Southern California independent sport fishing survey Quarterly Report for April-June, 1976

A 1-yr. study was undertaken to devise a sampling program which would determine fishing catch and effort levels of one segment of the southern California marine sport fishery. Personal interviews of fishermen were conducted at launch ramps, boat hoists, and boat rental locations from Santa Barbara County to the Mexican border. This report presents quantitative data and statistical estimates of effort, total catch, catch of preferred sport fish species, and length frequencies of selected species landed by private-boat sport fishermen. An estimated 102,000 anglers and 3,700 divers landed 275,000 fishes, molluscs, and crustaceans. The major components of the catch were 1) white croaker, Genyonemus lineatus, 85,000 landed; 2) bass, Paralabrax spp., 48,000 landed; and 3) Pacific bonito, Sarda chiliensis, 42,000 landed. (22pp.

Southern California independent sport fishing survey Quarterly Report no. 10

During the October 1 - December 31, 1977 quarter, 28 launch ramps, hoists, and boat rental locations were sampled a total of 294 times. During the sample days 11,942 anglers and 1,025 divers were interviewed. They expended 83,882 effort-hours and landed 36,741 fishes and other organisms of 163 identified species. The ten most commonly landed species were 1) Pacific mackerel, Scomber japonicus, 16%; 2) white croaker, Genyonemus lineatus, 16%; 3) olive rockfish, Sebastes serranoides, 6%; 4) blue rockfish, S. mystinus, 4%; 5) halfmoon, Medialuna californiensis, 4%; 6) Pacific bonito, Sarda chiliensis, 3%; 7) rock scallop, Hinnites multirugosus, 2%; 8) chilipepper, Sebastes goodei, 2%; 9) greenspotted rockfish, S. chlorostictus, 2%; and 10) kelp bass, Paralabrax clathratus, 2%. (25pp.

Southern California marine sport fishing: Private boat anglers' catch and effort in Los Angeles County, October-December, 1980

The catch landed and effort expended by private-boat sport fishermen was studied in Los Angeles County between October and December 1980, in order to determine the impact of one segment of the sport fishery on local marine resources. Fishermen returning from fishing trips were interviewed at launch ramps, hoists, and boat rental facilities. This report contains quantitative data and statistical estimates of total effort, total catch, catch of preferred species, and length frequencies for those species whose catches are regulated by minimum size limits. An estimated 94,000 organisms were landed by 22,000 anglers and 1,200 divers. The major components of the catch were Pacific mackerel, Scomber japonicus, 29,000 landed; white croaker, Genyonemus lineatus, 17,500 landed; and Pacific bonito, Sarda chiliensis, 11,500 landed. These three species comprised two-thirds of the total catch. Anglers' compliance with size limit regulations was variable. Nearly 80% of all measured bass, Paralabrax spp., were legal size, but only 50% of the California halibut, Paralichthys californicus, were legal size. Divers showed much better compliance with the size limit regulations: 96% of all California spiny lobsters, Panulirus interruptus, were legal size. (14pp.

Preliminary report on the ability of marine recreational fishermen to identify the more commonly caught sportfish

Fishermen on piers and privately-owned boats in southern California were surveyed to determine their ability to identify (by common name) 18 of the more commonly caught sportfish. Anglers were shown color photographs of the fish and asked to identify them. Most people were not able to identify more than 5 or 6 species correctly. The number of incorrect responses (calling one species by another's name, or using a non-recommended common name) was not high. Instead, it was the level of non-response (the fisherman had no idea what the species was) that was surprisingly high. The results of the survey indicate that anglers are not familiar with the names of the fish they are most likely to catch. This has serious implications concerning our fishery management programs which depend on anglers' compliance with fishing regulations. The effectiveness of the programs depends in part on anglers being able to recognize regulated species when encountered. (30pp.

Southern California independent sport fishing survey Quarterly Report for January-March, 1976

A 1-yr. study was undertaken to devise a sampling program which would determine fishing catch and effort levels of one segment of the southern California marine sport fishery. Personal interviews of fishermen were conducted at launch ramps, boat hoists, and boat rental locations from Santa Barbara County to the Mexican border. This report presents quantitative data and statistical estimates of effort, total catch, catch of preferred sport fish species, and length frequencies of selected species landed by private-boat sport fishermen. An estimated 55,000 anglers and 3,300 divers landed 182,000 fishes, molluscs, and crustaceans. The major components of the catch were 1) rockfishes, Sebastes spp., 73,000 landed; 2) white croaker, Genyonemus lineatus, 28,000 landed; 3) bass, Paralabrax spp., 15,000 landed; and 4) Pacific bonito, Sarda chiliensis, 12,000 landed. (22pp.

