During the period January 1 to March 31, 1976, Department

personnel made 139 sampling trips aboard southern California partyboats. A total of 22,122 fishes from 73 species was identified and measured.

Otoliths were removed from 1,536 rockfish carcasses representing 31 species for use in age determination.

Sampling personnel tagged and released 68 California

barracuda, Sphyraena argentea, and 18 sablefish, Anoplopoma

fimbria.

The five most common species sampled during this period

represented approximately 79% of the total number of fishes

measured. These were, in order of importance; bocaccio,

Sebastes paucispinis; chilipepper, Sebastes goodei; olive

rockfish, Sebastes serranoides; greenspotted rockfish,

Sebastes chlorostictus; and vermilion rockfish, Sebastes

miniatus. Bocaccio alone accounted for 52% of the sampled

catch. (15pp.

Maxwell, William D.

Schultze, Donald L.

English

From l July through 30 September, 1976, Department personnel

made 138 sampling trips aboard southern California

partyboats. A total of 15,827 fishes from 75 species was

identified and measured.

Otoliths were removed from 290 rockfish carcasses representing 23 species for use in age determination studies.

The 10 most common species sampled during this quarter

were kelp bass, Paralabrax clathratus (22.9%); barred sand

bass, P. nebulifer (13.7%); olive rockfish, Sebastes serranoides (12.0%); bocaccio, S. paucispinis (1l.6%); 

Pacific bonito, Sarda chiliensis (6.6%); California barracuda, Sphyraena argentea (5.9%); white croaker, Genyonemus lineatus (4.5%); blue rockfish, S. mystinus (2.9%); brown rockfish, S. auriculatus (2.8%); and ocean whitefish, Caulolatilus princeps (2.8%).

Preliminary results from California partyboat logs indicate landings of Pacific bonito, California barracuda, kelp bass, and barred sand bass were significantly larger than those of 1975, while the low catch rates of yellowtail and white seabass remained approximately equal to those of the previous season.  (27pp.

