White seabass, Cynoscion nobilis, have been fished in

California since late in the ninteenth century. At present

the commercial fishery is stable, landing about 8 hundred

thousand pounds per year, but the sport fishing has declined

to the poorest catch on record.  (Document has 11 pages.

Young, Parke H.

Aquatic Commons

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T
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THE HT
MARINE RESOU CES
TECHNICAL REPO T
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CALIFORNIA DE PAR TME NT OF FISH A ND GAME
MARINE RESOURCES TECHNICAL REPORTS
******************************************************
Marine Resources Technical Reports are research
documents by Department personnel that are of sufficient
importance to be preserved, but which for some reason
are not appropriate for primary scientific publication. No
restriction is placed on subject matter.
These Reports may be cited in publication, but care
should be taken to indicate their manuscript status. The
material in these Reports may eventually appear in the
primary scientific literature.
Inquiries concerning the Reports should be directed
to The Editor, Marine Resources Region, 350 Golden Shore,
Long Beach, California 90802.
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THE STATUS OF THE WHITE SEABASS RESOURCE AND ITS MANAGEMENT
by
Parke H. Young
Marine Resources Region
MARINE RESOURCES TECHNICAL REPORT NO. 15
California Department of Fish and Game
1973
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ABSTRACT
White seabass, Cynoscion nobiUs, have been fished in
California since late in the ninteenth century. At present
the commercial fishery is stable, landing about 8 hundred
thousand pounds per year, but the sport fishing has declined
to the poorest catch on record.
(2 )
>TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
HISTORY OF THE FISHERY . . . . • . . . . . . .. 5
STATUS OF BIOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE . . . . . . . .. 8
DISCUSSION . • . • • . . . • • . . . • . . . .. 9
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THE STATUS OF THE WHITE SEABASS RESOURCE AND ITS MANAGEMENT
By
Parke H. Young
HISTORY OF THE FISHERY
California sport and commercial fishermen esteem the white seabass,
CynoBcion no};ilis> for its prestige and monetary value while consumers
pnjoy its fine mild flavor. White seabass are marketed fresh, usually
steaked or filleted. When extremely abundant, institutional sized
packages of fillets are frozen for later distribution.
Commercial Fishery
The large white unusually shaped otoliths (ear bones) of white
seabass were used by coastal Indians as lucky stones, and they un-
doubtedly used this large palatable fish for food.
Early commercial fishery catch records indicate that by 1889 well
over 250,000 lbs of white seabass were landed annually. The million
pound level was surpassed in 1904, and remained fairly constant through
1915. Small boats using gill nets accounted for a major portion of
these landings, with handlines and lampara nets taking only a small
percent of the total catch. San Francisco was the center of early
fishing operations; however, southern California had become dominant
by 1916. Purse seines landed the majority of the fish in southern
California from 1916 through 1924, with a peak landing of 2.9 million
lbs in 1922. After 1924, purse seines were used less and less as it
became more difficult to make profitable trips, and gill nets again
became the principal gear after 1925. In 1940, it became illegal to use
round haul nets for taking white s~abass in California waters; never-
tlw less, this gear could be used in Mexico if the ea tell was declared on
delivery to California ports. Hook and line and gill nets with 3.5 inch
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or larger stretched mesh have been the only legal connnercial gear in
State waters since 1940. Synthetic fibers such as nylon, are used
('xclus i.vPly today, compared to cotton and hemp prior to World War II.
SUlI\(-' fishermen dye their gill nets in various pastel colors, claiming
greater efficiency. Fishermen combine 2 or 3 individual nets to form a
'~gang," ranging hetween 240 and 660 ft long and 24 to 30 ft deep.
Mesh sizps, stretched knot to knot, ranges between 6 and 8 inches.
