Standard Gear 
Water quality equipment:
     - One Hydrolab for ph, salinity, depth, temperature and dissolved oxygen; blank hydrologic data sheet.
Trawling equipment::
     - Onboard D GPS, One lined 16' otter trawl with doors, extra 120' line (if needed – used for all Mobile Ship Channel sites and supplemental sites over 30 ft deep), sorting table/tub, index cards, pencils, permanent marker, clock/watch, ice chests with ice to hold specimens, ziploc bags to hold specimens. 

Field Sampling Methods:
     - Selection of sampling area depended on weather and sea conditions.  Once the area to be sampled was selected, a logical station order was determined according to weather conditions.
     - Upon arriving at each station, the trawl was examined for twists and other fouling problems (at stations over 30 ft in depth, extra line was added to the trawl to ensure proper sampling).  
     - With the boat at idle speed, the trawl was set out float first, followed by the net being fed out to the doors which are set so they are uncrossed and not twisted.  The bridle and tow lines were fed out with constant, light tension until all line was out, then boat speed can increase to 900-1000 rpms.  This was considered the start of trawling and the time was recorded. Trawling continued for 10 minutes.  After 10 minutes, the trawl was retrieved.  
     - Personnel observed the trawl as it was picked up and, in the event that it was found to be fouled the catch was discarded and additional trawls were made until a correct trawl was accomplished.  Once a 'good' trawl was back on board, the cod end was emptied onto the sorting table or tub and trash removed.  
     - Periodically, Division scientists requested specific species be sorted out and saved on ice in a Ziploc bag labeled with the date, site and time of trawl.  Once any special species was removed, the remainder of the sample was placed into a bucket with water and a label indicating date, site and time of set.  The trawl was examined for any gilled or stuck specimens and such organisms were removed and added to the bucket. The liner was examined for small specimens stuck to the mesh and, if found, washed into the sample bucket.  If some specimens were endangered or threatened species or too large to transport back to the lab, we obtained an identification, count and, if possible measurement, approximate weight and recorded the data on the hydrologic sheet for the appropriate site and returned the specimen alive to the water.  If the gear fished properly but no specimens were caught, we indicated that nothing was caught on the hydrologic sheet for the respective site.
     - Hydrologic data was taken at the beginning or end of a trawl.  When using a properly calibrated Hydrolab, data was taken slightly off the bottom and at the surface (6 inches below the surface) and recorded appropriately on the hydrologic data sheet.  If an unusual reading was observed, the Hydrolab was inspected for fouling and the reading retaken.  If an odd reading persisted, it was reported to the supervisor as soon as possible upon return to land.  Once readings were recorded, the Hydrolab was rinsed and stored to prevent any damage occurring from boat movement.  Once everything was securely stowed, we proceeded to the next station.
     - Once the sites were completed and the vessel returned to the office, all equipment was thoroughly cleaned and inspected for damage.  Samples were returned to the Dauphin Island Sea Lab as soon as possible for laboratory workup.