Artificial Reefs offMurrells Inlet, South Carolina

R. O. PARKER, Jr., R. B. STONE,and C. C. BUCHANAN

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Introduction

In recent years, many State fisheryagencies have constructed artificialreefs to enhance recreational fishing.There are approximately 500 artificialreefs off the coasts of the United States(Stone, 1978) and most have been builtsince 1960. The most effective reefshave been built from tires, vessels,rocks, culverts, and other durablematerials.

Research by Federal and Stateagencies and universities, showing thebeneficial effects of artificial reefs onstanding crops of fishes and on angularsuccess, has stimulated reef building(Stone and Parker, 1974). Recentpublications provide much of theinformation needed to construct reefsin fresh or salt water (Parker et aI.,1974; Stone et aI., 1974; Wilbur, 1974;Prince et aI., 1977).

However, little information is avail­able on how and why fishes useartificial reefs. What is availableusually describes tropical or subtropi­cal reef communities in relatively clear,

A BSTRA CT-Between the spring of1971 and the summer of 1974, the benthiccommunity ofreefs constructed ofvesselsand tires in 35 feet (II m) of water oflMurrells Inlet, S. C, was studied b vscubadivers. Sixty-three species representing 33families were observed; the most fre­quently encountered species were: blacksea bass, Centropristis striata; longspineporgy. Stenotomus caprinus; pinfish,Lagodon rhomboides; spottail pinfish,Diplodus holbrooki; piglish, Orthopristischrysoptera; tom tate, Haemulon auro­lineatum; scad, Decapterus sp.; Atlantic

12

warm water (Randall, 1963; McVey,1970; Fast, 1974). Descriptions of fishbehavior on artificial reefs in shallow,temperate waters are also scarce, eventhough these reefs are fished heavily(Buchanan, 1973; Buchanan et aI.,1974). Agencies conducting studies intemperate waters are the CaliforniaDepartment of Fish and Game (Carlisleet aI., 1964; Turner et aI., 1969), theNew York Department of Environ­mental Conservation (Briggs andZawacki, 1974; Briggs, 1975), and theNational Marine Fisheries Service(alia et aI., 1974, 1975; Stone et aI.,1974).

In the spring of 1971, the NationalMarine Fisheries Service and South

R.O. Parker. Jr.. is with the Beaufort Labora­tory. Southeast Fisheries Center. NationalMarine Fisheries Service. NOAA. Beaufort,NC 28516. R. B. Stone is with Marine Recre­ational Fisheries. "JationaJ Marine FisheriesService. NOAA. Washington. DC 20235. c.c.Buchanan is with the U.S. Fish and WildlifeService. J0 1J East Tudor Road. Anchorage.AK 99503.

spadelish. Chaetodipterus faber; cubbyu,Equetus umbrosus; Carolina hake, Uro­phycis earlii; shet'pshead, Archosargusprobatocephalus; and summer flounder,Paralichthys dentatus. Sume speciesresided on the reefs throughout the vearbut fluctuated in ahundance with theseasons; others were seasunal residents.Several species inhabited specific areas olthe reefs. In the summer andfall, tropicalfishes occupied the reefs but they rarelyover-wintered. In the winter there werefewer species offish but larger individu­als.

Carolina Wildlife Resources Depart­ment began a study of the communitystructure of fishes on artificial reefs inshallow, temperate waters off MurrellsInlet, S.c., to document changes incommunity structure as the substratewas changed from a prereef sandbottom to a rough bottom artificialreef habitat. We monitored seasonalchanges in the reef community andattempted to determine what changeswere caused by recreational fishingpressure. This paper describes changesin activity in the benthic community.

Study Area

Off Murrells Inlet, the natural bot­tom to a depth of about 35 feet (11 m) ismostly smooth sand or sandy mud withscattered patches of low profile rockoutcrops. Struhsaker (1969) definedthese small patches of rock outcrops,heavily encrusted with sessile inverte­brates such as sponges and sea fans, aslive bottom habitat and the sand andsandy mud areas as coastal habitat. Heindicated that off the Carolinas the livebottoms occur at depths of 54-180 feet(17-55 m), and that inshore live bot­toms near the 60-foot (18-m) contourhave an invertebrate fauna less variedthan those in deeper water. We found,however, that live bottom patches werescattered throughout the study area indepths less than 35 feet (11 m) and thatsome extended almost to the beach(Fig. 1).

