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Tracking the Vertical Movement Patterns of
the White Seabass
- PIER Research Staff:
- Scott Aalbers, MS
Chugey Sepulveda, PhD
Captain Tom Fullam
Tom Pfleger
Paxson Offield
John Talsky
- Timeline:
- Initiated March 2008; on-going.
Objective:
To better comprehend the vertical movement patterns, catch-ability, and
temperature preferences of this economically important species.
  This
project will use electronic data-logging tags to determine the depth
distribution and temperature preferences of white seabass in Southern
California. Because of the elusive nature
of the white seabass, their movement patterns are still a mystery to veteran
fishermen, biologists, and fisheries managers alike. Evaluating
fish movement patterns will assist biologists and managers in determining
essential information to
better understand this valuable coastal resource.
 Adult
white seabass will be caught by the PIER and Catalina Seabass Fund research
teams during the spring months of 2008 in areas where spawning aggregations
are targeted by the recreational fleet. Depth and temperature sensitive
tags will be surgically implanted into the peritoneum of captured white
seabass to record fine-scale data for up to two years. Recaptured
individuals will provide information on white seabass seasonal movement
patterns in relation to the thermocline, while adding another dimension to
ongoing research to acoustically localize white seabass spawning
aggregations.
The
success of this project is dependent upon angler involvement through the
return of recaptured tags. Tagged seabass will be readily identifiable with
a yellow dart tag near the dorsal fin in addition to a white stalk attached
the archival tag. The return of recaptured tags will bring a reward of $200
and a tagging project T-shirt. Reward and contact information will be
labeled on all tags.
Stay tuned for upcoming notes on the
progress and preliminary results of this project that will give us some
insight on the movement patterns of these mysterious ghosts.
Learn more about the biology of the white seabass
Learn more about white seabass fishery and management
Other on-going
white seabass research
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