CHESFIMS 2001-02 Cruise Report
Cruise Dates: 16 July 2001 – 23 July 2001
Research Vessel: R/V Aquarius
Principal Investigators: T.J. Miller and E.D. Houde
Chief Scientist: C.J. Heyer
Phone Number: (410) 326-7420
Fax Number: (410) 326-7318
E-mail:
Participating Scientists:
Name / Affiliation / Joined Ship(month/day) / Left Ship
(month/day)
1. / C.J. Heyer / CBL / 7/16 / 7/23
2. / M. Behum / CBL / 7/16 / 7/23
3. / A. Fields / CBL / 7/16 / 7/23
4. / K. Curti / CBL / 7/16 / 7/23
5. / B. Pearson / CBL / 7/16 / 7/20
6. / O. Jensen / CBL / 7/20 / 7/23
Objectives: Measure the spatial distributions, abundances and biological interactions of juvenile/yearling fishes in the Chesapeake Bay. Collect and preserve a sub-sample of the catch for dietary analysis.
Area of Operation: Seaward of the Bay Bridge Tunnel (37o 00’ N Latitude) to the head of the Bay (39o 25’ N Latitude).
Type of Operations: Conducted CTD casts and 20-minute mid-water trawl tows at 48 stations in the Chesapeake Bay (Fig. 1 and Table 1).
Data / Specimens Collected: Completed 47 CTD casts. Collected 75,336 fish (>129 kg) from 30 different taxonomic categories. (Tables 2 a and b provide a summary of fish caught). Preserved (frozen or EtOH) samples from each station where fish were caught (53 Jars and 54 Bags).
Complications: Four stations were not sampled due to bad weather. CTD data did not upload correctly, thus all collected physical oceanographic data was lost.
Cruise Summary:
We left Chesapeake Biological Laboratory in Solomons, MD at 1900 on 16 July 2001 and returned at 0300 on 23 July 2001. Weather conditions for the cruise were mixed. Half a night’s sampling was lost on 18 July 2001 due to high wind (30 – 40 knots) and rough seas. Wind and seas were stronger than anticipated early on in the cruise, but then laid down throughout the rest of the sampling. A total of 4 stations were not sampled due to unfavorable weather conditions and resulting time constraints. The order in which stations were occupied was altered from the cruise plan to reduce steaming times and allow us to complete the maximum number of stations in the reduced amount of time. The station log (Table 1) can be used as a guide in planning future CHESFIMS cruises that will incorporate the stations sampled by CHESFIMS 0102.
Overall, the cruise was moderately successful. Most of the objectives of the original cruise plan were met. We collected fish at all of the 48 stations sampled. The average catch per station was 1570 ± 1876.6 fish (mean ± SD, range 6 – 7451). In total, 75,336 fish were caught with a total catch weight of about 129 kg (not including the weight of those bay anchovy sub-sampled by volume). Bay anchovy (Anchoa mitchilli) and young-of-the-year weakfish (Cynoscion regalis) were common in catches throughout the bay. Spot (Leiostomus xanthurus) were also collected throughout the bay, although in lower numbers than bay anchovy or weakfish. While bay anchovy was still dominant, striped anchovy (Anchoa hepsetus), weakfish and croaker (Micropogonias undulatus) were common in catches in the lower bay (south of 37o 50’ N). In the mid bay (37o 51’ – 38o 40’ N) alosids and croaker were the most abundant species, after bay anchovy and weakfish. The most commonly caught species in the upper bay (north of 38o 41’ N) were white perch (Morone americana) and young-of-the-year clupeids and alosids (Tables 2 a and b). A summary of the characteristics of the more common species is provided in Table 3.
CTD data were lost on uploading (see Problems encountered). Because of the lost CTD data no information is available from this cruise on physical oceanographic conditions. However, data are available from Ed Houde’s July Estuarine Turbidity Maximum (ETM) cruise, as well as the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) main-stem sampling program. Physical data collected on the ETM cruise is focused in the upper bay during the period between 18 – 14 July 2001. The Maryland waters of the Chesapeake Bay main-stem were sampled by the Maryland DNR between 9 – 11 July 2001 and again between 23 – 25 July 2001. Similar data may also be available from the Chesapeake Information Management System and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. A supplemental report will follow when pertinent physical data from these sources has been located.