Study Reefs

When we started our study, therewere four artificial reefs within 13 miles(21 km) of Murrells Inlet (Fig. I). The

Marine Fisheries Review

Figure 1.- Location of artificial reefs and natural rockreefs (shaded area) in our study area (dashed line) offMurrells Inlet. S.c.

Methods

In July 1971, we placed five smallresearch reefs about 0.5 mile (0.8 km)inshore of the fishing reef to determinethe effect of reefs on the distributionand abundance of fishes unaffected byfishing activities and to minimizeinterference with anglers on the mainportion of the fishing reef. Each reefwas constructed of eight-tire units,

occurs between May and Novemberand peaks during summer. The off­shore fishery (15 or more miles (24 km)offshore) comprises a dozen headboatsand charter boats, and a few privateboats. Headboats usually fish overrough bottom for snappers, groupers,porgies, grunts, and black sea bass.Charter and private boats primarilytroll for pelagic species, but occasional­ly bottom fish. The nearshore fishery iscomposed primarily of private boatsand an occasional headboat or charterboat. Bottom fishing in nearshorewater yields mostly black sea bass,porgy, grunt, and summer flounder,while trolling yields chiefly Spanishmackerel and bluefish.

Paradise Artificial Reef and PawleysIsland Artificial Reef provide produc­tive rocky habitat fisheries within easyaccess of most small boats (Buchanan,1973; Buchanan et aI., 1974). Privateboat fishermen extensively use thisimproved habitat but headboats andcharter boats do not. Bottom fishermenexpended nearly half of their effortduring the summer over the reefs andsurface fishermen expended one-fifth.More bottom fish per angler-hour werecaught over the reefs than over the sandbottom, but fewer than over livebottoms. The difference in catch ratesbetween artificial and natural reefsmay be due to the combined effects ofhigh fishing intensity and more novicefishermen over the artificial reefs.

The reefs also benefited the economyof the local communities. In thesummer of 1972, Paradise ArtificialReef attracted nearly 16 percent of theprivate boat nearshore fishermen to theMurrells Inlet area, and the moneyspent by these fishermen representednearly 10 percent of the total spent byall nearshore fishermen.

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miles 2 (0.03 km 2) of the bottom. Thereef materials protruded from I to 15feet (0.3-5 m) above the bottom andwere covered with algae and inverte­brates. We confined our studies to thisreef and a smooth sandy area at asimilar depth, 0.5 miles (0.8 km)inshore, where we constructed fivesmall research reefs.

Sport Fishery

The sport fishery off Murrells Inletextends from nearshore to nearly 60miles (100 km) offshore. Most fishing

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State of South Carolina has since builtother reefs in this area (Myatt, 1978).Paradise Fishing Reef was the largestand received more fishing pressurethan the others; it was the first to havebuoys maintained. This reef, built in1968 by the Paradise Fishing ReefAssociation and expanded by theSouth Carolina Wildlife ResourcesDepartment, is located 3 miles (4.8 km)east of Murrells Inlet in 35 feet (II m)of water. It consisted of four vesselsfrom 26 to 140 feet (8-43 m) long andabout 15,000 tires, which covered 0.0 I

September /979 IJ

Table 1.-Checklist of fishes observed on Murrells Inlet, S.C., artificial reefs.

