California Department of Fish and Game, Marine Resources Region
Abstract
Between July 1 and September 30, 1978, Departmental personnel sampled catches during 185 trips aboard commercial passenger fishing vessels (partyboats) operating in southern California. A total of 35,984 fishes representing 98 species were identified and measured.
Otoliths for age determination studies were removed from 285 rockfish carcasses representing 18 species. In addition, 10 long-range trips originating in San Diego and fishing in Mexican waters were sampled. A total of 957 fishes comprising 17 species were identified and measured at dockside from these vessels.
The ten most commonly seen species during the quarter accounted for 83.5% of the southern California catch. The most frequently sampled species were Pacific mackerel, Scomber japonicus (26.5%); kelp bass, Paralabrax clathratus (20.5%); bocaccio, Sebastes paucispinis (8.2%); Pacific bonito, Sarda chiliensis (7.7%); barred sand
bass, P. nebulifer (6.7%); olive rockfish, Sebastes serranoides (4.9%); white croaker, Genyonemus lineatus (2.9%); blue rockfish, S. mystinus (2.7%) ; chilipepper,
S. goodei (1.8%); and albacore, Thunnus alalunga (1.7%). Data gathered from long-range vessels showed the top five species accounted for 92.6% of the fish sampled.
The most frequently sampled species were yellowtail, Seriola dorsalis (61.5%); wahoo, Acanthocybium solanderi (11.7%); albacore (8.3%); yellowfin tuna, T. albacares (6.8%); and
giant sea bass, Stereolepis gigas (4.4%). (59pp.