Aquatic Commons

LIBRARY 
State of California Landing ~ ~ i i r > a  ~~bcr'''~''' ' 
The Resources Agency 
DEI'AKRIENT OF FISH 
I.-.; .' 2 
. 1' ' .  Kt,%< l? - 
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PARTYBOAT SAMPLING STUDY 
QUARTERLY REPORT NO. 5 
William D. Maxwell 
and 
Donald L. Schultze 
MARINE RESOURCES 
Administrative Report No. 77-6 
February 197 7 
SOUTHEFJJ CALIFOREIA PARTYEOAT SN*lPLTNG STUDY 
1 / 
QUARTERLY REPORT NO. 5- 
Wil l ianl  D. l f ~ > ~ j c l l  and 
2 / Donald La. Schul.tzc1- 
From l J u l y  th rough  30 September ,  1976,  Department p e r -  
sonne l  made 138 sampling t r i p s  aboard  s o u t h e r n  C a l i f o x n i a  
p a r t y h o a t s .  A t o c a l  of 15,827 f i s h e s  from 75 s p e c i e s  w a s  
i d e n t i f i e d  and measured.  
O t o l i t h s  were removed from 290 r o c k f i s h  c a r c a s s e s  rc- 
p r e s e n t i n g  23 s p e c i e s  f o r  u s e  i n  agc d s f e r r n i n a t i o n  s i u c l i e ~ .  
The  1 0  most coirjnon s p e c i e s  sampled. d u r i n g  t h i s  q v a r t e r  
were  k e l p  b a s s ,  Pni?aZahrax cZath22atus (22.3%) ; b a r r e d  sand 
b a s s ,  P. 1zcbzc2ij"e.z. (13.7%) ; o l i v e  rockf  ir;h, Sebaskes ~ e z 3 ~ -  
anoicles (12.0%) ; b o c a c c i o ,  S. paucispi7;i.s (1 l .bZ)  ; Pa.cf fi.c 
bonito, Sardn c!h,iZiensis (6 .5%) ; Gal i for- l i ia  barrac.uda,  
S?hyraa?ia nwgentea (5 .9%) ; w h i t e  croakel:, Gt?i1~0n~7i l i i .~  7,i~ie~ct;:1s 
(4 .52)  ; b l u e  r o c k f i s h ,  S. n;yst?:nus ( 2 . 9%)  ; ba:oti-n ~ - o c k f  i s h ,  
S. nuricuzu-t;:~..s ( 2 . 8 % )  ; and ocean w h i t e f i  s h ,  CnuZoZ.nti~zis 
p17i?zceps ( 2 . 8 % )  . 
P r e l  i n k n a r y  r e s u l t - s  f rcm C a l i i o r x l i a  p a r t y b o a t  l o g s  i n -  
d i c a t  e l a n d i n g s  of P a c i f i c  L o n i t o ,  C a l i f o r n i a  b a r r a c u d a ,  
k e l p  b a s s ,  and b a r r e d  sand b a s s  :~~ere z j g i l i f i c a n t l y  l a r g e r  
than  t h o s e  o f  1975, w h i l e  the  I.c'i:r c a t c h  r a t e s  of y e l l o a t a i l  
ancl white s c sbas s  rcmairied approxirxatc ly  e q u a l  t c  t h o s c  o f  
t h e  p r e v i o u s  s,- n a ~ o n .  
- -------- 
I/ 
-- 
I i a r ine  Resources  A d n l i n i s t r a t i v e  Report  No. 77--6, February  1977. 
T h i s  s t u d y  i s  bcinp, perfornled a s  pa . r t  of Ding~:?~l - Jo l~nson  
P r o  j ec" ia l i  f 0rni .a  F-31.-R, "Sou the rn  Ca1.i.f orn:i a Mai:i:re 
S p o r t f i s h  Keseaxch" s u p p o r t e d  by F e d e r a l  a i d  t o  F i s h  
Res t .o ra t ion  Funds. Fi.el d work was conductt?d i n  coopcra-  
t i .on w i t h  t h e  Department of Ccnr:erce, K n t i o r ~ a l  0ceani.c 
and h tmosphe r j .~  l i d m i n i s t r a t i o n ,  National.  Marir:e E'ishcr<.ss 
Serv i -ce ,  under  a c o n t r a c t  e n t i . t l e c !  Stock Assessment ,  
F i s h e r y  Eval .uat ion,  and F i s l ~ e r y  1'4a11agc:n~?i:i:.i.: of Sout1~~:ri-i 
C s l i f  o r n i a  Recre .a t iona1 c;,d Corn~ner ctal. E':i.sher.ies , Pr'c j ec:t 863 
2 / 
- 
O p e r a t i o n s  Research Branch, C a l i i o r r l i a  S t a t e  F5sE.r;rirs 
