Seasonal Movements and Associated Management Implications for Coastal Cutthroat Trout in South Puget

Sound.

Larry Phillips Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife,

Fred Goetz, and Tom QuinnUniversity of Washington,

Christopher EllingsNisqually Indian Tribe

Coastal Cutthroat Trout Management in WA. Important sport fish species in South Puget

Sound.

Historically supported a large harvest fishery (harvest trout).

Overharvest resulted in declines (anecdotal).

WDFW responded with conservative regulations.

1999 catch and release was implemented in all marine areas.

Coastal Cutthroat Trout Stock Status Status Review of Coastal Cutthroat Trout from

Washington, Oregon, and California (NMFS 1999).

Six ESU (Puget Sound, Olympic Peninsula, Southwestern Washington/Columbia River, upper Willamette River, Oregon Coast, and Southern Oregon/California Coasts).

Puget Sound ESU includes all streams in Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

NMFS determined that Puget Sound ESU is not in danger of extinction (decision was based on relatively few data).

2000 Washington State, Salmon and Steelhead Inventory (SaSI), coastal cutthroat (WDFW 2000). Insufficient data were available to assess stock status for 32 of the 40 WA stocks.

Western South Sound Coastal Cutthroat Status is “Unknown” (SaSI, 2000)

Stock Status Challenges Coastal cutthroat trout don’t follow the rules.

Limited incidental observation data and few trap data (size selective, and run-timing).

No harvest /angling effort data available (CRC or fish tickets).

No baseline information (no historical escapement estimates).

Coastal Cutthroat Trout Stock Assessment. 2006 WDFW staff began surveying South Puget Sound

streams thought to support spawning coastal cutthroat.

Objective was/is to develop a set of index surveys (similar to coho and chum stock assessment) to detect changes in relative abundance over time.

Quickly identified Skookum Creek as supporting a “high density” spawning population of anadromous coastal cutthroat trout.

Other index stream include Kennedy Creek (2009), Little Skookum Creek (2008), Swift Creek (2010) and Perry Creek (2010).

2008 2009 20100

1020304050607080

Skookum Creek 6.5-7.5 Skookum Creek 5.7-6.5Little Creek 0-0.4 Kennedy Creek 0-2.3

Num

ber o

f Red

dsSouth Puget Sound Coastal Cutthroat Trout Redd Counts, (by Stream Index) 2008-2010.

2/5/20092/9/20092/13/20092/17/20092/21/20092/25/20093/1/20093/5/20093/9/20093/13/20093/17/20093/21/20093/25/20093/29/20094/2/20094/6/20094/10/20094/14/20094/18/20094/22/20094/26/20094/30/2009

0

5

10

15

20

25

Survey Date

Num

ber o

f New

Red

ds

Coastal Cutthroat Trout Index Area Redd Counts, Skookum Creek, 2008-09.

Individual Cutthroat Redd Locations (2008-09)

N

2008-09 Acoustic Tagging Project

Tagged and released (Oct. 2008) 30 adult coastal cutthroat in Skookum Inlet (15) and near Squaxin Island (15).

Established 18 receiver locations in South Puget Sound and in Skookum Creek (November 2008-May 2009).

Document mortality, movements, and relative abundance of tagged fish in Skookum Creek index.

Acoustic ReceiverData Retrieval

and Tags

Surgical Insertion of Tag

Anchor and Float Rigging for Marine and Freshwater Deployment

Location of Acoustic Tag Receiver Stations and Coastal Cutthroat Trout Tagging

Locations in South Puget Sound (2008-09).

2008 Acoustic ReceiverNetwork

SSM

OBILE

Skookum Cr R

M 4

Skookum Cr M

outh

Mid Sk

ookum In

Wild

cat C

ove

S Skookum In

SW Totten In

NW Totten In

NE Totten In

Carlyon Beach

South

Hope Is

SW Sq

uaxin Is

S Squaxin

Is

Mill

Cr Mouth

Golds. Cr M

outhEld In

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Skookum Release Group Squaxin Release Group

Receiver Location

% D

etec

ted

Coastal Cutthroat Trout Detections in South Puget Sound, Oct. 08-May 09.

November

December

January

Febru

ary

March

AprilMay

June0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Skookum Fish Squaxin Fish

Coastal Cutthroat Trout Post Release Detections, by Month, (and Release Group)

in South Puget Sound, Oct. 08-May 09.

Results Four of the fish tagged were either not detected or

detected in only one location (Mortality).

None of the tagged fish were detected outside South Puget Sound.

15% (n=4) of tagged fish were detected at RM 4 below the Skookum Creek Index site.

Two of the fish detected at RM 4 were not detected again at RM 0 (high post spawning mortality).

Receivers deployed at the mouths of Skookum Creek, Goldsborough Creek, and Mill Creek detected 58% of tagged fish.

Conclusions These data suggest that acoustic tagging cutthroat

results in low short term (6 months) mortality.

Index surveys may be useful at detecting changes in relative abundance over time.

These data also indicated that Goldsborough Creek and Mill Creek could be important spawning locations in South Puget Sound.

Based on limited data, West South Sound Coastal cutthroat appear to be stable.

More information is needed………

Tag # 20539 320mm fish Tagged in Skookum Inlet November

3rd.

Remained in Skookum Inlet until Jan 1st when moved to Totten Inlet.

Returned to Skookum Inlet on Jan 10th and was illegally harvested on April 1st.

Acknowledgments

Scott Steltzner and Sarah Haque (Squaxin Indian Tribe), Don Freeman, Hal Boynton, and Bill Young, Jack Haven (volunteers).

Questions?