Examination of reproductive metrics for Black Drum from Louisiana coastal waters (Pogonias cromis)
Paige E. O’Malley1*, Erik T. Lang2, Brett J. Falterman3
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Fisheries Research Lab, 195 Ludwig Annex, Grand Isle LA. [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]

Black Drum (Pogonias cromis) is a commercial species of economic importance and a popular recreational fish in the Gulf of Mexico. Fecundity estimates for Black Drum in the northern Gulf of Mexico have been documented previously from data collected in the late 1980s, but current data are necessary and standardized methods of analyses will need to be applied for contributions to Louisiana’s stock assessment. Reproductive metrics are important in understanding the effects of stock structure on the subsequent recruitment of fish to a fishery. If fecundity is not directly proportional to weight, fecundity can be a better predictor of recruitment than biomass. The economic importance of the Black Drum fishery to Louisiana and the need for updated reproductive metrics makes this species optimal for a reproductive metrics project. Bottom longline gear was used to sample Black Drum at known spawning sites described in previous hydroacoustic studies and targeted by directed bottom longline sampling during this study. Additionally, because these fish are commercially harvested, fishery dependent samples were obtained from fish processors. Our objectives are to estimate spawning season duration, fraction, and frequency; estimate batch fecundity and couple batch fecundity with spawning frequency to estimate annual fecundity; regress annual fecundity across length, age, and weight; and assess the exponent values of the annual fecundity and weight non-linear regression power equations. Sampling began in December 2019 and concluded in April 2020.