SerranidaeCentropristis philadelphlca Rock sea bassCentropristis striata Black sea bassDipJectrum formosum Sand perchHypopleclrus sp, UnidentifiedMycteroperca microfepis GagSerranus subllganus Belted sandfish

EphippidaeChaetodlpterus faber Atlantic spadefish

MuilidaePseudupeneus maculatus Spotted goatfish

Common name

Spotted seatroutJackknife-fishCubbyuSpotGulf king fishBlack drum

Spollin butterfly fish

Slippery dickTautogUnknown

FamIly, Genus. Species

SciaenldaeCynosclOn nebulosusEquetus lanceo/alusEquetus umbrosusLeiostomus xanthurusMenticlrrhus littora/isPogonias cromis

SparidaeArchosargus probaroceph-alus SheepsheadCalamus arctifrons Grass porgyD,p/odus holbrook I Spottail pinfishLagodon rhomboides Pin fishStenotomus carprinus Longspine porgy

ChaetondontidaeChaetodon Dce/latus

LabridaeHal1choeres blvlftatusTautoga onitis

Frogflsh

Atlantic threadherring

Clearnose skate

Common name

Oyster toadfisn

Inshore lizardfish

Seahorse

Southern hakeCarolina hake

Stnngray

ClupeidaeOpisthonema ogJmum

BatrachoididaeOpsanus tau

Antennariidae

Syngnathidae

GadidaeUrophycis flofldanusUrophycis ear/ii

Familv. Genus, Species

RajidaeRaja eglanteria

DasyatidaeDasyatis sp.

SynodontidaeSynodus loelens

placed 100, 150, 250, 400, and 700 feet(30,45, 75, 121, and 213 m) from theanchor of a buoy. The reefs and anchorwere connected with a 0.75-inch (2-em)steel cable. Tire units were constructedwith a base tire full of concreteanchoring three reinforcing rods thatheld from six to eight other tires inplace. Visual, trawl, and bottom faunasurveys using scuba gear, a 15-foot(4.6-m) otter trawl over a 2,OOO-foot(610-m) transect, and a 0.67-foot2(0.06-m 2) Peterson dredge, were madeprior to constructing the experimentalreefs. From November 1969 throughJune 1974, we made 28 trips to thestudy area and conducted 203 under­water surveys in 76 days. Trips werescheduled once a quarter except forintensive monthly surveys in thespring, summer, and fall of 1972 and1973.

PomatomidaePomatomus sa/tatrix Blueflsh

EcheneidaeRemora remora Remora

RachycentridaeRachycentron canadum Cobia

GrammistidaeRypticus sp. Soap fish

Blenny

Goby

Sennet

Surgeonfish

Blenniidae

AcanthuridaeAcanthurus sp.

TetraodontldaeSphenodes maculatus Northern puffer

OstraclldaeQstrac/On dlaphanum Spiny boxflsh

Scorpaenldae Scorpion fish

ScombndaeScomberomorus cava/la King mackerelScomberomorus macufatus Spanish mackerel

BallstldaeBallstes carplSCus Gray tnggerfishMonacanthus hlspldus Planehead fdefish

SphyraenidaeSphyraena sp.

Goblidae

BothldaeParallchthys dentatus Summer flounderParallchthys lethostlgma Southern flounder

TriglldaePnonotus carolmus Northern searobin

Pre-Construction Surveys

The ocean bottom in the survey areawas relatively barren sand with lessthan 10 percent natural rocky bottom(Fig. I); it contained few encrusting

offered $1-25 rewards for returned tagsand catch and growth information.

Red snapperLane snapper

Pork fishTomtateUnidentifiedPIgflSh

'Mention of trade names or commercial firmsdoes not imply endorsement by the :"JationalMarine Fisheries Service. :'\OAA.

CarangidaeCaranx crysos Blue runnerCaranx ruber Bar jackChloroscombrus chrysurus BumperDecapterus sp. ScadSelene vomer LookdownSenoIa dumenfl Greater amberjackSeriola zonata Banded rudderflsh

trapped and tagged with a Floy2 darttag inserted with a stainless steelapplicator or a Floy anchor taginserted with a tagging gun (Fig. 2).Total lengths were recorded. We

PomadasYldaeAnisotremus vlrgmicusHaemulon aurolmeatumHaemulon sp.Orthopnstls chrysoptera

LutJanldaeLut/anus campecha nusLufjanus synagns

'Scientific names of most fishes mentioned inthis paper are listed in Table I.

