Conducting a Pilot Trap Survey on New Jersey Artificial Reefs for Black Sea Bass, Tautog, and Lobster

Alternative methods are commonly needed to reliably survey structure-associated species that primarily inhabit areas not effectively sampled by otter trawls. Three examples of structure-associated species in the Middle Atlantic include black sea bass (Centropristis striata), tautog (Tautoga onitis), and American lobster (Homerus americanus). The objectives of this study are to conduct a pilot trap survey on New Jersey artificial reefs to provide the necessary information for designing a statistically-robust trap survey to assess the population status of structure-associated species and to characterize the variation in community composition between two artificial reefs. Fish traps were deployed on Sea Girt and Little Egg artificial reefs and hauled weekly during three phases in 2016. Catch data were used to evaluate differences between the two reefs and to characterize the statistical distribution of catch-per-unit-effort on different bottom types (sand and both concrete and metal structures). Analyses were also conducted to assess spatial autocorrelation in trap catch-per-unit-effort and to determine the impact of soak time and priority effects on catch rates. Results will be valuable for developing recommendations for designing a long-term trap survey that can provide statistically valid indices of relative abundance for structure-associated species.