Between October 1 and December 31, 1978, Departmental personnel sampled catches during 132 trips aboard commercial passenger fishing vessels (partyboats) operating in southern California. A total of 25,571 fishes belonging to 87 species were identified and measured.

In addition, six long-range trips originating in San Diego and fishing in Mexican waters were sampled. A total of 1,225 fishes comprising 20 species was identified and measured at dockside from these vessels.

The 10 most commonly taken species during the quarter accounted for 76.3% of the southern California catch. The most frequently sampled species were bocaccio, Sebastes paucispinis (24.7%); Pacific mackerel, Scomber japonicus (15.8%); chilipepper, Sebastes goodei (8.7%); kelp bass, Paralabrax clathratus (7.4%); Pacific bonito, Sarda chiliensis (5.7%); olive rockfish, Sebastes serranoides (4.1%); blue rockfish, S. mystinus (4.0%); squarespot rockfish, S. hopkinsi (2.1%); greenspotted rockfish, S. chlorostictus (2.l%); and vermilion rockfish, S. miniatus (1.9%). Samples gathered from long-range trips showed the

top five species accounted for 90.4% of the fishes sampled. The most frequently sampled species were yellowtail, Seriola lalandi (28.8%); yellowfin tuna, Thunnus albacares (20.7%); wahoo, Acanthocybium

solanderi (16.2%); snowy grouper, Epinephelus niveatus (12.4%); and dolphinfish, Coryphaena hippurus (12.3%).

December marked the final month in which partyboats were sampled off southern California.  (69pp.

Crooke, Stephen J.