Fish Population Estimates

We estimated fish populations bydirect counts when visibility was morethan 4 feet (1.2 m) (it was rarely betterthan 8 feet (2.4 m)). We divided the reefinto sections (size determined by depthof field) and counted fish at middaywhile stationed off to the side andabove each section. Counts by two ormore diver-biologists were averagedfor nonseclusive fishes and all largeschools of fishes (black sea bass I,

sheepshead, Atlantic spadefish, tom­tate, jack and most porgy) but thehighest counts were used for seclusivefishes and small schools of rovingfishes (Carolina hake, cubbyu, jack­knife-fish, oyster toadfish, gag, andflounder). Accuracy of fish countsvaries with visibility, time of day, andspecies (Hobson, 1965, 1968; Stark andDavis, 1966; Turner et aI., 1969;McVey, 1970). Since these factorsremained relatively constant through­out our surveys, we believe that ourcounting error also remained constantand our estimates are an indication oftrue population fluctuations.

To study territorial habits andgrowth rates, several species were

/4 Marine Fisheries Rel'iel1'

Shortspined sea urchin Toxopneustes variegatus

Table 3.-Checklist 01 invertebrates observed onMurrells inlet, S.C., artificial reels, 1971-74.

Common name Family, Genus, Species

Sea anemone Hydrozoa

Figure 2.-Tagged black sea bass in holding net.

Porifera

Plexaura fJexuosa

Astrangia danae

Strongylocentrotusdroebachiensis

Table 2.-Number of organisms taken on the ex-perimental reef site during preconstructlon surveywith a 15-fool (4.6 m) otter trawl over a 2,OO()'foot(61 ().m) transect.

Trawl

1 2 312 June 13 July 16 July

Organisms 1971 1971 1971

Porifera a a

Crustacea 4 5 7

Mollusca a a

Echinodermata 47 3 13

Pisces 6 4 4

Star coral

Sea whip

Longspined sea urchin

Sponge

Sand dollar Scutellidae

Common startish Asterias forbes;

organisms, such as oysters, hydroids,corals, sponges, and barnacles, sincethese animals require hard surfaces forattachment.

Two visual, three trawl, and six

Moss animal

Horse mussel

Horse oyster

Slipper limpet

Segmented worm

Isopod

Barnacle

Stone crab

Blue crab

Long clawed crab

Hermit crab

Spiny lobster

Octopus

Sea squirt

Ectoprocta

Modiolus modiolus

Ostrea equestris

Crepidula sp.

Polychaeta

lsopoda

Balanus sp.

Menippe mereenaria

Calfinectes sapidus

Portunus spinimanus

Pagurus sp.

Panufirus argus

Octopus rugosus

Molgula sp.

bottom fauna samples were obtainedin June and July 1971, beforeconstruc­tion of the experimental reef, toprovide baseline data for our study.Most of the bottom was coarse sandand shell with small ripple marks fromI to 2 inches (2.5-5 cm) high. A few seaurchins and starfish were seen. In asmaU patch (approximately 85 feet 1 (8m2

), of silty bottom near the buoyanchor we saw one sea anemone,numerous tube worms, and twonorthern searobins. Only one gamefish, a southern flounder, was caughtduring the trawl surveys. Fish made uponly 15 percent of the catch and 70percent of these were northern sea­robins (Table 2). The majority of thecatch consisted of long clawed crabs J

and shorts pined sea urchins. Fewinvertebrates were taken in grabsamples (Table 4).

'Scientific namcs of invertebrates arc listed inTable 3.

Description ofArtificial Reef Community

Invertebrates and Plants

Encrusting organisms began to seton the reef within a few days after it wasinstalled (Fig. 3). Barnacles, which setin July 1971, attained an average basediameter of 0.5 inches (1.3 cm) byNovember and a 0.75 inch (2 cm) basediameter by March 1972. Many of thelarge barnacles were heavily grazed byspring (Fig. 4), probably bysheepsheadand black sea bass 4 , which werenumerous and which frequently feedon these items (McClane, 1965).