Figure 1. CHESFIMS 2001-02 Station Map.
Stations in red are stations that were missed due to weather (stations 35, 7, 6 and 13).
Problems Encountered:
Overall, the net fished well throughout the duration of the cruise (using a 5:1 scope, about 2.7 knots through the water, and with the current). For the first couple of tows we tried to tow with the predominate “pushing” force, which in most cases was the wind. However, we soon found that we that we had better control of the net if we ignored the wind and towed with the current. Towing with the current allowed us to maintain a speed through the water at or near our mark of 2.7 knots.
During the first two nights we used a scope of 4.5:1 to fish the net. This scope seemed to work well in the lower region of the bay; however, by the evening of 18 July 2001 we began to be concerned that the net was not sampling the bottom efficiently. We switched to a scope of 5:1 for the remainder of the cruise and found this to work well.
In shallow waters (less than 8 m) it is difficult to fish the net without striking bottom prematurely. Eventually it was determined that the net needed to be fished differently in shallow waters to take the length of the bridle into consideration. At first we tried zeroing the meter when the doors of the net were at the surface, rather than the apex of the bridle. Under calm sea conditions this worked well, but under even the slightest seas the doors had a tendency to break the surface of the water and cause the net to flip. It was finally decided that the best course of action in shallow waters is to zero the meter with the apex of the bridle about half way between the boat and the surface of the water. The net can then be fished in two to four depth bins depending on the depth of the water. In some cases we were only able to fish the net at the surface for 10 minutes and then at the bottom for 10 minutes.
The uploading process of the data from the CTD was completely unsuccessful. All of the CTD data was uploaded on the steam back to Solomons from the upper bay and the CTD memory was cleared because another group needed the CTD that same morning. Unfortunately, the data was not checked before the CTD memory was cleared. It was discovered after the cruise that the data did not upload correctly. There was no usable data salvageable.
Recommended Improvements:
1) Use a scope of 5:1 on the RV Aquarius and tow with the current to maintain a speed through the water of about 2.7 knots.
2) Check all uploaded data before clearing it from instrumentation memory.
Table 1. CHESFIMS 2001-02 Station Log: Table continued on next page. Time in Eastern Daylight Time, coordinates in degrees and minutes.
Time
/ LAT/LONG / Activities /7/16/01 / 1900 / Start of Cruise
Depart Solomons
