Size Structure and Catch Rates of White Crappie, Black Crappie, and Bluegill in Trap Nets with 13-mm and 16-mm Mesh

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We compared catch rates and size structure of white crappie Pomoxis annularis, black crappie P. nigromaculatus, and bluegill Lepomis macrochirus captured in trap nets with mesh sizes of 13 and 16 mm. We found that trap nets with 13-mm mesh caught significantly more white crappies less than 130 mm total length (TL) and bluegills less than 80 mm TL than did the 16-mm mesh; catch rates of black crappies less than 130 mm TL were similar for both meshes. The 16-mm mesh caught significantly more black crappies 130 mm or longer and bluegills 80 mm or longer; catch rates of white crappies 130 mm or longer were similar for both meshes. Proportional stock density was similar between mesh sizes, as was the relative stock density of preferred-length fish, except for bluegills.