This study was designed to expand IEP sampling to the large fish component of the SFE fish community. Our objectives are to describe trends in the spatial distribution and abundance of large fishes, and to describe population demographics. Our research questions are as follows:
• What sampling methods and intensity are required to fully represent the large fish component of regional SFE fish communities?
• How does the assemblage of fishes captured in gillnets compare to alternative sampling methods (electrofishing, trawl, etc.)?
• Can mark-recapture be used to determine regional abundance and movement dynamics?
• What fishes make up regional fish assemblages and what are the trends in the composition of these assemblages?
• What are the regional abundance and size structure trends of SFE large fishes?