3 / 5 / 2340 / 37 10.078 / 76 11.985 / CTD, MWT
7/17/01 / 4 / 0137 / 37 10.047 / 76 05.004 / CTD, MWT
1 / 3 / 0301 / 37 02.996 / 76 01.990 / CTD, MWT
2 / 0356 / 37 00.966 / 76 01.898 / CTD, MWT
1 / 0455 / 36 58.009 / 76 02.901 / CTD, MWT
0645 / Arrive Norfolk
1900 / Depart Norfolk
32 / 32 / 2020 / 37 14.427 / 76 05.972 / CTD, MWT
33 / 2114 / 37 14.481 / 76 08.479 / CTD, MWT
34 / 2229 / 37 14.442 / 76 15.836 / CTD, MWT
33 / 37 / 2331 / 37 17.986 / 76 12.017 / CTD, MWT
7/18/01 / 36 / 0126 / 37 17.954 / 76 07.379 / CTD, MWT
0800 / Arrive Deltaville
1900 / Depart Deltaville
34 / 40 / 1956 / 37 26.023 / 76 09.289 / CTD, MWT
34 / 39 / 2059 / 37 26.098 / 76 05.750 / CTD, MWT
38 / 2211 / 37 25.917 / 76 04.325 / CTD, MWT
7 / 8 / 2314 / 37 30.012 / 76 01.014 / CTD, MWT
7/19/01 / 9 / 0027 / 37 30.021 / 76 06.974 / CTD, MWT
10 / 0147 / 37 29.963 / 76 12.908 / CTD, MWT
9 / 14 / 0324 / 37 40.004 / 76 12.539 / CTD, MWT
12 / 0441 / 37 39.955 / 76 05.579 / CTD, MWT
11 / 0549 / 37 39.957 / 75 59.048 / CTD, MWT
0800 / Arrive Crisfield
1900 / Depart Crisfield
31 / 30 / 1949 / 37 50.998 / 75 55.848 / CTD, MWT
31 / 2116 / 38 00.185 / 75 54.975 / CTD, MWT
35 / 41 / 2253 / 38 04.020 / 76 10.804 / CTD, MWT
42 / 2356 / 38 04.048 / 76 13.725 / CTD, MWT
7/20/01 / 13 / 15 / 0126 / 38 00.076 / 76 07.042 / CTD, MWT
16 / 0224 / 38 00.027 / 76 10.977 / CTD, MWT
17 / 0325 / 37 59.997 / 76 14.943 / CTD, MWT
18 / 0426 / 38 00.024 / 76 18.865 / CTD, MWT
35 / 43 / 0529 / 38 03.969 / 76 15.659 / CTD, MWT
0730 / Arrive Solomons
2030 / Depart Solomons
17 / 21 / 2044 / 38 20.026 / 76 22.025 / CTD, MWT
20 / 2144 / 38 19.866 / 76 20.068 / CTD, MWT
19 / 2243 / 38 19.952 / 76 18.618 / CTD, MWT
7/21/01 / 36 / 46 / 0013 / 38 25.971 / 76 25.614 / CTD, MWT
45 / 0120 / 38 26.096 / 76 23.185 / CTD, MWT
0230 / Arrive Solomons
1800 / Depart Solomons
44 / 1836 / 38 26.000 / 76 20.499 / CTD, MWT
21 / 23 / 2006 / 38 40.013 / 76 28.009 / CTD, MWT
22 / 2100 / 38 40.253 / 76 25.708 / CTD, MWT
38 / 50 / 2206 / 38 44.514 / 76 24.980 / CTD, MWT
51 / 2311 / 38 44.289 / 76 27.128 / CTD, MWT
7/22/01 / 52 / 0007 / 38 44.419 / 76 29.512 / CTD, MWT
25 / 25 / 0202 / 39 01.448 / 76 22.993 / CTD, MWT
24 / 0303 / 39 01.546 / 76 22.029 / CTD, MWT
26 / 0409 / 39 06.978 / 76 19.013 / CTD, MWT
0530 / Arrive SPSP
1600 / Depart SPSP
30 / 29 / 1850 / 39 24.946 / 76 01.758 / CTD, MWT
28 / 2010 / 39 18.980 / 76 12.971 / CTD, MWT
27 / 2125 / 39 13.014 / 76 15.249 / CTD, MWT
40 / 56 / 2234 / 39 11.497 / 76 17.001 / CTD, MWT
57 / 2333 / 39 11.462 / 76 19.249 / CTD, MWT
7/23/01 / 58 / 0016 / 39 11.838 / 76 23.652 / CTD, MWT
0300 / Arrive Solomons
End of Cruise
1 of 11
CHESFIMS 2001-02 Cruise Report
Table 2a. CHESIMS 2001-02 Catch Log for Stations 01 – 27: Table continues onto next page. Total weight of each species in grams (g).
