The black basses (Micropterus spp.) are some of the most important game fishes in the United States. Translocation by both anglers and state agencies for increased angling opportunity has led to widespread hybridization between native and non‐native species. The use of species‐diagnostic single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers for the black basses have allowed for rapid assessment of species identification

Entrainment at hydropower facilities, where fish (non‐) volitionally enter hydropower infrastructure such as intake towers, can lead to fish becoming stranded for considerable periods of time rather than being flushed to downstream areas. To reduce fish injury and/or mortality from entrainment stranding events, hydropower operators will salvage stranded fish and release them back into the upstream

Diversity in steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss (anadromous Rainbow Trout) is often characterized by varying time spent in freshwater and saltwater environments. However, ontogenetic shifts are not often highlighted as an important diversity characteristic in salmonids. Larger water bodies can play a key role in population stability by buffering limited resources in smaller tributary systems. Based on freshwater

The Common Carp Cyprinus carpio is an invasive fish whose populations have grown to ecologically damaging levels in the North American Midwest. It has been shown that some shallow nursery habitats contribute disproportionally to population growth of Common Carp in interconnected Midwestern lake systems. The ability of managers to discriminate which shallow basins are producing Common Carp across these

Burbot Lota lota were illegally introduced to the Green River, Wyoming, in the mid‐1990s and pose a threat to recreational fisheries and native fish conservation. Although much is known about Burbot population dynamics, little is known about their movement patterns. Our objectives were to describe the movement dynamics of Burbot in the upper Green River system to provide information on the ecology

Panfish populations create some of the most popular and intensively managed recreational fisheries in North America. However, sampling biases may prevent fisheries managers from making informed decisions. Typically, panfish are collected using fyke nets; however, hoop nets also may be effective for capturing these species. Information regarding the most efficient and least biased approach for sampling

Sport fisheries are frequent drivers of nonnative fish introductions throughout the inland waters of North America. These fisheries often value aggressive, large‐bodied predators, and although they satiate angling demand they are also potentially problematic in systems that support imperiled species. The Tonguetied Minnow Exoglossum laurae is a rare species that maintains a disjunct distribution across

The utility of commercial salmonid Oncorhynchus spp. traps in the U.S. Pacific Northwest was recently revisited for the first time in decades to enable selective harvesting of hatchery‐origin salmonids while reducing mortality of Endangered Species Act (ESA)‐listed salmonids. Modifications to historical gear designs resulted in dramatic improvements in salmonid bycatch survival rates relative to conventional

To better understand the reliability of fin clipping as an external mark for early‐summer (<100 mm TL) age‐0 Northern Pike Esox lucius, we experimentally evaluated fin regeneration following complete excision of a pelvic fin over 98 d. The Northern Pike were also marked with a unique visible implant elastomer tag to allow for repeated measures of individuals. Survival, growth, and fin regeneration

Many inland fisheries are supported by stocking hatchery‐produced fish, and fisheries managers often face difficult decisions regarding strain selection. Stocking evaluations that are designed to quantify differences in strain performance provide valuable data for designing stocking programs. Here, we used genetic tools to investigate the capture rate of two strains of Muskellunge that were stocked

Important variability exists in life history attributes among localized populations of Coastal Cutthroat Trout Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii in relation to geographic and environmental factors. Describing the life history of locally adapted populations is critical to successful fishery management and conservation. The number of annuli and distance between circuli in scales (i.e., scale analysis) are

Acoustic telemetry was used to monitor the movements and residency of Sandbar Sharks Carcharhinus plumbeus, Atlantic Sharpnose Sharks Rhizoprionodon terraenovae, Bull Sharks Carcharhinus leucas, and Nurse Sharks Ginglymostoma cirratum around artificial reefs in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Transmitter‐tagged sharks were monitored from November 2012 to July 2019. Residency comparisons were based on

