Data up to 2013. landings of spotted weakfish in Louisiana represent approximately 35% of total landings of spotted weakfish in FAO Area 31. Minimum data requirements are fishery catch-at-age and an index of abundance (IOA). Commercial landings values are taken from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Trip Ticket Program and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) commercial statistical records. Recreational harvest estimates are obtained from the NMFS Marine Recreational Fishing Statistical Survey/Marine Recreational Information Program (MRFSS/MRIP). Abundance indices are developed from the LDWF experimental marine gillnet survey. Age composition of fishery catches are estimated with age-length keys derived from samples directly of the fishery (2002-2013) and a von Bertalanffy growth function (1981-2001).

Research and Data Needs - As with any analysis, the accuracy of this assessment is dependent on the accuracy of the information of which it is based. Below we list additional recommendations to improve future assessments of spotted sea trout in Louisiana. • Assessment of regional or estuarine-specific spotted seatrout populations could differentiate exploitation rates and stock status within the state. If fine-scale spatial distribution data become available that allow for spatially-explicit assessment, results could be used to determine if regional management is an effective alternative to a statewide management strategy. • Spotted seatrout in south-west LA from the Texas border to the Mermentau River are currently managed with slightly different regulations than the remainder of the state. Again, if data become available that allow for spatially-explicit assessment, results could be used to determine if current management has altered exploitation/stock status in the south-west region and, if so, used as a framework for future management. • The relationship between wetlands losses and the continuation of fishery production within Louisiana has been discussed by numerous authors. Understanding this relationship as it applies to the Louisiana spotted seatrout stock should be an ongoing priority. • This assessment highlights differing trends between fishery-independent catch-rates and fishery dependent data sources. These differences should be evaluated further to determine which trends are truly reflective of population abundance, or whether other factors (e.g., increasing harvest efficiencies, changing vulnerabilities of the stock, etc.) are involved. • Only limited age data are available from the LDWF marine gillnet survey. Ages of survey catches in this assessment were assigned from a von Bertalanffy growth function. Age samples collected directly from the survey in question would allow a more accurate representation of survey age composition in future assessments. • Factors that influence year-class strength of spotted seatrout are poorly understood. Investigation of these factors, including inter-annual variation in seasonal factors and the influence of environmental perturbations such as the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, could elucidate causes of inter-annual variation in abundance, as well as the species stock-recruitment relationship. • Existing Louisiana estimates of batch fecundity and spawning frequency are conflicting. Additional estimates are needed. • An updated preference survey of Louisiana marine recreational fishers would allow objective determination of ‘current’ angler preference. • Fishery-dependent data alone is not a reliable source of information to assess status of a fish stock. Consistent fishery-dependent and fishery-independent data sources, in a comprehensive monitoring plan, are essential to understanding the status of fishery. A new LDWF fishery-independent survey methodology was implemented in 2013. This methodology should be assessed for adequacy with respect to its ability to evaluate stock status, and modified if deemed necessary. • With the recent trend toward ecosystem-based assessment models (Mace 2000; NMFS 2001), more data is needed linking spotted seatrout population dynamics to environmental conditions. The addition of meteorological and physical oceanographic data coupled with food web data may lead to a better understanding of the spotted seatrout stock and its habitat.