Casolin(J or diesel pmJered vessels 30 to 50 ft in length are normally
used to fish white seabass. These boats use a large mechanically
powered drum to reel in and store the nets. In some areas, a few large
skiffs operate close to shore with power gurdies to retrieve the nets.
vfuile the majority of the catch is made in coastal waters from Point
Conception to San Diego, fair to heavy catches are made in Monterey Bay
and off San Francisco in warm water years. A small consistent fishery
operates in and near Tomales Bay. At present, principal ports of
landing are San Pedro and San Diego, with many of the fish coming from
lwarby areas.
HistoricaLly, commercial white seabass landings have fluctuated
widely. The most dramatic change occurred in the California fishery vlhen
the 1959 all time record catch of 3.4 million lb8 declined to 574,000
1b5 in 1962. Other year to year changes have not been as spectacular (Table 1).
A significant but variable portion of the total California landings
of white seabass comes from Mexico. The historical record reveals
success in Mexican waters also fluctuates widely with a low of 38,000
Ihs in 1960, and a high of 851,000 l1>s in 1965. Annual connnercial
landings during the past 56 years averaged 1,315,888 lhs; ranging from
a minimum of 393,988 in 1944 to the all time peak season of 3,423,353
1b5 in 1959. Generally declining white seaba~s landings in the late
1920's and most of the 1930's led to a series of regulations designed
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to stabilize the catch. These laws included a minimum size limit of
28 inches total length, closed seasons, bag limits, and closed areas.
Recreational Fishery
Whi.te sf'ahass are prized sportfish because they are difficult to
carlurlJ, may be truphy sized specimens, and are delectable table fare.
Becausf' of their erratic habits, the fishery is not steady and large
sport catches are made only occasionally. Most of the sport catch is
made with hook and line using live bait or lures; some fish are taken
by skindivers using spears. The early fishery trolled with hand lines
using dead sardines or flyingfish as bait. Currently, the most popular
tackle consists of long thin rods with either spinning or conventional
reels. Preferred bait is live squid, or anchovies, usually fished off
the bottom while the boat is at anchor. Metal lures are used frequently
generally ~len fishing deep.
The sport fishery usually takes white seabass in the same areas
fished by the commercial fleet; these are principally in rocky habitat
and near kelp beds. Very small fish are taken in bays, such as Newport;
intermediate sized fish are found in the mainland kelp beds close to
shore such as off Oceanside; while large fish are generally captured
near rocky headlands and offshore islands. Occasionally a shore fishery
will develop in late summer in such areas as Playa del Rey in Santa
Monica Bay and 40 pounders are not uncommon in these situations.
"rior to World War II, the partyboat catch peaked at 30,000 fish
in 1939, but an annual average of 18,000 fish was taken during the 5
year rerIod 1936-1940. Since 1947, landings have averaged 23,000 seabass
per year. Fishing success more than tripled from 20,000 seabass in
1947 to 65,000 in 1949. Subsequently there has been a steady decline
in number of fish in the partyboat catch t~ a low of only 3,385 fish in
1967. The last five year period (1965-1969) has been the poorest
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on record, averaging only 5,000 fish.
STATUS OF BIOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE
Range
White seabass inhabit coastal waters of western North America,
from Juneau, Alaska, to Magdalena Bay, Baja California. An isolated
population occurs in the northern portion of the Gulf of California.
The center of abundance usually lies between Point Conception and
Ballanas Bay, Baja California, shifting from year to year in response
to environmental changes. In years \"hen the sea temperatures are above
normal, white seabass are found in fair numbers off San Francisco.
White seabass are the largest members of the family Sciaenidae in
California. Some reach a weight of more than 80 lbs and are more than
4 ft long; however, specimens weighing more than 60 Ibs rarely are seen.
Th~ average fish taken in the co~nercial catch is between 20 and 40 Ibs.
Migrations