Growth information from known‐age Muskellunge Esox masquinongy is relatively rare in the published literature. We tagged all extended‐growth Muskellunge fingerlings stocked into 10 northwestern Wisconsin lakes during 2009–2019 with PIT tags and later recaptured these fish to establish known age and growth. Our objective was to use known age, and length upon recapture of each stocked Muskellunge, to

The addition of limestone sand directly to streams is an effective method for treating chemical and biological issues associated with acid precipitation, a common concern in many Appalachian watersheds. The unique water chemistry created by limestone remediation potentially creates a “mark” in fish hard‐parts (e.g., otoliths and fin‐rays) that can be used to identify fish from remediated habitats that

The introduction and subsequent spread of Common Carp Cyprinus carpio throughout the world represents one of the most destructive and pervasive forces impacting aquatic ecosystems. Herein we use computer simulations to predict if stocking YY Male carp in conjunction with manual netting or piscicide use could eradicate invasive Common Carp populations. Two forms of YY Males were evaluated including

We evaluated the detectability of visible implant elastomer (VIE) tags in Coastal Cutthroat Trout Oncorynchus clarkii clarkii in the marine environment by comparing visually identified recaptures from VIE tags with known recaptures that were identified through genotype matching. A total of 89 individual Coastal Cutthroat Trout were marked in the lower jaw with colored VIE tags, sampled for genetics

Anglers have been one of the major supporters of aquatic conservation activities in the USA through the Dingle‐Johnson Act and other programs. Declining rates of participation in fishing have spurred significant efforts to Recruit, Retain, and Reengage anglers: also known as “R3”. To make R3 strategies more effective, it is important to explore the broader socio‐demographic patterns that underpin angling

Age‐0 Walleye Sander vitreus are stocked throughout North America to maintain and supplement populations. Predation has been implicated as a factor limiting survival of stocked age‐0 Walleye; however, timing, duration, and extent of post‐stocking predation remains uncertain. Our objectives were to estimate the abundance of predators in areas adjacent to stocking locations, estimate temporal variation

Numerous stocking evaluations of pellet‐reared advanced‐fingerling (80–120 mm TL) Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides have assessed the contribution of stocked fish to the wild population, but few studies have quantified longer‐term (1–2 years) survival. Hatchery researchers have developed spawning Florida Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides floridanus (hereafter, Florida Bass) out‐of‐season (i

The Lemon Shark Negaprion brevirostris is a large coastal shark that commonly occurs in the shallow nearshore waters of the tropical western Atlantic Ocean. There are conservation concerns for this species due to fisheries exploitation, low productivity, anthropogenic disturbance at nursery sites, and the depleted status of other large coastal sharks, but no quantitative assessment of stock status

Projecting sound into navigational locks has been suggested as a promising way to block the upstream movement of invasive Carp. This possibility is promising because Carp have a good sense of hearing compared to non‐Ostariophysian fishes. Although the broadband sound of an outboard motor has been shown to repel several species of Carp in laboratory arenas, its efficacy in a navigational lock is unknown

Grass Carp Ctenopharyngodon idella is an herbivorous fish that has been stocked throughout the United States for aquatic plant control, commonly to manage hydrilla Hydrilla verticillata. Triploid Grass Carp were purported to have a mean lifespan of about 11 years based on otolith‐assigned ages and mortality estimates for fish associated with large stocking efforts through which aquatic plants were

Stream habitat fragmentation caused by manmade structures is ubiquitous in Colorado, creating a need for passage solutions that accommodate multiple fish species. This study tested the effectiveness of a rock‐ramp fishway to pass nine fish species with a range of swimming abilities. Target species for fishway design included Brassy Minnow Hybognathus hankinsoni (weakest swimming), Longnose Dace Rhinichthys

A general assumption in the use of biotelemetry is that tags do not affect the animal’s behavior. There is general agreement that internal implantation of transmitters is the preferred method for affixing a tag to fish relative to external and intragastric transmitters because internal tags have minimal negative impacts on growth and can be used for long term research. Internal transmitter attachment