During winter; we observed prolificinvertebrate growth on the tires, with

'Cupka. D. J972. Aspects of thefishery for andbiology of Cemropri.l'/i.\· slriora in SouthCarolina waters. Annu. rep. proj. 2- J 38-R-1coop. with Natl. Mar. Fish. Servo under P. L.88-309: 1-64 (Unpubl.).

Seplemher /979 /5

Figure 3.-Bound tires provide good surface area for encrusting organisms andabundant cover for fishes.

/6

Table 4.-Number 01 orgenlema 18ken on the experl-mentel rMf site during preconatructlon survey with a0.87-1001' (0.06-....) Pelereon dredge on 13 JUly 11171.

Grab Number

Organisms 1 2 3 4 5 6

Anthozoa 0 0 several 0 0 0

Bryozoa 0 0 several 0 0 0

Annelida 5 0 3 4

Crustacea 2 2 0 0 2

Mollusca 0 0 0 0

Echinodermata 0 3 0

Cephalochordata 0 0 0 0

hydroids and sponges displaying thegreatest increase in both abundanceand size (Fig. 5). We found smallpolychaete worms and numerous smallisopods and amphipods living in andon hydroids and sponges. Numerouslarge sea anemones were also present.Portunid crabs, the most abundantmotile invertebrates observed, appear­ed to be occupying the same habitatused by black sea bass, pigfish, andpinfish in the warmer months.

In March 1973, we collected the fol·lowing algae from the Paradise FishingReef: Perennials-Codium isthmo­cladium, Sargassum lilipendula,Champia parvula, and Callithamnionbyssoides; and winter algae-Polysi­phonia havanensis, Ceramium las­tigiatumf. flaccida, and Bryopsis pen­nata. These species are common on therough bottom in this area.

Fishes

The observed community structureof artificial reef fishes differed consid­erably from that inferred from catches(Table 5). In June and July 1972, 19species were observed, 14 were caught,but only 9 were common to bothgroups. Observed or caught species

Figure 4.- Encrusting organisms areheavily grazed in winter.

Marine Fisheries Review

Figure 5.-Prolific winter growth of hydroids and sponges.

composItIOn is related to feedinghabits, size of mouth, and fish behav­ior. Fishes seen but not caughtincluded plankton feeders (blenny,scad, juvenile sennet. and porgy),rooters (spotted goatfish and Carolinahake), and small-mouthed fishes thatare hard to hook (jackknife-fish,cubbyu, lookdown, spiny boxfish, andAtlantic spadefish). Fishes caught butnot seen by divers were open bottomspecies (northern searobin, northernpuffer, spot, and gulf kingfish) and thepelagic cobia. From 70 to 98 percent ofthe fish observed on the fishing reefwere game fish. A total of 63 speciesrepresenting 33 families were seenduring the study (Table I).

One year after the preconstructionsurveys, we made quantitative esti­mates of fish abundance by visualcounts around one of the groups of tireunits on the experimental reef. Weestimated 82 fish or 0.27 fish/foot 2

(0.025/m 2), a standing crop 1,814

times greater than that estimated beforereef construction.

Fish Movement

Territoriality

To study movement of reeffishes, wetagged, on 14 occasions, 193 fishrepresenting 12 species (Table 6). Mostwere black sea bass (75 percent). On 27occasions we observed 132 tagged fishrepresenting 7 species, and only IIpercent of these (14 black sea bass andI Atlantic spadefish) were seen away(100-250 feet (30-76 m)) from wherethey were captured and released (Fig.6). Some of these fish moved in I dayand most had moved within 30 days.