L a b o r a t o r y ,  350 Goldcn Shore ,  Lon2 Ucath ,  C a l i f o r n i a  90802. 
INTRODUCTION 
In t h e  q u a r t e r  e n d i n g  September 30,  197G, 138 t r i p s  were  made 
aboard p a r t y b o a t s  th roughout  s o u t h e r n  C a l i f o r n i a .  A t o t a l  o f  15,827 
3 / 
f i s h e s  b e l o n g i n g  t o  75 s p e c i e s  was i d e n t i f i e d  and m e a s u r e d  d u r i n g  
t h e  s a ~ f i p l i n g  p e r i o d .  
O t o l i t h s  were rernov€d from 290 r o c k f i s h  c a r c a s s e s  r e p r e s e n t i n g  23 
s p e c i e s  f o r  use i n  age d e t e r m i n a t i o n  s t u d i e s .  
The 10 most cornmon s p e c i e s  sawpled  wcrc k e l p  b a s s ,  P ~ P c z ~ ~ ~ I ~ c I ? :  
cZathratzis (27.. 9 % )  ; b a r r e d  sand b&ss, P. ncbuZ,L$e~q (1 3.7%) ; o l i v e  rock-  
f  i s h ,  Sebas-i;es seu*~anoidcs (12.  OX) ; b o c a c c i o ,  S. paucispinis (11 .6%) ; 
P a c i f i c  b o n i t o ,  Sarda chiZic-flsis ( 6 . 6%) ;  C a l i f o ~ n i a  barr .acud2, Sphyra~nz  
argentca (5 .92)  ; w h i t e  c r o a k e r ,  Ge7zyo7:ein~~s ZineaCs!~ ( 4 . 5 % )  ; blue r o c k f b s h ,  
S. n;-~/stirr7~c (2.9X) ; brown r o c l ~ f  i s h ,  S. azlzltc?~Zat;us ( 2 . 8 % )  ; and ocean. whii.c-- 
f i s h ,  CnuZoZntiZus princeps (2 .8%) . As a group t h e s c  s p e c i c s  cot)  t r l .bu t  cd  
85.7% o f  t h e  t o t a l  sampled c n t c : ~  ( T z h l c  I).  
The quar te r -  r e p r e s e n t e d  t h e  peak  senson of spor t f i s f t r ing  a c t i v i t y  
alone, tlie sout l rern  c o a s t .  S u r f a c e  and m i g r a t o r y  s p e c i e s  formed t h e  bulk  
of t h e  l a n d i n g s  b u t  r o c k f i s h  spccies s t i l l  c o n t r i b u t e d  h e a v i l y  t o  t h e  
t o t a l .  cat .ch.  One of t h e  major  c ~ l ~ t r i b ~ i t o l : ~  t o  t l ~ c  s p o r t c a t c h  durizlg t h j s  
p e r i o d  w a s  a l b a c o r e ,  Thz~nr~z4.s aZu%%??ga. Hot:ever, due t o  the  I e i ~ g t h  of the 
a v e r a g e  f i sh j .ng  t r i p  and faced w i t h  n!nnpcx~?er l i ~ i t a t i o n r ; ,  no s a q l e o  weire 
co_l. lected f r o ~ n  t h i s  segment. of t h e  p a r t y b o a t  f i s h e r y .  
T h i s  summer was a u~odera  te3.y s u c c e s s f u l  one f o r  the. p e r t y b o a t  ffi..c;hery 
w i t h  t h e  c a t c h  of most p r e f e r r e d  s p e c i e s  showing s i g n i f i c a n t  i n c r e a s e s  
3 / 
-
For daf j .n i i - ton of l e n g t h  mcasurei~~ei~t-s :,izx~;ell znd Sc.:l~:leze 
E i a r i ~ e  I:e:,ources A d n i r i i s t r l - ~ t i w  Repor t  7G-3 
over the prevj-ous year. F.elp bass, b a r r e d  sand  b a s s ,  Pac i f i c  b o n i t o ,  
2nd Cal i fornia  bar racuda  J i ?  p a r t i c v l a r  have s l loi :~~ s11Lstantjal illcreases 
over t h e  1975 catches,  
L)ISC;1JSSlON 
R o c k f i s l r i : ~  
A t o t a l  of -5,91.4 rocl;:Eisl:cs  fro;^ 30 sper_:ics .i.::ls idc3itj.f j.cd o . ~ l d  
measured cq~irj-lig this ;)erioc' . For  t h e  q : t a r t ~ ~ .  t t w y  ~ ~ r i t ~ : . . i . b u " ~ d  37.47i of 
t h e  t o t a l  rs;cpiled ~ c j t c h .  Tile x o s t  co:a!o;:_l.y s:aliipl.r:d I-ocl:fi.:;hcr; ('r'~b2.e 2 )  
