Production and Extended Spawning of Cultured White Bass Broodstock

Abstract

Abstract Our research focused on the development of domesticated broodstock of white bass Morone chrysops to reduce or eliminate the dependence of public and private hatcheries on wild-caught fish. Juveniles, obtained from spawning wild white bass, were reared to a mature size in an outdoor tank system under ambient environmental conditions. At 1 year of age, a few males were mature, and by 2 years of age all males and females were mature. Females were induced to ovulate with human chorionic gonadotropin (550 IU/kg) and then strip-spawned. Mean estimated egg production was 98,273 eggs/kg for 2-year-old fish and 127,805 eggs/kg for 3-year-old fish. Holding mature fish in reduced water temperatures extended the spawning period by 3 months. The use of cultured white bass broodstock should facilitate hatchery operations for stocking public waters and for hybrid striped bass aquaculture.