To determine if some ofthese specieswere residents of a particular reef, wereleased 18 tagged fish on a group oftires 150 feet (46 m) from where theywere caught. Four of eight black seabass, one of six longspine porgy, andthe only cubbyu tagged were observedback at the capture site 2 days afterthey were released. Inclement weatherprohibited diving the day after theywere released. On five occaSIOns over aperiod of 10 months one to three ofthese tagged fish were observed at thecapture site but none were seen at the

September /979

release site. Some tagged black sea bassremained on the reef throughout theyear. A tagged longspine porgy wasseen on the reef 33 days (17 August-19September 1972) after it was released,and a tagged gag grouper remained onthe reef from February through Julywhen the study was terminated.Thirty-four tagged black sea bass andone tagged pigfish have been caught byfishermen in the release area. No tag­ged fish have been seen or caughtelsewhere.

Recruitment

Two of the experimental reefs,designated "A" and "B" and located150 feet (46 m) apart (Fig. 7), wereselected in June 1973 for a recruitmentstudy. Twenty-five fish were trappedand tagged on reef B: 19 black sea bass,4 pigfish, I longspine porgy, and Icubbyu. One hundred twenty-one fishwere removed from reef A, leavingonly 10 fish (7 black sea bass, I pinfish,I Carolina hake, and I cubbyu). One

/7

Table 5.-Peredlse Artificial Reef fish community structure determined fromobservation and catch statistics, 1972, In percent.

Table 6.-Species and numbers of fish tagged and recovered on a MurrellsInlet, S.C., artificial reef, 1972-74.

Figure 6.-Tagged black sea bass are easily observed underwater.

Observed

Species June July Combined 341

193 35

14514875442111

1

Tagged Recovered

Centropristis striataOrthopristis chrysopteraOpsanus tauStenotomus caprinusBa/isles capriscusLagodon rhomboidesUrophycis 9arJi;Equetus umbrosusChaetodipterus faberParalichthys rtRntatusStenotomus chrysopsMycteroperca microlepis

Genus, species

Seasonal Species Composition

Winter

During winter there was less speciesdiversity and greater individual sizethan during summer. We noted sheeps­head, black sea bass, black drum,Carolina hake, spotted seat rout, clear­nose skate, sand perch, and a small gagin protected areas of the reef. Only afew black sea bass were seen on the lessprotected areas of the reef. Sheepsheadand black drum used artificial habitat

month later the number oftrapable fish(those that could not escape through7/16- X 9/16-inch mesh) increasedthreefold on A, to about the samenumber on B, which remained relative­ly constant (Fig. 8). This increase wasdue to recruitment, not growth, sincethere were no smaller fish observed onA the previous month. The numbers offish dropped a little through thesummer, increased in the fall, droppedin the winter, and increased again thefollowing spring. The fall and springinOuxes were also evident in black seabass populations the previous year. Notagged fish from reef B were seen onreef A (150 feet (46 m) away), althoughsome did move in the opposite direc­tion up to 250 feet (76 m) along reefmaterial spaced at intervals of 100 feet(30 m) or less. It is possible that in thisarea material separated by 100 feet (30m) or less may constitute a continuousreef or territory for these specieswhereas material separated by 150 feet(46 m) or more may represent anisolated reef.

Common name

TOlal

Black sea bassPigfishOyster toad fishLongspine porgyGray triggerlishPinfishCarolina hakeCubbyuAtlantic spadefishSummer flounderScupGag

0.5 070.8

Caught

June July Combined

38.1 33.5 36.5

29.4 34.8 31.4

90 172 120

7.7 72 7.6

18 070.3 0.5 0.36.2 0.5 411.8 111.0 2.7 1.60.3 0.22.8 1.80.5 1.4 0.82.1 13

0.2 01

22.8 11.5 17.286 4.3

07 0.30.1 0.1

0.1 01

11.4 5711.4 4.75.7 2.9

0.7 0.30.6 0.1 030.3 020.1 0.1

0.10.1 0.1

0.8 0.4

Sea bass 1.1 2.S 2.0Black sea bassRock sea bass

Grunt 23.0 11.5Pigfish, tomtate

Porgy 457 51.8 48.8Spotlail pinfishLongspine porgyScup, pinfish

FlounderSummer flounderSouthern flounder

Atlantic spadefishBluefishGulf king fishCobiaJackMackerelNorthern pufferOyster loadfishSearobinSand perchScadSennetLookdownCUbbyuJackknife-fishSpiny box fishCarolina hakeGoatfishBlennySpot

/8 Marine Fisheries Review

BUOY----...,..".

