
pp. 1437-1447 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven B. Garner ◽  
William F. Patterson ◽  
Clay E. Porch
Keyword(s):  
Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Red Snapper ◽  
Size Distributions ◽  
Size Selectivity ◽  
Remotely Operated Vehicle ◽  
Northern Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Balistes Capriscus ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
Few Data

Few data exist to evaluate the performance or assess the potential impacts of hook regulations on catchability or selectivity of recreational fisheries in the northern Gulf of Mexico. The purpose of this study was to test the effects of hook type (circle vs. J hook) and hook size (1/0, 4/0, and 7/0) on catch composition, traumatic hooking, species-specific catches, and size-selectivity of red snapper, Lutjanus campechanus, and grey triggerfish, Balistes capriscus. Selectivity was estimated by conditioning size distributions from hook-specific catches against in situ size distributions observed with a remotely operated vehicle. Deep hooking (hook set in gills or beyond) was low in all hook treatments for red snapper (&lt;10%) and grey triggerfish (&lt;6%), but was generally higher with J hooks, especially for other fishes caught with the largest J hook (34%). Hook type did not significantly affect catches, but catches decreased significantly with increasing hook size in all groups except red snapper. Selectivity curves were dome-shaped for both focus species in all hook treatments and selection peaks were similar among treatments for red snapper. Peak selectivity was 78.1 mm larger for J hooks than circle hooks for grey triggerfish. Overall, study results indicate that the circle hook regulation may have reduced traumatic hooking mortality by up to 50%, and that catchability is similar between hook types for both red snapper and grey triggerfish when controlling for hook size. Strong dome-shaped selection estimated for nearly all selectivity curves suggest logistic size-selectivity assumptions in assessment models are likely inappropriate for recreational sectors targeting red snapper or grey triggerfish.

Seasonal and spatial variation in the abundance and size distribution of fishes associated with a petroleum platform in the northern Gulf of Mexico

1997 ◽  
Vol 54 (5) ◽  
pp. 1166-1176 ◽  
Author(s):  
D R Stanley ◽  
C A Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Target Strength ◽  
Lutjanus Campechanus ◽  
Point Count ◽  
Northern Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Current Vector ◽  
Dual Beam ◽  
Balistes Capriscus

Stationary dual-beam hydroacoustics and visual point count surveys were used in tandem to measure the density, target strength, and species composition of fishes associated with a petroleum platform in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Fish densities ranged from 0 to 10.5 fish · m-3 during monthly sampling trips from January 1991 to May 1992. Density and target strength were spatially and temporally variable. Target strengths varied significantly with side of the platform, month, and east and north current vectors. Density varied significantly with platform side, month, east current vector, and depth. Density and target strength did not change over 24 h periods or with water temperature. Fish densities were highest adjacent to the platform and decreased significantly beyond 16 m. Approximately 1990 - 28<|>100 fish were associated with the platform depending on the month. A total of 19 species were observed at the platform, with Chaetodipterus faber, Caranx fusus, Seriola dumerili, Balistes capriscus,Lutjanus campechanus, andArchosargus probatocephalus constituting 97% of observed fishes. Based on our results, we conclude that the fishes associated with a petroleum platform conform with the open nonequilibrium hypothesis proposed for fishes in coral reef habitats.

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