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Fishery Bulletin 106(4) 
Table 1 
Mean environmental parameters measured in habitats sampled for inshore lizardfish, Synodus foetens, in the northern Gulf of 
Mexico during 2004 and 2005 sampling. Habitat C (high relief shell rubble outside the artificial reef zone) was not sampled in 
winter or spring 2005. Descriptions and locations of habitat types are provided in Figure 1. 
Quarter 
Sampling dates 
Habitat 
Depth 
(m) 
Temperature 
(°C) 
Salinity 
(psu) 
Dissolved oxygen 
(mg/L) 
Spring 2004 
16 May 04 
A 
17.3 
22.2 
34.2 
7.0 
16 May 04 
B 
30.3 
19.9 
35.2 
6.5 
19 May 04 
C 
39.6 
19.5 
35.7 
6.3 
18 May 04 
D 
19.0 
24.4 
34.6 
6.9 
17 May 04 
E 
29.0 
20.6 
35.2 
7.3 
18 May 04 
F 
27.3 
20.7 
35.1 
7.1 
18 May 04 
G 
24.0 
21.1 
35.0 
7.5 
17 May 04 
H 
28.0 
20.6 
35.2 
7.3 
Summer 2004 
3 Aug 04 
A 
18.0 
23.5 
36.0 
3.3 
3 Aug 04 
B 
30.6 
22.9 
36.4 
4.2 
4 Aug 04 
C 
37.2 
20.7 
36.4 
5.0 
5 Aug 04 
D 
19.8 
24.0 
36.0 
4.6 
4 Aug 04 
E 
28.8 
22.6 
36.1 
3.4 
4 Aug 04 
F 
28.0 
22.9 
36.1 
3.6 
5-Aug 04 
G 
23.0 
22.3 
36.2 
1.8 
4 Aug 04 
H 
30.7 
22.5 
36.1 
2.9 
Fall 2004 
29 Oct 04 
A 
17.7 
26.0 
35.5 
3.9 
27 Oct 04 
B 
30.7 
23.1 
36.3 
4.9 
26 Oct 04 
C 
37.4 
28.1 
36.2 
5.8 
28 Oct 04 
D 
18.3 
26.0 
35.3 
5.4 
27 Oct 04 
E 
28.8 
27.0 
36.3 
5.7 
28 Oct 04 
F 
26.5 
26.7 
36.3 
5.2 
28 Oct 04 
G 
27.5 
25.8 
35.8 
4.7 
27 Oct 04 
H 
29.0 
26.5 
36.3 
5.2 
Winter 2005 
27 Jan 05 
A 
18.0 
20.1 
35.6 
5.9 
25 Jan 05 
B 
30.8 
20.1 
35.6 
5.9 
26 Jan 05 
D 
19.0 
18.1 
34.5 
6.7 
25 Jan 05 
E 
29.0 
20.6 
35.7 
5.9 
26 Jan 05 
F 
26.5 
20.8 
35.7 
5.9 
26 Jan 05 
G 
23.5 
19.3 
35.2 
6.4 
25 Jan 05 
H 
31.5 
19.8 
35.5 
6.3 
Spring 2005 
27 Apr 05 
A 
18.0 
20.2 
36.3 
3.7 
27 Apr 05 
B 
31.0 
20.2 
36.3 
3.7 
28 Apr 05 
D 
18.6 
20.3 
35.5 
3.9 
28 Apr 05 
E 
29.5 
20.5 
36.0 
4.0 
27 Apr 05 
F 
27.0 
20.2 
36.3 
3.7 
28 Apr 05 
G 
24.0 
20.4 
35.9 
3.6 
28 Apr 05 
H 
31.0 
20.6 
36.0 
4.1 
Results 
All habitat types were sampled each quarter, with the 
exception noted above that high shell habitat outside the 
artificial reef zone was not sampled during winter and 
spring 2005. Hydrographic parameters generally were 
consistent among sampled habitats within sampling 
quarters. Water depth of trawl samples ranged from a 
mean of 18 m for sand habitat outside the AR zone to 
38 m for high shell habitat outside the AR zone (Table 1). 
Temperature ranged from 19° to 26°C among quarters 
(mean = 22.1°C), and salinity ranged between 35 and 
36 psu. Dissolved oxygen fluctuated by season and was 
lowest during summer months. 
A total of 1239 inshore lizardfish were caught in 
trawl samples in study habitats; 749 of those fish were 
randomly sampled and brought to the laboratory for 
further analysis. An additional 221 fish were sampled 