The establishment of nonnative predators can have devastating consequences for native fish communities, but predation rates are often difficult to quantify due to spatial and temporal variation in predator foraging behavior. Predation by Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus throughout the Colorado River basin potentially threatens the recovery of native fishes. Because Channel Catfish are highly opportunistic

Fish populations with broad age distributions are expected to have higher reproductive capacity than age‐truncated populations because of the disproportionate contributions of older fish. Harvest slot limits, an expected means of ameliorating age truncation, are modeled for Tautog Tautoga onitis in an overfished population subunit that is experiencing overfishing. Tautog, currently managed by a 40

Catfish are popular with anglers fishing southeast South Dakota rivers, and a group of anglers have expressed concern about perceived overharvest of trophy‐size catfish. However, existing data were insufficient for determining if Channel Catfish and Flathead Catfish are being overharvested. Our objective was to determine the population dynamics of Flathead Catfish Pylodictus olivaris and Channel Catfish

Light trap captures of Razorback Sucker Xyrauchen texanus larvae are used to trigger flow releases from Flaming Gorge Reservoir, which inundate floodplain wetland nursery habitat in the Green River, Utah. However, because little is known about efficacy of traps to capture or retain larvae under field‐relevant conditions, we conducted an exploratory study using releases of unmarked and marked (oxytetracycline

Fate assignment is crucial to the results of survival studies, particularly those that utilize acoustic tagging. Most current methodologies are at least partially subjective, thus having a means of objectively assigning fates would improve precision, accuracy, and utility of such studies. We released 57 acoustically tagged deepwater groupers of six species off North Carolina, USA, via surface release

Grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella, was introduced to the southern United States in the 1960s to control aquatic macrophytes in aquaculture ponds. Accidental release of grass carp from some research facilities and aquaculture farms at the start of the introduction, followed by broad promotion of stocking triploid and diploid fish helped to facilitate expansion of the invasive range of the species

Biological invasions occur as a multi‐stage process and life history traits can change during the invasion process. Blue Catfish Ictalurus furcatus were introduced in three Virginia tidal tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay in the 1970s and 1980s, but have expanded their range to almost all large tributaries of the Bay. Understanding the species’ growth is important to understand impacts on other resident

The 2011 legalization of hand fishing for catfishes in Texas prompted the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) to conduct a model‐based evaluation of the potential impacts on size structure and dynamic rates of the Flathead Catfish Pylodictis olivaris in Lake Palestine, Texas. Results predicted that impacts by hand fishers would be minimal and that the preexisting harvest regulation of 5 fish/d

Invasive Bighead Carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis ), Silver Carp (H. molotrix ), and Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella ) are expanding throughout the Upper Mississippi River (UMR) basin. Spawning has occurred in the mainstem UMR but could be limited to high discharge events when dam operations create a free‐flowing river. Alternatively, naturally free flowing tributaries could offer alternative habitat

The introduction of invasive species has resulted in negative impacts to aquatic ecosystems and is cited as the second leading cause of fish extinctions. In the southwestern United States, low diversity and high levels of endemism increase the deleterious effects of these introductions. Near the southern edge of their range, the last remaining population of native Coastal Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus

Alteration of river systems around the world has created novel environments that have been fragmented, homogenized, or transformed from their natural state, thus posing challenges for understanding how fish populations function. The Missouri River has undergone significant alteration through reservoir construction and channelization. Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus and Flathead Catfish Pylodictis

Blue Catfish Ictalurus furcatus provide a popular sport fishery in Mark Twain Lake, Missouri, but little is known about their population demographics or exploitation by anglers. Our objectives were to (1) determine population demographics of Blue Catfish, (2) determine exploitation of Blue Catfish, and (3) determine whether new harvest regulations would improve the quality (e.g., size structure and

Managing large multiuser fisheries involves large amounts of data and information, including information directly from anglers. Angler‐provided information may come in the form of attitudinal and behavior surveys, in addition to voluntary reporting of catch information. In this study, we wanted to better understand anglers fishing for Red Snapper Lutjanus campechanus in the Gulf of Mexico. Toward this

