Muskellunge Esox masquinongy fisheries have increased in abundance and popularity in numerous southern and mid-Atlantic rivers. However, the paucity of information for these fisheries has limited biologists’ ability to effectively manage these resources. We utilized data from simultaneously conducted fishery-dependent tag return and fishery-independent capture–recapture studies to estimate catch-and-release exploitation and abundance of Muskellunge in the James River, Virginia. During winter electrofishing surveys in 2016–2019, we tagged 747 individual Muskellunge with dart tags and PIT tags. Thirty-seven percent of tags were returned by anglers, and 33% of tagged Muskellunge were recaptured at least once during subsequent electrofishing surveys. Eighty-eight percent of angled fish were caught by individuals targeting Muskellunge, and only 1.1% of returned tags were from fish that were harvested. Catch-and-release exploitation (u) estimates obtained using a Brownie dead recovery model differed between the upriver (mean u ± SE = 0.57 ± 0.09) and downriver (1.00 ± 0.10) reaches of our study area. Similarly, densities of adult (≥762-mm) Muskellunge differed between the two areas (upriver: 0.80 fish/ha; downriver: 0.50 fish/ha) but were comparable to densities observed in lakes and at least one other river. The greatest site-specific density (4.69 fish/ha) was observed at a 1.6-km reach below the lowest dam, which concentrated fish and restricted upstream movement. Given the high values of u in the James River and the growing popularity of Muskellunge angling in southern waters, investigations into the effects of this level of angling on Muskellunge populations (e.g., trophy potential, abundance) will provide managers with the information needed to develop comprehensive Muskellunge management strategies.

中文翻译：

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南部河流麝香鱼渔业丰度和极端捕捞和释放开发的估计

Muskellunge Esox masquinongy在大西洋南部和中部的众多河流中，渔业的数量和受欢迎程度都有所增加。然而，这些渔业信息的缺乏限制了生物学家有效管理这些资源的能力。我们利用同时进行的依赖渔业的标签返回和独立于渔业的捕获-再捕获研究的数据来估计弗吉尼亚州詹姆斯河 Muskellunge 的捕获和释放开发和丰度。在 2016 年至 2019 年的冬季电钓调查中，我们用飞镖标签和 PIT 标签标记了 747 只麝香鱼。37% 的标签被垂钓者退回，33% 的带标签的麝香鱼在随后的电钓调查中至少被重新捕获一次。88% 的有角鱼被瞄准 Muskellunge 的人捕获，只有 1 个。1% 的退回标签来自收获的鱼。捕获和释放漏洞利用（u ) 使用布朗尼死亡恢复模型获得的估计值在我们研究区域的上游（平均u ± SE = 0.57 ± 0.09）和下游 (1.00 ± 0.10) 河段之间有所不同。同样，两个区域之间的成年（≥762 毫米）麝香鱼的密度不同（上游：0.80 条鱼/公顷；下游：0.50 条鱼/公顷），但与在湖泊和至少另一条河流中观察到的密度相当。在最低坝以下 1.6 公里的区域观察到最大的特定地点密度（4.69 条鱼/公顷），鱼集中并限制了上游活动。鉴于u的高值 在詹姆斯河和南部水域越来越受欢迎的麝香鱼垂钓，调查这种垂钓水平对麝香鱼种群的影响（例如，奖杯潜力、丰度）将为管理人员提供制定全面的麝香鱼管理战略所需的信息。