Braunig Reservoir - 2021 Survey Report

Prepared by Randall Myers and Mitchell Nisbet
Inland Fisheries Division
San Antonio District

This is the authors' summary from a 39-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Victor Braunig Reservoir were surveyed in 2019 and 2021 using electrofishing and in 2020 and 2022 using gill netting. A creel survey was conducted in 2021 to quantify the recreational fishery over a six-month period. Historical data are presented with the 2019-2022 data for comparison. This report summarizes the results of the surveys and contains a management plan for the reservoir based on those findings.

Reservoir Description

Victor Braunig is a 1,298-acre reservoir located on the southeast side of San Antonio in Bexar County, Texas. It was built in 1964 by City Public Service Energy (CPSE) for power plant cooling, and later opened for recreation. Recreation access is controlled by Thousand Trails Management Services, Inc., and paid entry is required. Water level is maintained at or near conservation pool by pumping from the San Antonio River. In some years, aquatic plants such as bulrush, cattails, and brittle naiad occupy up to 17% of the reservoir area. Total angling effort of boat-based anglers from April through September 2021 was 60,100 hours (h) and angler expenditures were $698,584.

Management History

Important sport fish include Red Drum and Channel Catfish. Stockings of Red Drum have occurred most years since the mid 1970’s and are required to maintain their population. The controlling authority, CPSE, purchased Channel Catfish fingerlings in 2020 and sub-adult (8-12 inches) Channel Catfish in 2022. In 2021, Blue Catfish fingerlings were stocked. Hybrid Striped Bass were stocked most years since the 1970’s. Stockings of Hybrid Striped Bass ceased in 2017 after multiple consecutive years of poor survival of stocked fish. Largemouth Bass were first stocked in 1976 and last stocked in 2008, and both Florida and Northern-strain fish have been stocked. Numerous other species were stocked historically, including marine fishes, to provide additional and unique angling opportunities. Red Drum have a 20-inch minimum length limit and no maximum length limit. Channel Catfish and Blue Catfish are managed in aggregate with a 14-inch minimum length limit and 15 fish daily bag limit. Various Largemouth Bass harvest regulations have been used, and the current minimum length limit of 14-inches was implemented in 2015. All other species are managed with statewide harvest regulations.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Gizzard Shad and Threadfin Shad relative abundance has improved but was still below the historical average. Bluegill and Blue Tilapia are also important prey species.
• Channel Catfishes: Channel Catfish relative abundance has remained low. As such, fishing effort has continued to decline for this species and accounted for less than 1% of the total fishing effort expended at the reservoir in 2021.
• Hybrid Striped Bass: The fishery for this species was inconsequential in 2021 as no directed effort was documented for this species in the 2021 creel survey and no fish were caught in the 2022 gill net survey.
• Largemouth Bass: Relative abundance of Largemouth Bass was lower in 2019 and 2021 compared to 2017. Few legal-length fish were available to anglers. Directed fishing effort for this species continues to be low and accounted for less than 2% of the total fishing effort expended at the reservoir in 2021.
• Red Drum:Red Drum are the most sought-after sport fish in the reservoir accounting for 80% of total fishing effort. Their relative abundance during the study period was well above the historical average. Angling success has increased over time averaging 0.5 fish/h of angling effort in 2021.

Management Strategies

• Continue the moratorium on stocking Hybrid Striped Bass. It is unlikely stocking will resume as Red Drum have become the predominant sport fish in the reservoir. Stock Red Drum annually.
• Conduct gill nets surveys in 2024 and 2026 to monitor populations of Red Drum and Channel Catfish and electrofishing surveys in 2023 and 2025 to assess the prey fish populations.
• Access and vegetation surveys will be conducted in 2025.
• Continue to inform the public about the negative impacts of aquatic invasive species.
• A creel will be conducted in either 2023 or 2024 to quantify the Red Drum and Channel Catfish fisheries.

Performance Report as required by Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act Texas Federal Aid Project F-221-M-3 Inland Fisheries Division Monitoring and Management Program