Following back-to-back winters (2009/2010 and 2010/2011, Figure 1) with periods of sustained cold temperatures, significant effects on the wild spotted seatrout, Cynoscion nebulosus, populations in South Carolina estuaries were observed. Reduced CPUE (Figure 1) and noticeable die-offs, especially of larger individuals were observed throughout the state’s estuaries, prompting the exploration and development of a stock enhancement program as an additional management tool for this species.
Over the course of a decade, SCDNR biologists developed hatchery production techniques, established a microsatellite-based parentage tool, and released approximately 3 million juvenile seatrout (Table 1) into the Charleston Harbor estuary system in order to answer questions about seatrout life history and develop protocols to optimize stock enhancement contribution to wild populations. Utilizing unique genetic families as experimental treatments allowed for the exploration of optimal size at release, season to release, and release methods.