English

Aquatic Commons


SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COfiERCIAL PASSENGER 
FISHING VESSEL SAMPLING STUDY 
QUARTERLY REPOKT NO. 14Ll 
October 1 - December 31, 1978 
2 I Stephen J.  crook^ 
ABSTRACT 
Between October 1 and December 31, 1978, Departmental personnel  
sampled ca t ches  dur ing  132 t r i p s  aboard commercial passenger  f i s h i n g  
v e s s e l s  (pa r tyboa t s )  ope ra t ing  i n  southern  C a l i f o r n i a .  A t o t a l  of 
25,571 f i s h e s  belonging t o  87 s p e c i e s  were i d e n t i f i e d  2nd measured. 
In a d d i t i o n ,  s i x  long-range t r i p s  o r i g i n a t i n g  i n  San Diego and f i s h i n g  
i n  Mexican waters  were sampled. A t o t a l  of 1,225 f i s h e s  comprising 20 
s p e c i e s  was i d e n t i f i e d  and measured a t  dockside from t h e s e  v e s s e l s .  
The 10 most commonly taken s p e c i e s  dur ing  t h e  q u a r t e r  accounted f o r  
76.3% of  t h e  sou the rn  C a l i f o r n i a  ca tch .  The most f r e q u e n t l y  sampled 
s p e c i e s  were bocaccio,  Sebastes paucispinis (24.7%); P a c i f i c  mackerel,  
Scombe~ japonicus (15.8%); c h i l i p e p p e r ,  Sebastea goodei (8 .7%);  k e l p  
bass ,  Paralabrm clathratus (7.4%) ; P a c i f i c  bon i to ,  Sarda chiZiensis 
(5.7%); o l i v e  r o c k f i s h ,  Sebastes serranoides (4.1%);  b lue  r o c k f i s h ,  
S. mys*inus (4 .0%);  squarespot  r o c k f i s h ,  S. hopkixsi (2 -12 ) ;  greec- 
spo t t ed  r o c k f i s h ,  S, chZorostictus ( 2 . l % j ;  and vermi l ion  r o c k f i s h ,  
S. miniatus (1.9%). Samples gathered from long-range t r i p s  showed t h e  
top  f i v e  s p e c i e s  accounted f o r  90.4% of t h e  f i s h e s  sampled. The most 
f r equen t ly  sampled s p e c i e s  were y e l l o w t a i l ,  SerioZa ZaZandi (28.8%) ; 
ye l lowf in  tuna ,  Thunnus aZbacares (20.7%); wahoo, Acanthocybiml 
solanderi (16.2%); snowy grouper ,  EpinepheZus niveatus (12.4%);  and 
do lph in f i sh ,  Coryphaena hippurus (12.3%). 
December marked t h e  f i n a l  month i n  which p a r t y b o a t s  were sampled 
o f f  southern  C a l i f o r n i a .  
1 / 
-
Marine Resources Adminis t ra t ive  Report No. 79-17, December 1979. 
This  s tudy  i s  be ing  performed a s  p a r t  of Dingell-Johnson P r o j e c t  
C a l i f o r n i a  F-35-P, "Southern C a l i f o r n i a  Marine S p o r t f i s h  Research" 
supported by Federa l  a i d  t o  F i s h  Res to ra t ion  Funds. F i e l d  wcrk 
was conducted i n  coopera t ion  w i t h  t h e  Department of Commerce, 
Nat iona l  Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis t ra t ion ,  Nat iona l  Marine 
F i s h e r i e s  Serv ice ,  under a c o n t r a c t  e n t i t l e d  C o l l e c t i o n  and 
Compilation of Southern C a l i f o r n i a  Par tyboat  F i she ry  S t a t i s t i c s ,  
P r o j e c t  868. 
2 1 
- 
Marine Resources Branch, C a l i f o r n i a  S t a t e  F i s h e r i e s  Labora tory ,  
350 Golden Shore, Long Beach, C a l i f o r n i a  90802. 
SOIJTHERN CALIFORNIA COMMERCIAL PASSENGER 
FISHING VESSEL SAMPLING STUDY 
QUARTERLY REPORT NO. 1 4  
INTRODUCTION 
Between October 1 and December 31, 1978, Departmental personnel  
sampled ca tches  dur ing  132 t r i p s  aboard commercial passenger  f i s h i n g  
v e s s e l s  (par tyboats )  ope ra t ing  i n  southern  C a l i f o r n i a .  A t o t a l  cf 
3 / 25,571 f i s h e s  belonging t o  87 s p e c i e s  were i d e n t i f i e d  and measured.- 
I n  a d d i t i o n ,  s ix  long-range t r i p s  o r i g i n a t i n g  i n  San Diego and f i s h i n g  
