New Record White Seabass Caught -- X-LOBSTERMAN'S MESSAGE BOARD

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Date Posted: 15:07:58 05/10/03 Sat
Author: Randall
Author Host/IP: 142.177.98.97
Subject: New Record White Seabass Caught

Sportfisherman Catches Oldest Tagged White Seabass In 20-Year History of Marine Stock Enhancement Program San Diego,Calif.(May 9,2003). When 3,480 five-inch tagged white seabass were released into the ocean off Santa Barbara in October of 1994, researchers at Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute (HSWRI) wondered if they would ever see any of those fish again.Because of their relatively small size,the researchers knew survival in the wild would be a challenge and the great expanse of the ocean would further complicate recovery of those seabass that did survive. Nearly nine years later,on April 18,2003, Ken Mangrum, fishing aboard the Erna-B out of Port Hueneme Sportfishing, astonished the researchers at HSWRI when he landed a 17-pound, 39-inch white seabass at Anacapa Island,subsequently identified as one of the tagged fish released back in 1994.

Mangrum donated the head of the fish to the researchers' tag recovery program,an activity in which many sportfisherman are now involved. Unbeknownst to him, Mangrum was contributing to the success one of the most aggressive and significant marine stock enhancement projects in the United States by participating in this program. He had no idea that this catch was so significant. Mangrum's fish turned out to be the oldest tagged seabass found to date. A similar story occurred in November of 1999, when a recreational fisherman,also fishing aboard the Erna-B, recovered an 8-pound, 30-inch tagged white seabass. This fish was caught near an oil platform off of Ventura five years after it was released inside Newport Bay. These "fish tales" are further proof that cultured fish can survive in the wild for many years.

Since 1986, research scientist at HSWRI have cultured,tagged and released more than 650,000 white seabass in southern California coastal waters as part of the Ocean Resources Enhancement and Hatchery Program (OREHP). The white seabass is highly prized both as a recreational and food fish. The decline of white seabass between the 1950's and 1980's was dramatic due to its popularity, with annual sportfishing returns in California dropping from over 55,000 fish to less than 3,500 fish during this period. Under the auspices of the California Department of Fish and Game and with the support of the United Anglers of Southern California, the Sportfishing Association of California and hundreds of volunteer fishermen, HSWRI is helping rebuild fish stocks that support numerous industries including sportfishing, which adds $250 to $450 million annually to the San Diego economy alone.

Through their tagging and recovery efforts, HSWRI researchers are assessing the survivability of these hatchery-reared fish after release and using the information to evaluate the success of the OREHP. Over the years, researchers have learned that the fish have a better chance of survival if they are grown larger before being released into the wild. Now the five-inch fish, once released straight into the wild, are held in volunteer-based growout facilities throughout southern California until they reach 10 to 12 inches. To date, over 800 hatchery-reared white seabass have been recovered, although only 14 have been over the legal size limit of 28 inches in length. Recognizing that today many fish released by OREHP are at or reaching legal size, HSWRI researchers have established a dedicated adult tag recovery program that promises to yield even greater numbers of tagged adults. As expected,this tag recovery program relies heavily on continued support from the fishing community. Southern California fisherman are urged to drop off the heads of legal-sized (28" or larger) white seabass at any one of numerous collection points throughout southern California. Locations can be found on the HSWRI website http://www.hswri.org/seabass

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