were t y p j - c a l  af suinAlc?!- c:ffoi : t ,  which ris g ~ _ ? ~ e r s l . l y  directed t~ j~ : . a~ds  
st.iall.ovr 1~7zl:c.r XI?. kc3,p rrlei:ed spec.i.e:~. Tlze to11 foiir roCl;fi.sh spcic .j.. efi 
cacght; (01 ivc!, bocc_lccio, b l u t ,  and brown) acc:.ount:cd For  78.5% of a3.l 
. , 
roclif:br;hcc sa0;pled b:.it.Il 26 s p e c i e s  il!eE;.il:.g up the  :iciiia~nrr~g 21.5% of thc. 
catch.  
I,c~lg'i-li-"frequl-zn.!:y ll i .r : t :uc8~rr:ms l o r  olJv: 1-oc.I.-:Ti:<l--1 s ~ i d  bc>cncc.jo r e f l e c t  
the  di.;l'fez.t.:j.lc.c.:;rj. in c7', ... :.~,e EIT!C? I:UN~CI:S ci;~l:i;hl: b<!t-i.i.e.;~ the ~u' : i ; t i~>:  e f f o r t -  ~1.16 
w i n t e r  ~ f ' f ~ i ~ i ,  (Fig~x-res % - 6 ) .  
Paci.f ic Eoni t i l ,  Califo;-ni.2 Bacrscuda,  Ycl.l.ovt.;.:i.J., \+Qj.r_c? SeaLa:+r; 
T ~ I P  P a c i L i c  bonito catc,i: c o l t i n u e c l  t o  cl.ir1ib i l i ~ ~ i i ~ h ~ ~ . ~ . ;  t.ll:i.c, C ; U W Y ~ . C S T  
and by t h e  cild o f  Augus'i: t.il.2 p r e l i m i n a r y  rcyort: fr:j;,; Ca1i . folrr l - i~ pzrt.c.:~ozt: - 1 
l o g s  ~I ioacd.  t:hc ca t ch  t o  b c  rrm? c than ",ol~bj.e l a s t  c;-~i~:ire c:ltcl-i.. 
Resul.t:n of our  sa!::ljl.i.lig ( F i g ~ r n ~  7 .- g j  r e f l ~ . \ c t f : d  t.hc:;!t c ~ f  t h e  p'ecc6:ir:g; 
quari:cr w i l i c l ~  sl~craeci the c c  tcl-, cons i s  tj.z?g a.l:ilosi: c3:;tirel.y (sf f i.r:hi:c frola  
the  1975  ycrir--cJ.ass. 
The Calif o rn i r i  bc;rrn.ce;;!a ca t ch  \:as the lii.gllc::t since 1970 w!~e?n regv- -  
I.a.t..io~?s alloiccd ic-o u : - ~ d e r s i z c ~ d  I 'ndi.vi.dualc i n  t h c  cisS.ly b;%g I.5.1ni.~. 33art.y- 
boat- ~ o ~ s  .;ho\;.crri the cairch Lo be  already 5 t i ~ : ? . E  t h e  12i l :n i>(x  t a k e n  d;irir::; 
a l l  of 137.5. 
More i t i p o r t a n t l y ,  p r e l i m i n a r y  examina t ion  o f  t h e  s i z e  composi- 
t i o n  of b a r r a c u d a  caught  by p a r t y b o a t s  ( F i g u r e s  LO - 1 2 ) ,  p r i v a t e  
b o a t s ,  and comnerc ia l  g i l l  n e t t e r s  d u r i n g  t h e  l a s t  5 y e a r s  i n d i c z t e d  
a s low b u t  s i g n i f i c e n t  . inc rease  i n  t h e  nurlljcr of f i s h  l a r g e r  than 
71.1  c n  ( 2 8  i n c h e s ) .  
P r e l i m i n z r y  resu1t .s  f rom p a r t y b o a t  logs i n d i c a t e d  t h e  c a t c h  of 
kelp b a s s  and b a r r e d  sand bass  th rough  August t o  be up 6 and 30% reo- 
p e c t i v c l y  over  t h e  1.975 annual. c a t c h  (k ' igurcs  1 3  - l a ) ,  w h i l e  t h e  ].ow 
c a t c h  r a t e s  of yc1 lo i~ : t a i l  a:ld \<hi-te seabnsc, remained uiichariged f  rcm the 
prcvj-ous season .  
E f f o r t  and Catch-per-lJni  t--Eff o r t  
F i s h i n g  c f f o r t  ( a v e r a g e  nunbcr of  anc: l~ . rs  pel- t r i p )  rclriained h5gIl 
d u r i n s  J u l y  2nd kLugusls a s  t he  cumr;ier season arLrnc:t c-d i::orr t?nglcbl-s t o  
sport- f i s h  Landings,  
The s h i f t  o f  f i s h i n g  e f f o r t  towards gay? f i s h e s  d u r i r ~ g  Map and June 
cont r i b u t e d  t o  lowered catclz-par- v n i t - e f  f o r t  (numbcr of fict-,es catl,gElt 