i n  Mexican wa te r s  were sampled. A t o t a l  of 1,225 f i s h e s  comprising 
20 spec i e s  was i d e n t i f i e d  and measured a t  dockside from t h e s e  v e s s e l s .  
The 10 most commonly taken s p e c i e s  dur ing  t h e  q u a r t e r  accounted f o r  
76.3% of t h e  southern  C a l i f o r n i a  ca t ch  (Table 1 ) .  The most f r e q u e n t l y  
sampled spec i e s  were bocaccio,  Sebuskes pakeLspinis (24.7%); P a c i f i c  
mackerel,  Scomber japonicus (15.8%); ch i l i peppe r ,  Sebastes goodei (8 .7%);  
k e l p  bas s ,  ParaZabrax cZathratus (7 .4%);  P a c i f i c  bon i to ,  Sarda chiZ- 
i ens i s  (5.7%) ; o l i v e  rock f i sh ,  Sebastes serranoides (4.1%) ; b l u e  
r o c k f i s h ,  S. mystinus (4.0%); squarespot  r o c k f i s h ,  S. hopkinsi (2.1%);  
greenspot ted  r o c k f i s h ,  S. chlorostictus (2.1%); and vermi l ion  r o c k f i s h ,  
S. miniatus (1.9%). Samples ga thered  from long-range t r i p s  showed the  
t o p  f i v e  spec i e s  accounted f o r  90.4% of t h e  f i s h e s  sampled (Table 2 ) .  
The most f r equen t ly  sampled spec i e s  were y e l l o w t a i l ,  Seriola ZaZandi 
(28.8%); ye l lowf in  tuna,  Thunnus aZbacares (20.7%); wahoo, Acanthocybiwn 
solanderi (16.2%); snowy grouper,  EpinepheZus niveatus (12.4%);  and 
do lph in f i sh ,  Coryphaena hippwus (12.3%).  
3 / 
-
For d e f i n i t i o n  of l eng th  measurements s e e  Maxwell and Schu l t ze ,  Adminis- 
trative Report 76-3. 
OPERAT IONS 
December marked t h e  f i n a l  month which pa r tyboa t s  were sampled i n  
southern  C a l i f o r n i a .  Manpower l i m i t a t i o n s  brought  about by Governor 
Brown's June h i r i n g  f r e e z e  prevented us  from h i r i n g  new personnel  when 
previous  appointments exp i r ed .  Permanent personnel  were used t o  "salvage" 
t h e  l a s t  q u a r t e r  s i n c e  no temporary he lp  was a v a i l a b l e  a f t e r  October 1, 
1978. Long-range sampling w a s  n o t  a f f e c t e d  s i n c e  i t  could be  e a s i l y  
handled by permanent personnel .  
ROCKFISHES 
During t h e  q u a r t e r  14,834 r o c k f i s h  r e p r e s e n t i n g  38 s p e c i e s  were 
i d e n t i f i e d  and measured (Table 3 ) .  The group accounted f o r  58.0% of t h e  
f i s h  sampled. Las t  q u a r t e r  rock f i shes  (Sebas tes  spp . )  accounted f o r  
26.0% of t h e  t ake  whi le  dur ing  t h e  same q u a r t e r  i n  1977 they accounted f o r  
55.8%. The 2 . 2 %  d i f f e r e n c e  between y e a r s  r e f l e c t s  t h e  c o n s i s t e n t  con t r ib -  
u t i o n  rock f i shes  make t o  t he  f i s h e r y  dur ing  the  F a l l  months. Rockfishes 
increased  i n  importance by 114.6% when compared wi th  t h e  previous  q u a r t e r .  
This  can be a t t r i b u t e d  t o  t h e  seasona l  swi tch  from "sur iace"  t o  "rockcod" 
f i s h i n g .  The top  10  s p e c i e s  accounted f o r  88.7% of t h e  r o c k f i s h  c a t c h ,  
down 0.9% from t h e  previous  q u a r t e r  (89.6%) and up 3.7% from the same 
q u a r t e r  i n  1977 (85 .O%) . 
Bocaccio was t h e  most abundant r o c k f i s h  account ing  f o r  42.5% of t h e  
f i s h  measured. This  i s  a  dramat ic  i n c r e a s e  over  t h e  same q u a r t e r  i n  1977 
when they represented  only 18.0%. Likewise, i t  i s  a l s o  a  s i g n i f i c a n t  
i nc rease  over l a s t  q u a r t e r  when they accounted f o r  25.2% of t h e  r o c k f i s h  
caught.  Bocaccio (F igures  1-3) taken t h i s  q u a r t e r  averaged 37.4 cm i n  
