Size Selectivity of Sampling Gears Used to Sample Kokanee

Recent studies evaluating the size selectivity of standard, horizontal, benthic gill nets for some common sport fish have demonstrated congruence across regions and gear configurations. Studies evaluating retention in gill nets designed to sample pelagic‐oriented fish (e.g., vertical and curtain nets) are rare, which has limited corresponding assessments of generality. This study estimated the retention of kokanee Oncorhynchus nerka (lacustrine Sockeye Salmon) in multimesh vertical gill nets using catch data compiled over three decades from a large montane reservoir in Colorado. The corresponding best‐fit retention model was compared with that developed for kokanee in Idaho using multimesh curtain nets. There was strong congruence (Pearson's r = 0.98) between the total retention values (integrated over all mesh sizes) estimated by the two models for kokanee 50–430 mm total length, and the values followed a 1:1 relationship. This result indicated that the retention of fish in pelagic gill nets may also be largely conserved across regions and gear configurations. Thus, the retention models for kokanee compared in this study should be flexible and broadly applicable. These properties enable practitioners to easily adjust length‐frequency distributions for bias arising from size‐dependent retention when minimally biased estimates of size structure are needed for addressing management or research questions.

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Size‐Dependent Retention of Pelagic‐Oriented Kokanee in Multimesh Gill Nets

Hansen

2019

Influence of Population Density and Length Structure on Angler Catch Rate in Kokanee Fisheries

Klein

Quist

Schill

et al. 2020

Self Cite

Management agencies are often charged with providing fisheries that lead to angler participation. Catch rate is one of the primary drivers of angler participation but can be influenced by a suite of factors, including population structure (e.g., density and size structure). The complexity of understanding how population structure influences angler catch rate is typified in kokanee Oncorhynchus nerka fisheries. Previous research suggests that angler catch rates of kokanee are positively influenced by fish density and total length. However, that research was based on data collected using size‐selective midwater trawls. Due to the potential limitation of previous research, we sought to (1) understand the relative bias of midwater trawls and gill nets for describing the size structure of kokanee available to anglers and (2) re‐evaluate the influence of fish density and fish length on angler catch rates in kokanee fisheries. Midwater trawl, gill‐net, and creel data were collected on five prominent kokanee fisheries throughout Idaho in 2016 and 2017. Catch composition and percent overlap of midwater trawls, gill nets, and angler‐caught fish were compared to understand the efficacy of midwater trawls and gill nets for representing the size structure of kokanee available to anglers. In addition, the influence of kokanee density and length on angler catch rates was evaluated. Midwater trawls primarily sampled small kokanee (<330 mm) and exhibited little overlap with angler‐caught fish, whereas gill nets sampled more large fish (>330 mm) and exhibited higher overlap with angler‐caught fish when compared to midwater trawls. Fish length was not positively associated with angler catch rates. However, fish density exhibited a positive relationship with angler catch rates. Our results highlight the importance of gear choice for understanding how kokanee populations function and elucidate the tradeoffs associated with population density, fish length, and resulting kokanee fisheries.

Does Moon Phase Affect Indices of Kokanee Size and Abundance as Characterized by Gill‐Net Catch?

Branigan

Washburne

Meyer

2022

Many pelagic fish species such as kokanee Oncorhynchus nerka undertake diel vertical migration in response to dynamic interactions between ambient light, foraging opportunity, and predation risk. Consequently, kokanee populations are almost universally sampled during the dark phase of the moon (i.e., the new moon), presumably to optimize capture efficiency. However, it is unclear if this sampling precaution is necessary to avoid bias in kokanee catch data related to the moon phase. We used experimental gill nets to sample kokanee populations in two thermally stratified reservoirs during three distinct moon phases (i.e., new, first quarter, and full) to understand the relative effects of moon phase and other ambient light variables on total catch and average size of captured kokanee. The total catch of kokanee differed significantly between populations but was not significantly affected by moon phase, secchi depth, or net depth. The average size of kokanee sampled from both populations increased significantly with moon illuminance and likely reflects behavior associated with predatorprey dynamics. Results from this case study suggest that the effect of moon phase and other ambient light variables on gill-net catch composition of kokanee is likely population-specific and is governed in part by population parameters such as abundance, growth rate, and size-structure. As such, investigators should be cognizant of-or perhaps standardize gill-net samples to-ambient light variables when indexing populations of kokanee and other pelagic fishes that undertake diel vertical migrations, especially when size indices are examined.