Nearshore fish communities of the mid-Hudson River estuary, 1985-2000

Abstract

from the abstract, "Two hundred-eleven seine hauls were completed in the 2000 young-of-the-year (YOY) striped bass survey in the Hudson River. A total of 4,830 YOY striped bass were captured, resulting in a geometric mean catch per unit effort (CPUE) of7.2 fish/haul. The Hudson River index ofYOY striped bass abundance, based on the geometric mean CPUE of the 6-week survey, was 3 .2 fish/haul. The index of abundance was the third lowest since the survey began in 1980. YOY striped bass grew at an estimated 0.45mm/day between mid-July and late-September. Catch rates of other anadromous fish, American shad, alewife and blueback herring, were also below average. Composition of the catch was generally similar to that observed in previous years with Atlantic silversides, Atlantic menhaden, striped bass and white perch being the most abundant species in the catch. Catch rates of some species may have been influenced by an unusual hydrographic regime in which salinity was below average early in the sampling season (July-September) and above average late in the season."