MathGeek/FishGeek Creel Survey Begins Next Friday 23 May

[MathGeek]

Our creel survey team will be rolling into Lake Charles next Friday to begin taking creel survey data for our relative condition factor computations. This will be the fourth year of data, and once we have four years of data, we can begin some analysis of correlations between fish condition and hypothetical contributing factors (oyster stock assessments, salinity, water temperature, marsh-lake coupling, etc.)

The on-line advice, discussions, and references have been very valuable over the last couple of years, but the most valuable commodity in science is data. We need the cooperation of local anglers to allow our team to weigh and measure as many specks, redfish, drum, and gafftops as possible. Drum, gafftops, and the longer specimens of redfish and specks are typically hard to come by, so we would appreciate it particularly if you can bring in these specimens.

Over the past few years, the team has measured several thousand fish, so we can work through a cooler full of fish at a rate of 3-5 fish per minute for fish under 15 lbs and 1-2 fish per minute for the big ones. We usually minimize the delay by measuring the fish as they come from your ice chest and staging them for you at the cleaning station (or if you are cleaning them at home) quickly returning them to your ice chest.

If you prefer not to eat drum or gafftops or bull reds, we will have the ice chest capacity to take them off your hands and get them to a good home. Or, if you prefer, I can fillet them for you as soon as we're caught up with the measuring and put 'em in quart ziplock freezer bags. Note the offer for me to clean your fish only applies to black drum, gafftops, and bull redfish. You're on your own cleaning specks and rat reds.

Our plan (weather permitting) is to be at Calcasieu Point from mid-afternoon on Friday and remain there measuring fish until dark or only a few trailers remain in the lot. Then we'll have two teams working hard on Saturday, one at Hebert's, and one at Calcasieu Point. We'll arrive at the locations mid morning and work until most of the boats have returned Saturday afternoon. Please catch some fish and take part in this important scientific study.

Cleaning of bulls and gafftops is only offered at Calc Pt on Fri and Sat, though the Heberts team will have an ice chest to accept samples of bulls and gafftops if you prefer to donate the sample rather than just let us measure it.

In the event of foul weather, we'll adjust our schedule accordingly to make the best use of the holiday weekend.