Fishing pier association and movements of white croaker and California halibut within the Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors

Abstract

California halibut and white croaker are commonly caught from fishing piers; however, some individuals have been found to contain high amounts of hazardous contaminants. As a result, human health hazard warnings are posted throughout the Los Angeles area. To document attraction, residency, and association to fishing piers, the movements of 42 California halibut and 198 white croaker were tracked within the Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors for 1.5 years. Fish residency near piers was 90.5 ± 104.8 days for California halibut and 31. 9 ± 25.7 days for white croaker. Only 18% of white croaker and 6% California halibut were detected migrating to the pier, and most spent < 10 min within 300 m of the pier. Only 14% of California halibut and 0.35% of white croaker positions were within casting range (approximately 30 m) of the pier, thus California halibut show the greatest potential affinity for pier habitat