p e r  ~ n g l c r  hour f i shed )  v a l u e s  f o r  p a r t y b o a t  a v g l c r c .  This t r e n d  con- 
t i n u e d  d u r i n g  J u l y  and August 2s increar,%riz numbers o f  a u g l c r s  p c r  t r j p  
reduced t h e  ca tc lz -per -un i t -e f fo r t  t o  ever1 lovcr v n l u c r ;  ( T a b l e  3 ) .  The  
4 / 
-- 
mare n o r t h e r n  p o r t  co:nplexes ( 4 ,  5 ,  and 0 )  appeared t o  h e  l e s s  a f f e c t e d  
by t h e s e  condj t i o r l s  than t h e  rxlorc s o u t h e r n  pol- t  coz!plexes (1, 2 ,  ancl 3 ) .  
T h i s  was p robab ly  dnc t o  t h e  nol-thcrn p o r t  co21plexes' Icsscr depe~)cicncy 
upon game fishes d u r i n g  t h e  sunmer months. 
A g e n e r a l  i n c r e a s e  i n  c c t c h - p e r - u n i t - e f f o r t  d u r i n g  Fcptcmbar occ:urrt-bd 
and was due t o  a r e t u r n  t o  rockcod f i s h i n g ,  a  reduc t icm i n  the liunter of 
----- 
4 / 
-
For def i .n i tLon see T*Iam:cll and S c h u l t z e  C d o ~ i n i s t r z t i v e  '::r!port ( 7 6 - 3 ) .  
anglers  per trip, arid cont inued  good to Pair catciles of bonito, ba r r acuda ,  
kelp b a s s  and ba r r ed  raisd bass for those b o a t s  still ptarsu5ng garre fislies. 
s. 
Q . '+ $ . :: 
Q rn - , r  ~,t.! m ti 
S ;I PL* LI r -> X 
i h  St 
.(L1 C) ,<:> ;> ji? .?, 
r3 - v >  -+ -+ ". ,-, , * 
- r l  +> h t  Y! ;: , t c <> 
$: 2 5 .Y : cr> c >  L j  
r.5 , > ti . Y )  G <> [J 
'rt iP o a, i~, h r, s. 
n . .  ..a#.,-).. . - . , *  
.? 
0 2 , :: t?* r l 
i3 ;i O V; i 
k:-i>.,2 *4 C,,.<J <: 
.'; % it ,$ j: ,:; 
c \ -  t3 C =;i -1 ' 
< , il C:, .r > u >: -,A r.4 ; , :  r, 0 1.4 C j  
.,: C? ;*,a <? 
c 2  C. \> r" L\ U I '  
c. ;.; -,> t., 
J - A  . L; r '  
2 
ra  c, 2 T., :i, 6 .: ,s 
c\, <J - 1  ;-: ,: Y j  ,.A 
O :: C, ' . :. 0 ;" r-'J 
..> :. ,\\ . . x  .,.< 
r,.,s- <> Q.~.: 
'11 2.: " . " L',$ t. U 
:< --. Yi :s <:> CJ il, 
TABLE 2. Species  Compos i t io~ t  of Rockfishes (Sebnstcs spp  . ) Catch From 
Partyboat Sariiples , J u l y  Thrc~uglz Sep ttixber 1976. 
Corcrl?crn name S c i c n t i f i c  namr Frequencv of O c c u r r ~ n c c ~  (7) 
---_ ---- &-- --------.------- -*------ -- 
01-ive 
Bocacci o  
Blue 
Brown 
Honeycoah 
Ke1.p 
Tilhitcb~lly 
Vermi l ion  
S t a r r y  
Greenspa t  t ed  
Widow 
Gopher 
Calico 
Rosy 
F l a g  
Squarespot. 
Treefish 
C h i l i p c p p c r  
Black and yellow 
Grass 
Canary 
Y cllo.tt.taj-1. 
Cowcod 
Greenblotchcd 
Ye1 loweye 
Bank 
Hal£1~anl?d 
Greenstriped 
Pink 
Speckled 
Swordspi ne 
Se bas t e s  ssrrazoidt?~ 
S .  pauci spinis 
S. WJS -l;illus 
S .  a~:ricuZctus 
S. m!brostis 
S .  at~~ovirens 
8. vexi 2 lar i s  
S .  niii:,in&us 
S .  COTIS t e  Z.Zn$us 
S .  chlor~ostlcz'us 
S. entciae las 
S.  C?ar'nGl%s 
S. dail.Zii 
S. rosnceus 
S.  r~&~~'~vir ,c? tus  
S .  h o p k i ~ z s i  
S .  eer16ceps 
5'. goodei 
S .  ch~~so:flc?,as 
5'. pas t ~ z s  Z Zi,ser 
S .  pimziger 
S . JIZauf, c!?.cs 
S. Ze~ia 
S. rosenbZntt< 
S . rzibcrrimtcs 
S. rutus  
S. semicinctz,!~ 
S .  eZonyatus 
S. eos 
S. ovali-s 
S .  ens i fer  
I. (? 0 -1 -T 
C3 r-l I?- G\ h 
. . , . .  
t4 r i  0 0 0 
08'-N 
r-t 
ri 
I I-J 0 C> 0 
-? 
-7 *1 \D 
n o r - o r -  
-J r i  r4 \> <-, 
. . . . .  
r.r I-4 r i  0 0 


