Spotted Seatrout Reproduction in Tampa Bay

Reproductive dynamics of Tampa Bay spotted seatrout were the subject of a five-year (2003-2008) study using acoustic telemetry to track movements of tagged fish and passive acoustics to listen to and record spawning sounds created by aggregations. Results are detailed within a comprehensive report of research funded under the Sport Fish Restoration Act, titled "Investigations into Nearshore and Estuarine Gamefish Behavior, Ecology, and Life History in Florida." These data, along with other work at the FWC's Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, help to ensure the sustainable status of one of the largest and most popular inshore sport fisheries in Florida and along the southeastern United States.

Download Spotted Seatrout Research Findings

Those wishing to cite the article may do so as follows:

Lowerre-Barbieri, S., S. Walters, and J. Bickford. 2008. Spatial and temporal reproductive dynamics of spotted seatrout in Tampa Bay and adjacent waters. Pp. 135-151 in Investigations into nearshore and estuarine gamefish behavior, ecology, and life history in Florida. Sport Fish Restoration Act Report. 188 p.

Results of this study are also published as:

Lowerre-Barbieri, S.K., Walters, S., Bickford, J., Cooper, W., and Muller, R. 2013. Site fidelity and reproductive timing at a spotted seatrout spawning aggregation site: individual versus population scale behavior. Marine Ecology Progress Series 481:181-197. Access Publication.