Marine Creek Reservoir - 2010 Survey Report

Prepared by Thomas Hungerford and Raphael Brock
Inland Fisheries Division
District 2-D, Fort Worth, Texas

This is the authors' summary from a 26-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Marine Creek Reservoir were surveyed in 2010 using electrofishing and trap netting and in 2011 using gill netting. This report summarizes the results of the surveys and contains a management plan for the reservoir based on those findings.

Reservoir Description

Marine Creek, a 250-acre reservoir located on Marine Creek (a tributary of the Trinity River), was constructed in 1958 by the Tarrant Regional Water District primarily for flood control and limited recreational activities. It is located in Tarrant County in northwest Fort Worth, Texas. Habitat is composed mainly of native emergent aquatic vegetation in the forms of water willow, cattails, and bulrush and rocky shoreline.

Management History

Important sport fish include largemouth bass, spotted bass, white crappie, and channel catfish. Largemouth bass were managed under statewide 14-inch minimum length limit until September 1, 2006 when the minimum length limit was changed to 18 inches. Marine Creek was a study site for the Operation World Record special project.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Gizzard and threadfin shad are present in the reservoir. However, catch rates of these species remain well below averages of other district reservoirs. The primary forage base was sunfishes. The total catch rate of bluegill was the highest ever recorded, while the catch rate of longear sunfish has fluctuated over the last three years. Redear sunfish abundance decreased in the reservoir.
• Catfishes: Channel catfish are present in the reservoir. Catch rates were low despite a 2004 stocking. Flathead catfish were present. Blue catfish are not present in Marine Creek.
• White bass: Past gill netting surveys revealed a small population of white bass present in Marine Creek. In 2010 white bass were caught at a low rate by gill netting. All white bass collected were greater than 12 inches.
• Black basses: The electrofishing catch rate of largemouth bass has varied in over the past three years but remained over 100 fish/hour. The catch rate of fish > 14 inches in length has continued to be low. Growth rates are slow. Spotted bass abundance has declined in the reservoir.
• White crappie: The white crappie population continued to exhibit fluctuations in abundance with trap net catch rates higher than in previous years.

Management Strategies

Work closely with the Tarrant Regional Water District to improve regulation signage at the reservoir. Check all largemouth bass collected via electrofishing for tags and record data on all ShareLunker largemouth bass. Clip fins on ShareLunker largemouth for DNA confirmation.

Performance Report as required by Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act Texas Federal Aid Project F-221-M-1 Statewide Freshwater Fisheries Monitoring and Management Program