Catch records indicate white seabass migrate northward along the
coast in spring and southward in fall, and appear to winter in Baja
California waters. The northward movements appear to be associated
with spawning.
Maturity
Spawning occurs in southern California from April to August, peak-
lng in May and June. White seabass are known to congregate near shore
during this period, usually in specific areas, such as off Long Point,
Palos Verdes Peninsula; however, precise spawning areas have not been
del.ineat~d. Fecundity, egg size, and embryonic development have not
been determined for this species. Males start maturing when they are
about 20 inches long, while females begin at 24 inches about a year later.
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Food Habits
White seabass seem to prefer squid, fish, sardines, anchovies,
and other fishes for food. Pelagic red swimming crabs also are eaten
when available.
Age and Growth
Scales were used to determine age composition of the commercial
catch in 1958, 1959, and 1960. These fish ranged in age from 3 to 16
years. The bulk of the catch consisted of 8, 9, and 10 year old bass.
Otoliths indicate white seabass may be considerably older than the
scale method of aging implies, particularly with larger and older fish.
DISCUSSION
Catch statistics obtained from the commercial fishing fleet appear
to reflect both location and abundance of the older white seabass.
Sportfishing data, on the other hand, do not include the efforts of
the unattached angler and appear to be inadequate as an indicator of
population levels in juvenile and sub-adult fish.
Why is the commercial catch so low in California waters? Has
overfishing taken place, or has spawn survival been inadequate? Is
the sportsman taking too many juveniles?
What are the age frequencies of both sport and commercial catches?
There is a very great difference in the age readings of older fish when
scales and otoliths are compared. Which technique is most reliable?
Can the Mexican population of white seabass support the relatively
heavy fishing pressure of the last ten years?
Should the white seabass be managed for the maximum commercial
product, allowing the angler to do his best under the circumstances?
8-73 350
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TABLE 1. Yearly Landings in Pounds - White Seabass
Year California waters South of state Total pounds
1916 477 ,091 321,024 798,115
1917 869,187 30,810 899,997
1918 1,458,667 154,853 1,613,520
1919 2,380,713 74,654 2,455,367
1920 2,375,646 252,462 2,628,108
1921 2,069,414 500,075 2,569,489
1922 2,195,831 736,220 2,932,051
1923 1,781,970 591,877 2,373,847
1924 938,760 550,829 1,489,589
1925 890,437 994,672 1,885,109
1926 1,477,789 738,613 2,216,402
1927 806,559 1,466,848 2,'273,407
1928 824,879 475,335 1, 3(,u, 214
1929 955,556 606,676 1,562,232
1930 1,239,285 387,137 1,626,422
1931 1,058,162 341,251 1,399,:,13
1932 667,363 137,433 ~04, ", 'l6
1933 828,129 334,950 1,163,097
' ... ; 1934 468,299 382,898 851,197
1935 648,900 417,519 ],066,419
1936 564,956 243,137 808,093
1937 263,195 336,224 599,419
1938 269,987 356,660 626,647
1939 806,604 187,792 994,396
1940 811,307 104,409 915,716
1941 832,454 75,842 908,296
1942 356,655 197,300 553,855
1943 379,178 121,005 500,183
1944 254,070 139,918 393,988
1945 380,468 147,262 527,730
1946 "472,204 144,272 616,476
1947 692,314 390,709 1,083,023
1948 789,691 324,599 1,114,290
1949 945,502 464,097 1,409,599
1950 1,123,463 407,911 1,531,374
1951 955,428 577,827 1,533,255
1952 692,292 454,811 1,147,103
1953 471,206 402,087 873,293
1954 434,354 771,757 1,206,111
1955 544,953 369,912 914,865
1956 413,956 667,267 1,081,223
1957 1,261,955 245,140 1,507,095
1958 2,750,652 99,111 2,849,763
1959 3,385,791 37,562 3,423,353
1960 1,086,895 149,303 1,236,198
1961 458,491 235,733 694,224
1962 208,867 365,541 574,408
1963 372,479 518,741 891,220
1964 550,817 840,264 1,391,081
1965 577,607 850,538 1,428,145
1966 674,545 663,305 1,337,850
1967 507,588 715,171 1,222,759
1968 210,050 651,830 861,880
1969 250,906 847,802 1,098,708
1970 426,299 675,146 1,101,445 "
1971 551,912 271,972 823,884(tent at1V ,


The status of the white seabass resource and its management

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The status of the white seabass resource and its management

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