Small impoundments (hereafter, “lakes”) provide close‐to‐home fishing opportunities for many anglers but do not always provide quality fishing, especially for panfish. Often, these lakes contain populations of slow‐growing Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus and crappies Pomoxis spp. The presence of abundant Gizzard Shad Dorosoma cepedianum and Common Carp Cyprinus carpio is known to negatively influence

Muskellunge Esox masquinongy is a prized sport fish throughout much of North America. Due to the species’ popularity among anglers and limited natural recruitment in reservoirs, Muskellunge are commonly stocked to maintain populations. However, little is known about their poststocking behavior and survival in reservoirs. We used radiotelemetry to evaluate behavior and survival of spring‐stocked yearling

We estimated the efficiency of electrofishing for collecting crayfishes in southern Appalachian Mountain streams (Alabama, USA). We conducted electrofishing depletion surveys at 20 sites in five large, species‐rich streams in two drainages. We collected five crayfish species during the depletion surveys. On average, catchability was 34%, with depletion surveys collecting 73% of the individuals that

Reservoir impoundment affects fish habitat condition, in turn likely influencing the spatial and temporal distribution patterns of fish assemblage structure in the impounded area. Fishing activity and instream gravel and sand mining are important anthropogenic factors, and flow discharge, water temperature, and precipitation are important natural environmental variables; both anthropogenic and natural

The Gulf of Maine (GOM) commercial lobster fishery has approximately 3.5 million actively fished traps and captures several nontargeted groundfish species, including Atlantic Cod Gadus morhua, as bycatch, yet there has been limited research on the incidental mortality of groundfish in this fishery. Although the mortality of Atlantic Cod has been estimated in other GOM commercial fisheries, unaccounted

Downstream migration of smolts is a critical aspect of the life history pathway for anadromous salmonids. Timing of downstream migration can vary along latitudinal and climatic gradients. Steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss occur over a broad range of climate and hydrologic conditions, but relatively little is known about migration timing of smolts in the southern extent of the species’ range. Using a 19‐year

Fisheries managers in Kansas face increasing challenges to diversify angling opportunities and increase appeal to a broader audience. One method of diversification is the development of alternative fisheries to complement those that are already established. To address this desire for diversification, age‐1 Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus and age‐0 Channel Catfish × Blue Catfish I. furcatus hybrids

Ceratonova shasta is an endemic myxozoan parasite that impacts salmonid populations in the Klamath River (USA). High densities of C. shasta actinospores negatively affect the survival of migrating juvenile salmonids. Each year, approximately five million fall‐run Chinook Salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha smolts are released from a hatchery that is located below Iron Gate Dam, and they travel through

Simultaneous management actions often are used to improve the status of imperiled species, yet the effects of these actions can be difficult to determine. The endangered Rio Grande Silvery Minnow Hybognathus amarus is a short‐lived fish with a dispersive life history and thus requires—but does not occupy—unfragmented habitat for recruitment and survival. We used Rio Grande Silvery Minnow as a model

Although low‐frequency, pulsed‐DC electrofishing is considered the most effective method for sampling Blue Catfish Ictalurus furcatus in reservoirs, efforts to improve sampling efficiency have not been fully explored. Optimizing sampling duration can reduce cost and effort if shorter sample times still produce precision similar to that of longer samples. We compared several catch rate and size structure

The CPUE (fish/6,000 m3) of Silver Carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix obtained by using an electrified butterfly trawl (paupier) was evaluated among various temporal (time of day and season) and spatial (location, habitat [shoreline and open water], and water depth) factors that are likely to be influential in large lentic habitats. The paupier sampled the upper water column (1.5 m) in three locations