CHA" --""""

Figure 7.-Experimental reefs layout; "A" and "B" used for recruitment study.

_AR••1___ 8 R•• I

Figure 8.-Monthly fluctuations oftrapable fishes on reefs A and B, 1973­74.

Figure 9.-Wintering black drum under cover of a barge.

I: . MA•.••.MAY JUL.JUN. JUl. SEPT,OCT.NOV.

'0

mainly for shelter during cold periods(Fig. 9). On two occasions in 45° F(7 DC) water, we saw dozens of 2- to 6­pound (0.9- to 2.7-kg) fish lying in asemitorpid state deep under reefmaterial. They moved sluggishly whenapproached by a diver. Hundreds ofactive Carolina hake were seen underreef material on two occasions (Fig.10). Six specimens with bulgingabdomens, collected and examined inMarch, were full of crustacea, mostlycrabs. Their gonads were undeveloped.

.~ 20

Sepremher 1979 19

Spring and Fall

Large numbers of juveniles ofseveral species (black sea bass, long­spine porgy, spottail pinfish, pigfish,and tomtate) invaded the reefs inspring and stayed through fall (Fig.II). Young-of-the-year fishes were alsoprominent in spring and early summer.Hundreds of young-of-the-year andadult cubbyu and young-of-the-yearblack sea bass were seen under andaround reef material in the spring (Fig.12). Spotted seatrout schooled and fedaround reef material in both spring andfall (Fig. 13). A few specimens, somelarger than 27 inches (69 cm) totallength, were caught on hook and lineby South Carolina biologists.

Summer

In summer there were more speciesof fish and less individual size thanduring winter. Tropical fishes (spotfinbutterflyfish, hamlet, porkfish, redsnapper, slippery dick, and soapfish)used the reefs from midsummer toearly fall when the bottom water

Figure IO.-Carolina hake gather under reef material during the winter for foodand shelter.

20

Figure I I.-Juvenile tomtates are abundant in spring and early summer.

Marine Fisheries RevieH'

temperature exceeded 80°F (27°e)(Fig. 14). Dozens of flounder were seenduring this period in, on, and besidereef matenal (Fig. 15). A school of 3- to5-pound (1.4- to 2.3-kg) bluefish wereobserved using the inside of a landingcraft during the summers of 1972, 1973,and 1974 (Fig. 16). These fish did notappear to be feeding; as divers ap­proached, their activity increased rapid­ly and they quickly left the area.

Other Behavioral Observations

Growth

Three tagged black sea bass wererecaptured after 174, 310, and 339days. They had grown from 7.9 to 9.5inches (20-24 cm), 5.5 to 8.1 inches (14­21 cm), and 7.0 to 10.1 inches (18-26cm), respectively, an average of 0.3inch (0.8 cm) per month. This rate wasalmost three times that obtained fromscale analysis by Cupka (foot­note 4) for 229 fish of the same sizerange in the South Carolina commer­cial fishery, and twice that obtainedfrom scale analysis by Mercer5 for 50fish of the same size range collectedfrom Murrells Inlet artificial reefsduring our study.

Mutualism

On 19 September 1972, we observedspottail pinfish cleaning blue runneraround a buoy anchor chain about 5feet (1.5 m) off the bottom. Severalsingle-tire units (ventilated tire withweight) were scattered around theanchor and spottail pinfish werefeeding on organisms attached to thetires and anchor chain. As approxi­mately 50 blue runner, 12-16 inches(30-40 cm) long, swam by the anchorchain, one to three would stop sudden­ly, some in a head down position. Eachwould then be surrounded by two tofour spottail pinfish, 3-5 inches (8-13cm) long, searching for ectoparasites(Fig. 17). Some blue runners quiveredas they were cleaned. After each clean­ing, which lasted several seconds, the

'I.. Mercer. Ph. D candidate. Virginia Instituteof Marine Science. Gloucester Point. Va. Pers.commun.

