Calcasieu (Big Lake) This Weekend

[MathGeek]

Well, the crew and I have managed to relocate from CO and are hitting LC this weekend to wrap up the third year of a research project weighing and measuring specks, reds, drum, and gafftops. In earlier years, we've started by hitting Calc Pt to start and then branching out to Hebert's and the jetties if we needed balance (more drum and gafftops usually).

We're hoping to measure weight and length on 100-150 specs, 50-75 redfish, 20-30 black drum, and 20-30 gafftops for this year's survey. Good representation in different length classes will allow more detailed analysis in specs and reds. Are conditions currently such that starting at Calc Pt is a good plan as in past years?

The figure attached is a summary of the last two years showing the relative condition factors of these species has significantly declined over the last few years. The purpose of this year's study is to determine of the trend of skinny fish is continuing.

[Mako19]

This is a very interesting study and your box and whisker plot definitely is showing a trend.

Please explain what Kn, relative condition, represents.

[MathGeek]

Kn is the actual weight divided by the expected weight at the measured length, with the expected weight calculated as the long term Louisiana typical weight at a given length. Kn is computed for each specimen based on the species, season, and length. The mean Kn is shown in the graph. A mean Kn of 1.00 would mean that the fish have (on average) the expected plumpness. Mean Kn above 1.00 shows plumper than expected fish (eating well). Mean Kn below 1.00 shows fish on the thin side.

The attached figure shows the Kn for speckled trout of different length classes. In 2011, Kn tended to decrease with length class until the biggest fish, suggesting that the larger fish were able to make use of plentiful forage that the smaller fish could not eat, probably mullet too big for the smaller fish. However, in 2012, Kn continues to decline with length class, suggesting that forage that was available in 2011 was not available in 2012.

[homerun]

are moon phases a factor on weight (feeding) laid eggs or not

[MathGeek]

The USGS is showing salinity at 10 ppt at Hackberry. Is there any chance of decent numbers of trout being landed at Calc Pt? Will the low salinity deter anglers or can we still expect good numbers of redfish to be landed at Calc Pt? Would Hebert's be a better bet to weight and measure a good number of fish this weekend?

[Jadams]

More fish will come into spicers

[inchspinner]

Alot of guides are out of Heberts and im sure they wouldnt mind you weighing them and measuring them either just my .02