Common Snook utilization of a large-scale restoration site in Tampa Bay, Florida

Objective Common Snook Centropomus undecimalis are ecologically important top predators within Florida’s estuaries. They are also of recreational importance but have faced periods of overfishing. Much of the declines in this species are thought to be linked to a loss of juvenile habitat. Restoration of coastal marshes, which act as juvenile Common Snook habitat, may aid in the recovery of Common Snook populations along Florida’s western coast. This study assessed Common Snook abundance in one of the largest restoration projects in the Tampa Bay estuary, Robinson Preserve. Methods Robinson Preserve was divided into four regions based on tidal flow and connections to adjacent water bodies. Each region was sampled seasonally with bag seines from fall of 2008 through summer of 2013. Catch per unit effort was modeled with generalized linear mixed models, with sampling year, sampling season, and site as predictors. Results Common Snook were found in all regions of Robinson Preserve, with restricted tidal pond habitats being of particular importance to juveniles. Sampling year, sampling season, and site significantly influenced Common Snook catch per unit effort. Pairwise comparisons of each of these variables revealed differential habitat use. The site that exhibited the highest abundance of Common Snook and fewest zero catches was characterized by restricted tidal ponds. Conclusions The use of Robinson Preserve by Common Snook, particularly juveniles, highlights the role of successful coastal restoration in improving fish populations. This study also identified important habitats to restore that may improve Common Snook populations. Successful projects such as this can also serve as models for future restoration efforts.