Septemher /979

Figure 12.-Young-of-the-year fishes frequent the reefs in spring.

Figure 13.-Spotted seatrout use the reefs in spring and fall.

2/

Figure 14.-Tropical fishes frequent the reefs frommidsummer to early fall.

Figure 15.-Flounder are abundant in arid around reef materialduring summer.

22

Figure J6. -Large schools of 3­to 5-pound (1.4- to 2.3-kg)bluefish used the inside of alanding craft during the threesummers of our study.

Marine Fisheries Review

Figure 17.-Spottail pinfish cleaning blue runners.

jack continued swimming in 20-30 foot(6-9 m) circles around the buoy chain.We observed over 30 cleanings in a 45­minute period.

Porgies are known to be bothcleaners and hosts. Breder (1962)observed a pinfish cleaning stripedmullet, Mugil cephalus, and Potts(1968) observed a wrasse, Crenilabrusmelano.cerus, cleaning the porgy,Diplodus vulgaris. Carr and Adams(1972) found ectoparasites and scales

September /979

in the stomach contents of juvenilespottail pinfish, 0.8-2.8 inches (2-7 cm)long (S. L.), collected near CrystalRiver, Fla. They did not find ectopara­sites or scales in smaller or larger fishand hence suggested that the spottailpinfish goes through a stage in the firstyear of its development as a cleaner.Our observations verify that spottailpinfish are cleaners, but the fish weobserved off South Carolina werelarger than those collected by Carr and

Adams. We determined fish sizes fromvisual observations and photographs ofthe cleaners feeding on organisms at­tached to anchor chain links of knowndimensions.

Jacks are also known to be bothcleaners and hosts; e.g., pilotfish,Naucrares ductor, young bar jack; andjuvt:nile leatherjacket, Oligoplitessaurus; are sometimes cleaners (Hass,1953; Randall, 1962; Carr and Adams,1972). An amberjack was observed

23

being cleaned by an adult porkfish 6

and bar jack have been seen beingcleaned by goby, Gobiosoma eve~l'­

nae; Spanish hogfish, Bodianusrufus; bluehead wrasse, Thalassomabifasciatum; and juvenile gray angel­fish, Pomacanthus aureus (Limbaugh,1961; Collette and Talbot, 1972).However, this is the first time the bluerunner has been observed beingcleaned.

Summary

The artificial reefs off Murrells Inlet,S.c., provide a productive roughbottom habitat within easy access fromMurrells Inlet marinas. The speciescomposition on the reefs appears to besimilar to that found on natural roughbottom habitat at the same depth in thestudy area.

The artificial reefs are occupied by avariety of species; some are seasonalinhabitants while others reside on thereefs throughout the year. In general,there are fewer species and largerindividuals in winter than in warmermonths when the influx of juvenilesand tropical species increases consider­ably the number of species but reducesthe average size.

Several observations were new to us,but are probably indicative of similaroccurrences on other rough bottomareas off the Carolinas. Specifically,these were our observations of manyblack drum and Carolina hake using theprotected areas of the reefs during thewinter, apparently the same school ofbluefish occupying a particular sectionof reef for several months and the clean­ing behavior exhibited by spottail pin­fish.

Based on our observations on theartificial reefs and our studies ofrecreational fishing by private boatsout of Murrells Inlet we believe these

'J. R. Larson. Unpublished report submittedto Broward Artificial Reef. Inc.

24

artificial reefs are being used effectivelyto increase rough bottom habitat andto improve recreational fishing forspecies that occupy reef habitat.

Acknowledgments

We received invaluable assistancefrom the late Herbert Forester ofMyrtle Beach, S.c., and Dewitt Myattof the South Carolina Wildlife andMarine Resources Department. Wethank Edward Flynn, University ofNorth Carolina, for collecting andidentifying plant specimens. We alsoexpress our appreciation to the ownerand operators of the Gulf StreamMarine, Garden City, S.c., for the useof their facilities.

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Marine Fisheries Review