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W D  I 
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W T C >  I 
c: 
a r - 4 1  
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ll -1 I 
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-- - . ... . 




Southern California partyboat sampling study Quarterly Report No. 5

State of California 
The Resources Agency 
DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME 
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PARTYBOAT SAMPLING STUDY 
QUARTERLY REPORT NO. 3 
William D. Maxwell 
and 
Donald L. Schultze 
MARINE RESOURCES 
Administrative Report No. 76-9 
July 1976 
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PARTYBOAT SAMPLING STUDY 
11 
QUARTERLY REPORT NO. 3- 
by 
William D. Maxwell Vd Donald L. Schultze- 
ABSTRACT 
During the period January 1 to March 31, 1976, Depart- 
ment personnel made 139 sampling trips aboard southern Cali- 
fornia partyboats. A total of 22,122 fishes from 73 species 
was identified and measured, 
Otoliths were removed from 1,536 rockfish carcasses re- - 
presenting 31 species for use in age determination. 
Sampling personnel tagged and released 68 California 
barracuda, Sphyraena argentea, and 18 sablefish, AnopZopoma 
fimbria. 
The five most common species sampled during this period 
represented approximately 79% of the total number of fishes 
measured. These were, in order of importance; bocaccio, 
Sebastes paucispinis; chilipepper, Sebastes goodei; olive 
rockfish, Sebastes serranoides; greenspotted rockfish, 
Sebastes chZorostictus; and vermilion rockfish, Sebastes 
mtniatus. Bccaccio alone accounted for 522 of the sapled 
catch. 
11 
- 
Marine Resources Administrative Report No. 76-9. 
This study is being conducted as part of Dingell-Johnson 
Project California F-32-R, "Southern California Marine 
Sport Fish Research" supported by Federal aid to Fish 
Restoration Funds. Field work was conducted in coopera- 
tion with the Department of Commerce, National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries 
Service, under a contract entitled Stock Assessment, 
Fishery Evaluation, and Fishery Management of Southern 
California Recreational and Commercial Fisheries. 
21 
- 
Operations Research Branch, California State Fisheries 
Laboratory, 350 Golden Shore, Long Beach, California 90802. 
During the period 1 January through 31 March 1976, 139 trips aboard 
southern California partyboats resulted in the identification and 
measurement of 22,122 fish of 73 species. 
Otoliths were removed from 1,536 rockfish carcasses representing 
31 species for use in age determination studies. 
Sampling personnel also tagged and released 68 California 
barracuda, Sphyraena mgentea, and 18 sablefish, AnopZopoma fimbria. 
Examination of sampling results (Table 1) reveals that the 10 most 
common species sampled were, in order of importance; bocaccio, Sebastes 
pauciopinis; chilipepper, Sebastes goodei; olive rockfish, Sebastes 
serranoides; greenspotted rockfish, Sebastes chZorostictus; vermilion 
rockfish, Sebastes miniatus; greenstriped rockfish, Sebastes eZongatus; 
flag rockfish, Sebastes rubrivinctus; blue rockfish, Sebastes mystinus; 
ocean whitefish, CauZoZatiZus princeps; and starry rockfish, Sebastes 
constelzatus. This group represented 86.9% of the total number of 
fishes sampled with bocaccio alone contributing over 52% of the total 
catch. 
Effort by the partyboat fishery during this quarter was expended 
exc1usivel.y on rockfish with the exception of Santa Barbara where some 
effort was diverted towards salmon fishing. 
The number of samples dropped significantly from the previous 
quarter due to a decrease in the amount of available manpower and to 
the loss of numerous sampling days to inclement weather, particularly 
in February and March. 
T U L E  1. Nunber of Fishes Measured From Southern California Paletyboatr, Jahuary through Urch, 1976. 
Comoa name ' 
! 
Surfperch, barred 
Sergo 
Sablefish 
L%itefish, ocean 
Blacksmith 
ScnCdob, Pacific 
Sanddab, longf in* 
Seabass, white 
Surfpcrch, black 
Sole, petrnle 
Croaker, white 
Opnlcye 
Kel~fish, giant 
Sole, bigaouth 
R~lfmoon 
Hake, Pacific 
Sole, Cover 
. Snlnon, silver 
Scleon, king 
Lingcod 
Senorita 
Ecss, kelp 
Eass, barred sand 
Halibut, California 
Sole, English 
Sheephead, California 
Skate, longnose 
Guitarfish, shovelnoee 
?lackerel, Pacific 
Sculpin 
Csbezon 
Rockfish, kelp 
Rockfish, brown 
Rockfish, gopher 
Rockfish, greenspotted 
Rockfish, starry 
Rockfish, calico 
Scientific name 
hph io t i chua  argentsue 
Aniaotremua davideonCi 
AnopZopona firnbria 
Catt l o  l a t i  lus  princeps 
Chromis punctipinnis 
C i t  hcrichthyo oordidue 
C. santhoetigwa 
Cynoecion nobiz i s  
Lkbiotoca jackaoni 
Eopsetta jordani 
Gen$on€fmls ~ i n e a t u e  
CireZZa nigricans 
Bcterostichue rcatratue 
HippogZoooina stomata' ' 
I4edialuna c a l i f o r n i e n e i ~  
hfertucciue productua 
bficro3tom?cs paci f icue . 
Cr.cor?ynchus kieutch 
0. t s h m t ~ t s c h a  
Ophiodon eelor~atue 
Cxyjutia caz i forn ica  
Pcratcbrax clathratue 
P ,  nebul i fer  
ParaZic;zthya -caZiforniaus 
Parophrys votulus 
P ~ e  Zometopon pulchmm 
Raja rhina 
Rhinobatoa productue 
Scomber japonicus 
Scorpile~la gu tL t ta  
Scorpaenich thy8 n;.moratue 
.Sebaotes atrovirena 
S. auricuZatus 
S .  c a ~ n a t u s  