Southern California private-boat sport fishermen: how familiar are they with the sport fishing regulations?

Anglers frequently violate sport fishing regulations out of ignorance, by mistake, or by deliberate action. To determine whether unfamiliarity with the regulations plays a major part in this problem, we asked anglers on privately-owned, trailerable boats at launch ramps and boat hoists a series of questions which tested their knowledge of the regulations. We found that on any winter weekend about 30% of the anglers on private-boats knew none of the size limits, 50% knew at least three of the six size limits, and 4% knew all of the size limits. Only about 25% of the anglers kept a copy of the regulations on their boats for reference when fishing. The results of the survey indicate that greater effort must be expended to familiarize sport fishermen with the fishing regulations. (9pp.

Southern California independent sport fishing survey Quarterly Report for October-December, 1975

A 1-yr study was undertaken to devise a sampling program which would determine fishing catch and effort levels of one segment of the southern California marine sport fishery. Personal interviews of fishermen were conducted at launch ramps, boat hoists, and boat rental locations from Santa Barbara County to the Mexican border. This report presents quantitative data and statistical estimates of effort, total catch, catch of preferred sport fish species, and length frequencies of selected species landed by private-boat sport fishermen. An estimated 52,000 anglers and 4,300 divers landed 179,000 fishes, molluscs, and crustaceans. The major components of the catch were 1) rockfishes, Sebastes spp., 68,000 landed; 2) white croaker, Genyonemus lineatus, 38,000 landed; and 3) bass, Paralabrax spp., 13,000 landed. (21pp.

Southern California pier fishermen: how familiar are they with the sport fishing regulations?

Anglers frequently violate sport fishing regulations out of ignorance, by mistake, or by deliberate action. To determine whether unfamiliarity with the regulations plays a major part in this problem, we asked pier fishermen a series of questions which tested their knowledge of the regulations. We discovered that on any given weekday, only 7% of the anglers on a pier kept a copy of the regulations with them for reference. The remaining fishermen had to depend upon memory for the rules; however, only 31% of the anglers knew three or more of those rules. Pier anglers are not well-enough informed to follow the size limit regulations. However, anglers on piers do not often catch size-regulated fish . Unless these anglers engage in another type of fishing (such as from a boat) they will not significantly detract from the success of fishery management programs for size-regulated fish species. (8pp.

Southern California independent study fishing survey Quarterly Report No. 11

During the January 1 - March 31, 1978 quarter, 28 launch ramps, hoists, and boat rental locations were sampled a total of 253 times. During the sample days 6,296 anglers and 279 divers were interviewed. They expended 42,296 effort-hours and landed 16,165 fishes and other organisms of 125 identified species. The ten most commonly landed species were 1) white croaker, Genyonemus lineatus, 12%; 2) Pacific mackerel, Scomber japonicus, 7%; 3) blue rockfish, Sebastes mystinus, 7%; 4) chilipepper, S. goodei, 5%; 5) bocaccio, S. paucispinis, 5%; 6) kelp bass, Paralabrax clathratus, 4%; 7) barred sand bass, P. nebulifer, 4%; 8) halfmoon, Medialuna californiensis, 4%; 9) greenspotted rockfish, Sebastes chlorostictus, 3%; and 10) black surfperch, Embiotoca jacksoni, 3%. (Document has 22 pages.

Southern California independent sport fishing survey Quarterly Report no. 9

During the July 1 - September 30, 1977 quarter, 29 launch ramps, hoists, and boat rental locations were sampled 380 times. During the sample days 25,256 anglers and 1,445 divers were interviewed. They expended 179,564 effort-hours and landed 64,371 fishes, molluscs, crustaceans, echinoderms, and coelenterates of 179 identified species. The ten most commonly landed species were 1)white croaker, Genyonemus lineatus, 25%; 2)Pacific mackerel, Scomber japonicus, 8%; 3)olive rockfish, Sebastes serranoides, 7%; 4)kelp bass, Paralabrax clathratus, 6%; 5) blue rockfish, Sebastes mystinus, 3%; 6)barred sand bass, Paralabrax nebulifer, 3%; 7)brown rockfish, Sebastes auriculatus, 2%; 8)spotted sand bass, Paralabrax maculatofasciatus, 2%; 9)grass rockfish, Sebastes rastrelliger, 2%; and 10)queenfish, Seriphus politus, 2%. (28pp.