Table 5. --Occurrence of Sparidae (larvae) 

 Average number per set 



Month 



1953 



1954 



1955 



1956 



1957 



1958 



Archosargus prohatoce'phalus (Walbaum) 



Sheepshead 



Sheepshead occurred on only one occasion. May 1, 1957, when 10 larvae, 

 6-11 mm. in length, were taken by dip net. Observations of angling activities and 

 discussions with fishermen, however, revealed that this species is a perennial 

 inhabitant of the area. Their cautious method of taking a bait requires considerable 

 angling skill for success. Sheepshead are seldom taken by the fisherman who is 

 after "anything that comes along", but rather by those with special bait, gear, 

 and extreme patience. Although sheepshead attain a weight of approximately 20 

 pounds in some areas, those taken around the lagoon mouth seldom exceeded 5 

 pounds in weight, with the average nearer 1-2 pounds. 



Gonad examination indicated that spawning takes place in late spring, and 

 undoubtedly some of the Sparidae shown in table 5 included those of the sheepshead. 



EPHIPPIDAE 



Chaetodipterus faber (Broussenet) 



Spadefishes 



Spadefish, 

 (Texas) 



Angel Fish 



Spadefish, weighing from one -half to approximately 3 pounds, commonly 

 were caught by anglers around the lagoon mouth from May through November, 

 and were most abundant during the months of June and October. A few were 

 caught in March, April, and December, but none were observed being taken in 

 January or February. However, fishing pressure is at an extremely low ebb in 

 the area during cold weather, and the presence of hundreds of dead spadefish 

 (1-3 pounds) along the shores of the lagoon following prolonged cold spells in 

 January in 1951 and 1958, strongly indicates that the species is a year-round 

 inhabitant of the lagoon. 



Juveniles, from 1 to 3 cm. in length, were observed from mid -May to early 

 July. They occurred singly, never in groups or schools, except when three or 

 four could be seen congregated around various types of flotsam. 



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