Lake Jacksonville 2016 Survey Report (PDF 1.1 MB)
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Lake Jacksonville - 2016 Survey Report
Prepared by Richard A. Ott, Jr. and Jacob D. Norman
Inland Fisheries Division
Tyler South District, Tyler, Texas
This is the authors' summary from a 30-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.
Fish populations in Lake Jacksonville were surveyed in 2016 using electrofishing. Historical data are presented with the 2016 data for comparison. This report summarizes the results of the electrofishing survey and contains a management plan for the reservoir based on those findings.
Reservoir Description
Lake Jacksonville is a 1,208-acre reservoir on Gum Creek (a tributary of the Neches River), Texas, built to provide water for municipal and industrial purposes. Boat and bank angler access is adequate. Handicap-specific facilities are present in the parking lot and restrooms near the main boat ramp. Water is clear and low in productivity. Land surrounding the reservoir is highly modified for residential development, and approximately 40% of the shoreline has bulkhead at the land/water interface.
Management History
Important sport fish include Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, White Crappie, and Black Crappie. Largemouth Bass are managed with a 5 fish daily bag of which only two can be less than 18 inches; remaining species are managed under the statewide harvest regulations. Supplemental Largemouth Bass sampling was conducted in 2014, and Florida Largemouth Bass fingerlings were stocked were annually from 2014 through 2016.
An integrated vegetation management plan was initiated in 1997 featuring triploid Grass Carp stocking, release of hydrilla flies, herbicide treatments, and native plant introduction. Vegetation surveys were conducted twice a year (pre-treatment in spring and annual in summer) to monitor changes from 2000-2008. Herbicide treatments were conducted annually through 2006. In 2006 and 2007 a total of 3,890 triploid Grass Carp were stocked (10 fish/hydrilla acre). In July 2007, a major flood event removed most of the hydrilla, and triploid Grass Carp herbivory prevented reestablishment. By summer 2008 hydrilla was reduced to trace coverage, and native vegetation was sparse. Vegetation surveys have been conducted annually (at the peak of the growing season) from 2013-2016.
Fish Community
- Prey species: Threadfin Shad and Gizzard Shad were present in the reservoir, but the prey community continued to be dominated by sunfish species. Overall, electrofishing catch rate of all sunfish species combined was 499/h; Redbreast Sunfish and Bluegill were the most abundant species.
- Black basses: Black bass continue to support a popular fishery; tournament style angling has become increasingly popular. Relative abundance was within the historical range, and both size structure and relative weights were healthy. However, relative abundance of Largemouth Bass > 18 inches continued to remain low.
Management Strategies
- Conduct electrofishing surveys in fall 2018 and 2020 to monitor Largemouth Bass and prey populations.
- Continue monitoring results of Thursday night angling tournament and reinstate a seasonal creel survey in 2020.
- Reduce frequency of vegetation surveys to every other year.
- Maintain signage promoting the Clean-Drain-Dry campaign.

Performance Report as required by Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act Texas Federal Aid Project F-221-M-2 Inland Fisheries Division Monitoring and Management Program