S. chZorostictue 
S. c o n ~ t e l Z a b ~ 8  
S. d a t l i i  
Number ' Cornmon name 
measured 
Bcientif ic name Number 
measured 
nolm 
Roclcfieh, eplitnoee Ssbaetee d ip topma  1 
Rockfish, greenetriped S. etongatue 438 
Rockfish, ewordapine S. ens i y s r  13 
Rockfieh, widow S. entomelae 134 
Rockfish, pink S. eoe 16 
~ockfish, yellowtail S. f2avidue 17 
Rockfish, bronzeepottad S. giZZi 3 
Chilipepper S. ~ o o d e i  3,609 
Rockfish, Roeethorn S. heZvomacu&tun 13 
Rockfish, squarespot S. hopkinei 131 
Rockfish, shortbelly S, jordani 48 . 
cowcod S. l e v i e  197 
Rockfish, Mexican S. macdonatdi 17 
Rockfish , vermilion S.  miniatus 620 
Rockf ish, blue S. mystinue 369 
Rockfish, speckled S. o v a t i s  153 . 
Bocaccio S .  pauciapinie 11,608 I 
Rockfish, canary S. pinniger 18 t ~ .  t 
Rockfish, grass S. r a s t r e t l i g e r  ' 3 
Rockfish, rosy S. rosaceua 139 
Rockfish, greenblotched S. r o s e n b t a t t i  290. 
Rockfish, yelloweye S. ruberritnu8 1 
Rockfish, flag S. r u b ~ i v i n o t u e  397 
Rockfish, bank S. m f u e  150 
Rockfish, stripetail S. aaxicola 1 
Rockfish, halfbanded S. eemicinctue 5 
Rockf ieh, olive S. eerranoides 852 
Treef ish S. sarricepe 35 
Rockfish, honeycomb S. wnbroeus 164 
Rockfish, whitebeily* S. u e x i l l a r i e  7 7 
Barracuda, California Sphyraena argentea 77 
Dogfish, spiny . Squalue a c a n t h i a ~  9 
Lizard f iah, California Synodue Zlcciocepe 1 
bleckcrel, jack h.achwlue symnetriaua 71 
Sole, fantail Xystreurye t i o l e p i s  3 
Comb fish, shor tspine Zaniolepis frenata 1 
TOTAL 22,122 
* Since there are no diagnostic featurea to distinguieh between copper and whitebelly rockfish, both specie8 are listed 
a s  S. vexiZZaria. 
Rockfish 
A t o t a l  of 20,687 f i s h e s  from 36 spec i e s  was i d e n t i f i e d  and 
measured as r o c k f i s h  c o n t r i b u t e d  93.5% of t h e  t o t a l  sampled ca tch .  Of 
those  r o c k f i s h  measured 56% (Table 2) were bocaccio wh i l e  t h e  next  
most abundant s p e c i e s ,  c h i l i p e p p e r ,  con t r ibu ted  17.4% of t h e  sampled 
r o c k f i s h  ca t ch .  
P re l imina ry  work on age  de termina t ion  us ing  o t o l i t h s  began 
f o r  bocaccio,  c h i l i p e p p e r ,  vermi l ion  r o c k f i s h ,  o l i v e  r o c k f i s h ,  and 
cowcod, Sebastes Zevis. I n i t i a l  r e s u l t s  of t h e  survey revea led  t h a t  
t he  l a r g e r  specimens of  a l l  s p e c i e s  examined w i l l  r e q u i r e  some method 
of s e c t i o n i n g  t o  o b t a i n  r e l i a b l e  age es t imated .  Rockfish 
o t o l i t h s  tend  t o  s h a t t e r  when c u t  w i th  a v a i l a b l e  equipment and t h e  
Southeas t  F i s h e r i e s  Center  (NMFS), Miami, F l o r i d a  i s  t e s t i n g  t h e  
f e a s i b i l i t y  of  s e c t i o n i n g  Sebastes o t o l i t h s  w i th  a  device  used 
t o  s e c t i o n  b l u e f i n  tuna  o t o l i t h s ,  
A comparison of t h e  sampling d a t a  wi th  t h e  pre l iminary  r e p o r t  from 
C a l i f o r n i a  pa r tyboa t  l o g s  shows t h a t  dur ing  t h i s  q u a r t e r  rock f i sh  
made up 93.5% of t h e  sampled c a t c h  wh i l e  boa t  l o g s  showed r o c k f i s h  
made up 94.8% of t h e  r epo r t ed  ca tch .  This  i n d i c a t e s  t h a t ,  a t  l e a s t  
f o r  t h i s  group of f i s h ,  t h e  l e v e l  of sampling e f f o r t  appears  t o  be  
s u f f i c i e n t ,  b u t  more r igo rous  a n a l y s i s  w i l l  be  r equ i r ed .  
Monthly length- f requencies  f o r  t h e  f i v e  most common s p e c i e s  sampled 
as w e l l  a s  t h e i r  mean l e n g t h s  and s tandard  d e v i a t i o n s  a r e  presented  i n  
F igures  1 through 5. 
Bonito,  Barracuda, White Seabass ,  P a c i f i c  Mackerel 
Almost a l l  e f f o r t  was expended on r o c k f i s h  and few "gamefish" were 
encountered dur ing  sampling t r i p s  i n  t h i s  q u a r t e r .  
TABLE 2. Species Composition of Rockfish (Sebastes spp.) Catch 
From Partyboat Samples, January through March, 1976. 
Frequency of 
Common name Scientific name . occurrence - (%) 
Bocaccio 
Chilipepper 
Olive 
Greenspotted 
Vermilion 
Greenstriped 
Flag 
Blue 
Starry 
Greenblotched 
Cowcod 
Honeycomb 
Bank 
Rosy 
Speckled 
Widow 
Squarespot 
Whitebelly 
Brown 
Gopher 
Shor tbelly 
Treef ish 
Calico 
Canary 
Mexican 
Yellowtail 
Pink 
Swordspine 
Rosethorn 
Kelp 
Halfbanded 
Bronzespotted 
Splitnose 
Grass 
Y elloweye 
Stripetail 
Sebastes paucispinis 
S. goodei 
S. serranoides 
S. chzorostictus 
S. miniatus 
S .  elongatus 
S. msbrivinctus 
S. mystinus 
S. conste Z Zatus 
S. rosenbzatti  
S .  Zevis 
S. wnbrosus 
S. ruftls 
S. rosaceus 
S. ovaZis 
S. entomelus 
S. hopkinsi 
S. vexiZZaris 
S .  auriculatus 
S. camatus 
S .  jorduni 
S. serriceps 
S. daZZii 
S. pinniger 
S. macdona Zdi 
S. f Zavidus 
S. eos 
S. ens i fer  
S. heZvornacuZatus 
S. atrovirens 
S .  semicinctus 
S. giZZi 
S. dipZoproa 
S. ras tre l l iger  
S. rmberrhus 
S. saxicoZa 
Sebas tea paucispinis 
JAN. 
LENGTH (cm) 
FEB . 
N = 3,564 
2 = 41.5 
1 - . - - . .  . . - . - B  
LENGTH (cni) 
MAR. 
N = 3,966 
+ = 42.9 
a = 7.5 
r - , - . : ' :  
LENGTH (cm) 
FIGURE 1. Length f r equenc i e s  f o r  bocaccio from sou the rn  Ca l i fo rn . i a  
pa r tyboa t s  f o r  January through March 1976. 