Introduced Lake Trout Salvelinus namaycush threaten native Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout Oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieri in Yellowstone Lake, Yellowstone National Park, where gill nets have been used to suppress subadult and adult Lake Trout since 1995. However, survival of embryonic and larval life history stages can have profound effects on the population dynamics of Lake Trout. Inducing additional mortality

Light trap captures of larval, endangered Razorback Sucker Xyrauchen texanus are used to guide flow release timing from reservoirs and measure Razorback Sucker annual reproductive success in the Green River, Utah. However, little is known regarding efficacy of light traps to capture or retain larvae under variable and field‐relevant environmental conditions. We conducted laboratory experiments to investigate

Fecundity of fish is influenced by several factors, including body length, condition, population density, and environmental conditions. It follows that fecundity of fish populations can exhibit spatiotemporal variability; thus, periodic quantification of length–fecundity relationships is important for management. We hypothesized that average fecundity of Cisco Coregonus artedi in the upper Laurentian

Telemetry is a common tool for studying the behavior and fate of migrating adult Pacific salmon Oncorhynchus spp., yet few field studies have compared behavior and fate associated with different tagging techniques. In this study, adult Harrison River (British Columbia) Sockeye Salmon O. nerka were captured in their natal river near spawning areas, radio‐tagged by gastric insertion or external attachment

There are many ways to quantify fish movement through shallow‐water habitats, but most noninvasive methods (e.g., visual counts) are not effective in turbid coastal wetland waters of the Great Lakes. Dual‐frequency identification sonar (DIDSON) technology (Sound Metrics) offers a noninvasive, hydroacoustic‐based approach to characterize fish movement in wetlands and other habitats by collecting highly

Recruitment of age‐0 Walleye Sander vitreus is often indexed using fall electrofishing surveys. However, collecting fish before fall may provide timely information regarding stocking decisions and factors influencing recruitment. We evaluated sampling methods for age‐0 Walleye in northern Wisconsin lakes that could be used to assess recruitment in spring and summer. Initial assessments on two lakes

Accurate estimates of age composition are essential for fisheries management, but evaluation of protocols to estimate age data are rarely conducted. Herein, known‐age Pacific salmon Oncorhynchus spp. from six hatchery stocks were used to examine accuracy of multiple scale‐aging protocols and to assess how errors in age assignment may affect age composition estimated from scale data. Accuracy reached

Above‐average precipitation in the 1990s resulted in many new fisheries across northeastern South Dakota and elsewhere in the Upper Midwest. Walleye Sander vitreus populations in these new fisheries can be extremely vulnerable to angler harvest. In an attempt to maintain a Walleye fishery in Reetz Lake, South Dakota, a new lake, a restrictive regulation of one Walleye ≥711 mm TL per day was implemented

I observed exceptionally variable TL at age for both Black Crappies Pomoxis nigromaculatus and White Crappies P. annularis in several small impoundments in northern Missouri. I used linear mixed models to assess the relative influences of sex, juvenile growth (back‐calculated lengths at age 1 [L1] and age 2 [L2]), and age in explaining variation in TL of age‐3 and older crappies. I also examined the

Hatchery rearing and stocking of young Lake Sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens have become key management and species recovery tools in many jurisdictions, yet there has been relatively little investigation into the optimization of release methods. Based on the contemporary understanding of the species’ ecology in Boreal Shield rivers, it was hypothesized that poststocking survival and/or within‐reach retention

The release of hatchery‐reared age‐0 Lake Sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens has proven sufficient to re‐establish mid‐latitude populations, but there was minimal evidence of poststocking survival in the functionally extirpated population of the upper Nelson River, Manitoba, until the practice of rearing fish to age 1 in the hatchery began in 2007. After 5 years of poststocking monitoring (2012–2016), mark–recapture

Otoliths are calcified structures that are located in the inner ears of fish, as in most vertebrates, that are responsible primarily for the perception of gravity, balance, and movement and secondarily of sound detection. Microstructural and chemical analyses of the inner otolith growth layers, called increments, constitute powerful tools for estimating fish age and elucidate many life history and