Behavior and mortality of adult striped bass in J. Strom Thurmond Reservoir, South Carolina-Georgia

The objectives of this dissertation were to (1) determine temporal and spatial estimates of mortality; (2) relate summer diel behavior to daily cycles of water quality; and (3) quantify post-fishing tournament live-release survival, dispersal, and behavior of the adult striped bass Morone saxatilis in J. Strom Thurmond Reservoir, South Carolina-Georgia. Annual total mortality rates were 0.81 +/- 0.06 (mean +/- SE) for year 1 (July 1999--June 2000) and 0.42 +/- 0.04 for year 2 (July 2000--June 2001). The force of fishing was much greater than the force of natural death on the total mortality in this population with seasonal increases identified during July--September. Fishing mortality was highest temporally and spatially during late spring and late summer near Richard B. Russell Dam due to high angling pressure for striped bass congregated in summer refugia created by cool, oxygenated hypolimnetic discharge during hydroelectric operations.; Summer diel behavior was correlated with the daily cycle of habitat conditions created during the three phases of daily operation at Richard B. Russell Dam. Overall, mean movement was significantly higher during hydroelectric generation (alpha = 0.10) than no-generation (p = 0.03) and pumped storage (p = 0.08). Directional movement was significant in an up-reservoir direction during no-generation (p = 0.056) and generation (p = 0.048); and, in a down-reservoir direction during pumped storage (p = 0.024). Post-fishing tournament live-release survival was 87% after 120 d. All striped bass dispersed from the release site within 9 d, indicating striped bass do not stockpile at release sites. Fifty-four percent of the striped bass returned to their capture sites. Mean time until return to capture sites was 46.0 +/- 21.5 d (mean +/- SD).