JAN. 
LENGTH (cm)  
- LENGTH (cm)  
MAR. 
1 1  1 5  19 23 27 31 35 39 43 47 51 5 5  59 63 6 7  71 , 
LENGTH (cm) 
FIGURE 3 .  Length f requencies  f o r  o l i v e  rock f i sh  from southern  C a l i f o r n i a  
pa r tyboa t s  f o r  January through Flarch 1976. 
Sebastes chZorostictus 
+ JAN.  
LENGTH (cm) 
LENGTH (cm) 
7 11 15  1 9  2 3  27 3 1  3 5  39 4 3  47 51 55  5 9  6 3  
LENGTH (cm) 
9 ' 
8 ' 
7 ' 
6 ' 
5 ' 
4 ' 
3 ' 
2 ' 
1 .  
FIGURE 4. Length f r equenc i e s  f o r  g r eenspo t t ed  r o c k f i s h  from sou the rn  
C a l i f o r n i a  p a r t y b o a t s  f o r  January  through March 1976. 
MAR. 
N = 211 
k = 33.1 
a = 5.4 
* - . - . -  
Sebastes miniatus 
JAN. 
LENGTH (cm) 
LENGTH (cm) 
MAR. 
LENGTH (cm) 
FIGURE 5. Length frequencies for vermilion rockfish from southern 
California partyboats for January through March 1976. 
No Pacific boni to ,  Sardu chiliensis, were measured and only one 
white seabass,  Cynoscwn nobizis, occurred i n  the  samples. 
A t o t a l  of  77 C a l i f o r n i a  barracuda was sampled i n  t h i s  quar t e r .  
Of t h i s  number only seven were l a r g e r  than t h e  28-inch (71.1-cm) 
minimum s i z e  l i m i t .  Sampling personnel  tagged and re leased 68 of the  
t o t a l .  
P a c i f i c  mackerel, Scomber japonicus, were a l s o  very sca rce  during 
t h i s  q u a r t e r  wi th  a t o t a l  of 43 f i s h  appearing i n  the  samples. The 
major i ty  of t h e  f i s h  were from the  1974 year-class.  
E f f o r t  and Catch per  Unit E f f o r t  
3/  
E f f o r t  ( t r i p s ,  a n g l e r s ,  ang le r  hours- ) and ca tch  per  u n i t  e f f o r t  
( f i s h  per  angler  hour) va lues  were determined f o r  southern C a l i f o r n i a  
4 / 
p o r t  c o m p l e x e s  (Table 3) . 
Passenger loads aboard sampled par tyboats  increased only s l i g h t l y  
during January, February, and March from t h e  low of December. The 
g r e a t e s t  inc rease  i n  t h e  average number of ang le r s  per  t r i p  occurred 
aboard boats  from p o r t  complexes 1, 2 and 4. A marked dec l ine  i n  the  
number of passengers was observed i n  January a t  p o r t  complex 6,  and i n  
March a t  p o r t  complex 3 . '  Poor weather caused a number of t r i p s  t o  b e  
canceled and contr ibuted  t o  t h e  reduced winter  passenger loads.  
The average time (angler  hours) spent  f i s h i n g  per  sampled t r i p  
va r i ed  l i t t l e  wi th in  p o r t  complexes. Angler hours per  t r i p  between 
p o r t  complexes f l u c t u a t e d  from a low of 2.25 a t  por t  complex 3 t o  a 
high of 5.00 a t  p o r t  complex 4, both i n  March. 
3/ Angler hours a r e  computed as t h e  product of t h e  number of ang le r s  
- 
aboard a boat  and the  number of hours passengers f i shed  during a t r i p .  
4 /  For d e f i n i t i o n s  of p o r t  complexes s e e  Maxwell and Schultze Marine Re- 
- 
sources Administrat ive Report 76-3. 
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T o t a l  t r i p  time i s  recorded as f i s h i n g  time (angler  hours a c t u a l l y  
spen t  f i s h i n g )  and running time ( t ime spent  t r a v e l i n g  t o  and from t h e  
f i s h i n g  grounds and moving from f i s h i n g  s p o t  t o  f i s h i n g  spo t ) .  Sampling 
f o r  January, February,and March i n d i c a t e s  t h a t  a c t u a l  f i s h i n g  time com- 
p r i s e s  on t h e  average 45 t o  60% of t h e  t o t a l  t r i p  time. Boats 
from p o r t  complex 1 spent  a smal ler  percentage of time running and more 
time f i s h i n g  than b o a t s  from o the r  p o r t  complexes. Boats from p o r t  
complex 4 spent  the  g r e a t e s t  percentage of t o t a l  time running, however, 
p o r t  complex 4 t r i p s  were a l s o  gene ra l ly  longer  than a t  o the r  p o r t  
complexes and ang le r s  averaged more a c t u a l  f i s h i n g  hours than  a t  o the r  
p o r t  complexes. 
The ca tch  per  u n i t  e f f o r t  (number of f i s h  caught per  angler  hour 
f i shed)  f o r  each p o r t  complex shows t h e  g r e a t e s t  f i s h i n g  success t o  be 
aboard boa t s  from p o r t  complex 4, 5,and 6 during January, February and 
March (Figure 6 ) .  An increased  CPUE f o r  p o r t  complex3 i n  March r e s u l t e d  
from fewer ang le r s  making good ca tches  of bocaccio. Only two samples 
were taken i n  March a t  t h i s  p o r t  complex. However, both samples pro- 
duced a CPUE of over two f i s h  per  angler  hour. 
The h igher  CPUE's f o r  t h e  more n o r t h e r l y  p o r t  complexes 4, 5 and 
6 a r e  due t o  continued good ca tches  of rockf i sh ,  pr imar i ly  bocaccio 
and ch i l ipepper .  The genera l  dec l ine  of t h e  CPUE aboard sampled boa t s  
f i s h i n g  from San Diego t o  Newport Beach ( p o r t  complexes 1, 2 and 3) is 
due t o  poor winter  a v a i l a b i l i t y  of su r face  game spec ies  such a s  boni to ,  
barracuda and mackerel combined wi th  reduced ca tches  of rockf i sh ,  
Port Complex 
J u l  . Aug. Sep.  Oct .  tlov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. 
. . 
MONTH 
FIGURE 6. Catch per unit  e f f o r t  for sampled port complexes during July 1975 
through March 1976,. 


Southern California partyboat sampling study Quarterly Report no. 3

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Southern California partyboat sampling study Quarterly Report no. 3

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