Incidental Catch of Sport Fish in Cast Nets Used to Collect Baitfish in Lake Texoma, Oklahoma–Texas

Abstract

Cast nets are a popular and effective means of collecting gizzard shad Dorosoma cepedianum and threadfin shad D. petenense for use as bait. To evaluate the incidental catch of sport fish in cast nets, three sizes of cast nets (2.4-, 3.0-, and 3.7-m diameter) were fished twice per month, January–December 1990, in shallow-water (<3 m deep) and deepwater areas at six cove sites on Lake Texoma, Oklahoma–Texas. Additionally, 2.4-m-diameter nets were fished near (<10 m) and away from (≥10 m) each of six boathouses on the lake, Shad collectively accounted for 91% of the total catch at cove sites and 87% at boathouse sites, whereas sport-fish species (mostly centrarchids) accounted for 5 and 11% of the total, respectively. The numbers of sport fish collected at cove sites did not vary significantly with the size of the net, but were greatest in shallow-water areas. The numbers of sport fish collected at boathouse sites were greatest in the summer and near artificial structures (e.g., boat slips, piers). Public perception of the effects of' baitfish harvesting on sport-fish populations frequently generates calls for regulations. However, because the number of sport fish captured was small, and sport fish could be released with minimal handling stress, regulations did not appear to be necessary.