l eng th  whi le  those  taken d u r i ~ g  the  f a l l  of 1977 averaged 46.2 cm. The 
decrease  i n  average s i z e  is  a t t r i b u t a b l e  t o  t h e  s t r o n g  1976 year  c l a s s  
represented  by a mode a t  25-35 cm. F i s h  taken t h e  previous  q u a r t e r  were 
1.9 cm s h o r t e r  (x l eng th  = 35.6 cm) than  those  measured t h i s  term. 
Chi l ipepper  landed t h i s  q u a r t e r  averaged 36.6 cm i n  l e n g t h  (F igures  
4 - 6 )  while  t hose  taken a year  ago averaged 37.3 cm. F i s h  taken t h e  
previous  q u a r t e r  were sma l l e r ,  averaging  33.6 cm i n  l eng th .  The average 
l eng th  f o r  o l i v e  r o c k f i s h  (F igures  7-9) was 29.1 cm, a  d e c l i n e  of 1 .4  cm 
from t h e  previous  q u a r t e r  when they  averaged 30.5 cm. Olive r o c k f i s h  
taken dur ing  t h e  same q u a r t e r  i n  1977 were 0.7 cm s h o r t e r ,  averaging  
28.4 cm i n  l eng th .  Data on b lue  r o c k f i s h  (F igures  10-12) shows they  were 
3 .1  cm longer  (x l e n g t h  = 27.9 cm) than  those  taken  dur ing  t h e  same 
qua r t e r  l a s t  year  (x l eng th  = 24.8 cm) . However, t h e r e  was a 0.4 cm 
d e c l i n e  I n  average s i z e  from t h e  previous  q u a r t e r  when they averaged 
28.3 cm i n  l eng th .  Squarespot r o c k f i s h  taken t h i s  q u a r t e r  averaged 
22.6 cm f n  l e n g t h  (F igures  13-15) whi le  greenspc t tcd  r o c k f i s h  averaged 
30.5 cm i n  i e n g t h  (Figures  16-18). No d a t a  a r e  a v a i l a b l e  from previous  
q u a r t e r s  f o r  e i t h e r  spec i e s .  Vermilion r o c k f i s h  landed t h i s  q u a r t e r  
averaged 41.3 cm i n  l eng th  (F igures  19-21). No d a t a  a r e  a v a i l a b l e  on t h i s  
spec i e s  from previous  q u a r t e r s .  
SURFACE GAMEFISHES 
Three s u r f a c e  gamefishes were among t h e  top  10 f i s h e s  measured t h i s  
q u a r t e r .  They accounted f o r  28.8 of t h e  t o t a l  ca t ch  whi le  dur ing  t h e  same 
q u a r t e r  i n  1977 they accounted f o r  26.0%. Increased  ca t ches  of bon i to  
(up 249%) a r e  r e spons ib l e  f o r  t h e  2.8% g a i n  a l though i t  might have been 
l a r g e r  i f  ke lp  bas s  ca tches  had n o t  dropped 33.0%. 
P a c i f i c  mackerel landings  cont inued t o  r e f l e c t  t h e  dominance of t h e  
1976 year  c l a s s  (F igures  22-24) which i s  r ep resen ted  by a  mode a t  30-31 cm. 
The 1974 yea r  c l a s s ,  which has  dominated t h e  f i s h e r y  i n  t h e  p a s t ,  i s  now 
n o t i c e a b l e  a s  only a s l i g h t  mode a t  40-41 cm dur ing  October.  There was a  
3.2 c m  d e c l i n e  i n  t h e  average s i z e  of k e l p  bas s  (F igures  25-27) when 
comparing those  taken t h i s  q u a r t e r  (x l eng th  = 27.5 cn) w i th  t h e  previous  
one (x l eng th  = 30.7 cm) . Likewise, t h e r e  was a 5.5 cm d e c l i n e  i n  average 
l e n g t h  when looking  a t  t h e  same q u a r t e r  l a s t  y e a r  (2 l eng th  = 33.0 cm). 
The d e c l i n e  i n  average l e n g t h  could p o s s i b l y  be a t t r i b u t e d  t o  i nc reased  
ca t ches  of "shorts1'  o r  t h e  number of  l e g a l  f i s h  a v a i l a b l e  may have a c t u a l l y  
dec l ined .  P a c i f i c  bon i to  ca t ches  were dominated by t h e  1978 y e a r  c l a s s  
as evidenced by a mode a t  42-45 cm (Figures  28-30). This  i s  a  cont inua-  
t i o n  of a t r end  e s t a b l i s h e d  dur ing  August. Barracuda, Sphyraena argentea, 