/ Station /Scientific Name / Common Name / 01 / 02 / 03 / 04 / 05 / 08 / 09 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 14 / 15 / 16 / 17 / 18 / 19 / 20 / 21 / 22 / 23 / 24 / 25 / 26 / 27 /
Anguilla rostrata / American Eel / Total Count
Total Wt. (g)
Opisthonema oglinum / Atlantic Thread Herring / Total Count / 3
Total Wt. (g) / 188
Alosa sp. / Alosid / Total Count / 1 / 29 / 2 / 39
Total Wt. (g) / 290 / 27 / 493
Clupeidae / Clupeid / Total Count / 10 / 7 / 2 / 4 / 2 / 7 / 109 / 78 / 136 / 329
Total Wt. (g) / 3 / 3 / 11 / 160 / 100 / 289
Brevoortia tyrannus / Atlantic Menhaden / Total Count / 1 / 3
Total Wt. (g) / 208 / 540
Anchoa hepsetus / Striped Anchovy / Total Count / 8 / 1 / 3 / 140 / 174 / 4 / 58 / 2 / 16 / 496 / 6 / 1 / 7
Total Wt. (g) / 13 / 0 / 18 / 179 / 3
Anchoa mitchilli / Bay Anchovy / Total Count / 96 / 3627 / 623 / 2211 / 2870 / 71 / 250 / 2041 / 510 / 1577 / 7408 / 525 / 1186 / 380 / 209 / 295 / 599 / 2035 / 2650 / 533
Total Wt. (g) / 198 / 2103 / 72 / 71 / 42 / 68 / 28 / 20 / 75 / 23 / 316 / 1008 / 818
Ictaluridae / Freshwater Catfish / Total Count
Total Wt. (g)
Menidia menidia / Atlantic Silverside / Total Count / 1 / 1
Total Wt. (g)
Hippocampus erectus / Lined Seahorse / Total Count / 2 / 1
Total Wt. (g)
Morone americana / White Perch / Total Count / 369
Total Wt. (g) / 24200
Morone saxatilis / Striped Bass / Total Count / 4
Total Wt. (g) / 721
Centropristis striata / Black Sea Bass / Total Count / 1
Total Wt. (g) / 45
Pomatomus saltatrix / Bluefish / Total Count / 1 / 5 / 6
Total Wt. (g) / 38 / 163 / 273
Cynoscion regalis / Weakfish / Total Count / 1 / 3 / 60 / 38 / 5 / 24 / 42 / 30 / 2 / 13 / 4 / 9 / 1 / 28 / 1
Total Wt. (g) / 93 / 108 / 1020 / 204 / 28 / 143 / 148 / 102 / 12 / 118 / 4 / 6 / 1 / 200 / 12
Leiostomus xanthurus / Spot / Total Count / 6 / 8 / 15 / 2 / 10 / 2 / 2
Total Wt. (g) / 297 / 628 / 1136 / 128 / 58 / 588 / 200 / 410
Micropogonias undulatus / Croaker / Total Count / 24 / 1 / 6 / 33 / 81 / 3 / 16 / 1 / 2
Total Wt. (g) / 5682 / 135 / 2045 / 13864 / 18636 / 750 / 4135 / 138 / 588
Stenotomus chrysops / Scup / Total Count / 2 / 4 / 6
Total Wt. (g) / 4 / 39 / 151
Lagodon rhomboides / Pinfish / Total Count
Total Wt. (g)
Gobiidae / Goby / Total Count / 1
Total Wt. (g)
Peprilus alepidotus / Harvestfish / Total Count
Total Wt. (g)
Peprilus triacanthus / Butterfish / Total Count / 2 / 6 / 3 / 5 / 5 / 2 / 4 / 1 / 4 / 10 / 4 / 1 / 3 / 2 / 1
Total Wt. (g) / 0 / 7 / 7 / 4 / 1 / 39 / 20 / 2 / 1 / 2 / 2 / 3
Prionotus sp. / Searobin / Total Count / 5 / 1 / 1 / 2
Total Wt. (g) / 39 / 3 / 18 / 50
Bothidae / Lefteye Flounder / Total Count / 1
Total Wt. (g) / 20
Trinectes maculatus / Hogchoker / Total Count / 1
Total Wt. (g)
Symphyrus plagiusa / Blackcheek Tonguefish / Total Count / 1 / 3
Total Wt. (g) / 32 / 82
Callinectes sapidus / Blue Crab / Total Count / 1 / 2 / 1 / 1 / 3 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 2
Total Wt. (g)
Loligo sp. / Loligo / Total Count / 1
Total Wt. (g)
UNIDENTIFIED FISH / Unidentified Fish / Total Count / 1
Total Wt. (g) / 8
Dogfish / Total Count
Total Wt. (g)
Table 2b. CHESIMS 2001-02 Catch Log for Stations 28 – 58: Table continues onto next page. Total weight of each species in grams (g).