Population Studies of the Sports and Commercial Fin-Fish and Forage Species of the Galveston Bay System

Seasonal occurrences, size ranges, and distribution of forage fish, juvenile game fish, and adult game fish in various habitats of Galveston Bay were studied. Forage species were most abundant in spring and least abundant in winter. Most species occurred during summer and fall. Juvenile spotted seatrout, Cynoscion nebulosus, black drum, Pogonias cromis, and redfish, Sciaenops ocellata, were more abundant at nursery areas sampled in 1963 than in 1962. Atlantic croaker, Micropogon undulatus, and sheepshead, Archosargus probatocephalus, were the most abundant adult game fish collected. Game fish tags were returned at a slower rate in 1963 than in previous year.