Calcasieu Menhaden Science

[MathGeek]

With all the oyster and weir talk, folks often miss the importance of menhaden forage to the sport fishery in Calcasieu. In many ways, the closure of the pogey plant (Omega Protein) in late 2013 helped mask the effects of overharvesting oysters.

The graph below shows our analysis of LDWF stock assessment data on gulf menhaden in the first six months of the past five years. Note the increase in menhaden available for your favorite species to eat since the plant closure in late 2013.

OK experts, knowing that we have measured the relative condition factor (plumpness) of specs, reds, drum, and gafftops each spring from 2011 to the present, which predator species will have its plumpness most highly correlated with the pogey stock assessments?