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All About Florida Keys Fishing & Key West Fishing
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Red Drum Recreational Fishing Survey in Tampa Bay
FWRI surveys recreational anglers from the Tampa Bay area to assess the red drum recreational
fishery and quantify the success of hatchery-reared red drum stocking efforts.
Project Tampa Bay is a large-scale experiment designed to quantify the success of fisheries
stock-enhancement efforts in open estuarine systems. Since 2000, hatchery-reared red drum
fingerlings have been stocked in the Tampa Bay estuary. Ongoing FWRI research monitors the
success of those stocking efforts. One benchmark for gauging the success of stock enhancement
is the contribution of hatchery-reared red drum to the recreational fishery.
To monitor the recreational catch of hatchery-reared fish released in Tampa Bay, FWRI
researchers conduct recreational angler surveys at fishing access points around the estuary.
During the surveys, recreational anglers interviewed at the end of their fishing trips are asked
whether they were targeting red drum or some other species and how many fish they caught and
released. When harvested red drum are available for inspection, size and weight are recorded,
and samples are collected to determine the age and genetic makeup of the fish. Genetic markers
are used to determine if the fish originate from wild stock or are hatchery-reared recaptures.
Since the angler survey began, more than 50,500 anglers have been interviewed, and much has
been learned about the red drum recreational fishery. Of all anglers surveyed, approximately 14%
directly targeted red drum during their fishing trips. Anglers fishing specifically for red drum caught
70% of all fish released and 74% of all fish harvested. The majority of fish that are released by
recreational anglers are below the minimum legal size limit. A smaller proportion are above the
maximum legal size limit.
Hatchery managers charged with growing and stocking important species and enhancing
fisheries will benefit from the results of this research. Monitoring the survival of hatchery-reared red
drum that recruit to the recreational fishery allows hatchery managers to optimize their stock
enhancement efforts. Small numbers of hatchery-reared red drum have begun to show up in the
recreational fishery. As more hatchery-reared fish grow to the legal harvest size, we hope to
encounter more hatchery-reared red drum.
FWRI surveys recreational anglers from the Tampa Bay area to assess the red drum recreational
fishery and quantify the success of hatchery-reared red drum stocking efforts.
Project Tampa Bay is a large-scale experiment designed to quantify the success of fisheries
stock-enhancement efforts in open estuarine systems. Since 2000, hatchery-reared red drum
fingerlings have been stocked in the Tampa Bay estuary. Ongoing FWRI research monitors the
success of those stocking efforts. One benchmark for gauging the success of stock enhancement
is the contribution of hatchery-reared red drum to the recreational fishery.
To monitor the recreational catch of hatchery-reared fish released in Tampa Bay, FWRI
researchers conduct recreational angler surveys at fishing access points around the estuary.
During the surveys, recreational anglers interviewed at the end of their fishing trips are asked
whether they were targeting red drum or some other species and how many fish they caught and
released. When harvested red drum are available for inspection, size and weight are recorded,
and samples are collected to determine the age and genetic makeup of the fish. Genetic markers
are used to determine if the fish originate from wild stock or are hatchery-reared recaptures.
Since the angler survey began, more than 50,500 anglers have been interviewed, and much has
been learned about the red drum recreational fishery. Of all anglers surveyed, approximately 14%
directly targeted red drum during their fishing trips. Anglers fishing specifically for red drum caught
70% of all fish released and 74% of all fish harvested. The majority of fish that are released by
recreational anglers are below the minimum legal size limit. A smaller proportion are above the
maximum legal size limit.
Hatchery managers charged with growing and stocking important species and enhancing
fisheries will benefit from the results of this research. Monitoring the survival of hatchery-reared red
drum that recruit to the recreational fishery allows hatchery managers to optimize their stock
enhancement efforts. Small numbers of hatchery-reared red drum have begun to show up in the
recreational fishery. As more hatchery-reared fish grow to the legal harvest size, we hope to
encounter more hatchery-reared red drum.
Source - Fish and Wildlife Research Institute