Marine Creek Reservoir - 2014 Survey Report

Prepared by Thomas Hungerford and Raphael Brock
Inland Fisheries Division - Dallas/Fort Worth District

This is the authors' summary from a 24-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 2014 using electrofishing and trap netting and in 2015 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 is a 250-acre reservoir located on Marine Creek (a tributary of the Trinity River).The reservoir 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, White Crappie, and Channel Catfish. Largemouth Bass were managed under the 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 first phase of the Operation World Record research project. In 2014, tagged ShareLunker Largemouth Bass and Florida Largemouth Bass were stocked as part of phase two of the project.

Fish Community

• Prey species: Gizzard and Threadfin Shad are present in the reservoir. However, catch rates of these species remain low. The primary forage base was sunfishes. The total catch rate of Bluegill was the lower than previous surveys, while the catch rate of Longear Sunfish has fluctuated over the last three years. Redear Sunfish abundance increased in the reservoir.
• Catfishes: Channel Catfish are present in the reservoir. Catch rates were low despite several stockings since 2004. Flathead Catfish were present. Blue catfish are not present in Marine Creek.
• White Bass: Past gill netting surveys documented a small population of White Bass present in Marine Creek. In 2014, White Bass catch was the highest on record since sampling began in 2002. Two distinct modes likely indicate two or more year classes.
• Black basses: Spotted Bass abundance has declined in the reservoir. The electrofishing catch rate of Largemouth Bass has varied over the past three years but always exceeded 100 fish/hour. The catch rate of fish > 14 inches in length has remained low.
• White Crappie: The White Crappie population continued to exhibit fluctuations in abundance with trap net catch rates lower than in previous years.

Management Strategies

Continue habitat improvement through native vegetation planting. Check all Largemouth Bass collected via electrofishing for tags and record data on all tagged Largemouth Bass. Clip fins on tagged Largemouth Bass for DNA confirmation. Work with water district on renovation of IH-820 Access Rd boat ramp and “no-wake” buoy installation.

Performance Report as required by Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act Texas Federal Aid Project F-221-M-5 Inland Fisheries Division Monitoring and Management Program