8076

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 8076
• Author: Brooks, J. E.
• Title: Annual Reintroduction and Monitoring Report for Razorback Sucker
• USFW Year: 1986.
• Copyright Material: NO

Razorback suckers were collected from the Gila River and
Bonita, Carrizo, and Cedar creeks during seining surveys
(Table 6). Gila kiver collections were within a few days of
stocking while tributary collections were 2-3 months after.
Overall, native fishes were more abundant and diverse in
tributaries than in mainstem rivers (Table 6). Identification of
catostomid larvae from the Salt River remains to be completed.
While unlikely, it is possible that some specimens in these
collections may be razorback sucker fry stocked in late spring in
Canyon and Carrizo creeks..
Razorback sucker were not collected during reservoir surveys
in March 1985. Delta areas and nearby shoreline areas were
sampled intensively 4-5 days on each reservoir. Non-native
fishes dominated catch with largemouth bass (Micropterus
salmoides) and carp (Cyprinus carUio) most abundant (Table 7).
Sonora sucker (Catostomus insignis) was the only native species
collected.
Post-stocking dispersal and predation studies were conducted
in conjunction with stocking 25,875 razorback suckers 90 mm TL t
22 (62-185), i3-15 September 1985. Dispersal of stocked
razorback sucker was downstream with only one fish taken in the
hoop net 0.5 km above. Initial catch in the net 0.5 km
downstream was high but quickly dropped off after stocked fish
began to disperse out of the stocking area (Fig. 1). Movement
slowed during the afternoon hours but increased throughout the
night with the net 1.5 km downstream collecting increased numbers
ti
of razorbacks during nighttime movements. Hoop net catches
-6-