ca t ches  (F igures  31-33) were dominated by t h e  1976 year  c l a s s  (59-61 cm 
mode) dur ing  October and t h e  1975 yea r  c l a s s  (55-67 cm mode) dur ing  
November. The average  s i z e  of f i s h  (2  l e n g t h  = 62.9 cm) dec l ined  2 . 8  cm 
from t h e  previous  q u a r t e r  (% l eng th  = 65.7 cm) and 2 .2  cm from t h e  same 
q u a r t e r  l a s t  y e a r  (x l e n g t h  = 65.1 cm) . 
BAJA CALIFOPJIA FISHERY 
Yel lowta i l  showed a marked d e c l i n e  i n  s i z e  (2 l eng th  = 76.2 cm) from 
t h e  previous  q u a r t e r  when they  avereged 81.7 cm i n  l eng th  (F igures  34-35). 
There was a l s o  a  0.7 cm d e c l i n e  from t h e  same q u a r t e r  i n  1977 when t h e  f i s h  
averaged 77.5 cm. The 1976 and 1974 yea r  c l a s s e s  appear  t o  be w e l l  
represented  a s  evidenced by modes a t  60-61 cm and 75-77 cm. Unfor tuna te ly ,  
t h e  1975 year  c l a s s  is absen t  as evidenced by t h e  l a c k  of a  mode a t  65-67 cm. 
Yellowfin tuna (Figures  36-38) sanpled t h i s  q u a r t e r  ( 2  l e n g t h  = 85.4 cm) 
averaged 20.3 cm longer  than  those  taken t h e  same q u a r t e r  l a s t  yea r  
(G l eng th  = 65.1 cm). They were 0.2 cm smaller than  those  taken  l a s t  q u a r t e r  
(% l e n g t h  = 85.6 cm). However, t he  h i g h e s t  average  monthly mean l e n g t h  ever  
recorded (2 l e n g t h  = 104.2 cm) i n  t h e  program was noted  i n  December - t h e  
r e s u l t s  of  e x c e l l e n t  f i s h i n g  on l a r g e  i n d i v i d u a l s  a t  t h e  R e v i l l a  Gigedo 
I s l a n d s .  Data on wahoo (Figures  39-41) shows t h e  f i s h  averaged 138.3 cm 
i n  l eng th ,  7.9 an longer  than  f o r  t h e  same q u a r t e r  l a s t  yea r  (x l e n g t h  = 
130.4) .  F i sh  taken t h e  previaus  q u a r t e r  (x l e n g t h  = 137.5 cm) were 0 .8  crn 
s h o r t e r  than  those  landed t h i s  q u a r t e r .  Sriowy grouper  measured t h i s  
per iod  averaged 71.6 cm i n  l eng th  (F igures  42-44). No d a t a  a r e  a v a i l a b l e  
from previous q u a r t e r s  f o r  t h i s  spec i e s .  Dolphinf i sh  (F igures  45-47) 
taken t h i s  q u a r t e r  averaged 85.9 cm, up 12.2 cm from t h e  same per iod  l a s t  
yea r  ( z  l eng th  = 73.7 cm) . No d a t a  a r e  a v a i l a b l e  from t h e  p rev icus  
q u a r t e r  f o r  comparison. 
EFFORT AND CATCH-PER-UNIT-EFFORT 
There w a s  a  s t eady  d e c l i n e  i n  t h e  number of a n g l e r s  by month during 
t h e  q u a r t e r  (Table 4 ) ;  a  f a c t  which was t o  be  expected a s  w i n t e r  approached. 
During December, t h e  average nuniter of passengers  reached an a i l  t ime low 
(Table 5 )  when t h e  v e s s e l s  sampled averaged only 19 a n g l e r s .  Poor weather 
dur ing  t h i s  per iod  w a s  probably r e spons ib l e  f o r  t h e  low tu rnou t .  Angler 
success  was h igh  (3.29 f i s h l h r )  dur ing  December s o  i t  i s  apparent  t h a t  poor 
f i s h i n g  was n o t  t h e  f a u l t .  
Catch-per-unit-effort  increased  s u b s t a n t i a l l y  dur ing  t h e  q u a r t e r  wi th  
December r ep re sen t ing  an a l l  t ime high.  From October t o  December t h e r e  was 
an 80% i n c r e a s e  i n  t h e  ca t ch  r a t e .  Improved "rock" f i s h i n g  was r e spons ib l e  
f o r  t h e  i n c r e a s e  al though continued e l eva t ed  ca t ches  of P a c i f i c  mackerel 
helped t o  keep t h e  CPUE high.  
REFERENCES 
Crooke, Stephen J. 1978. Southern C a l i f o r n i a  pa r tyboa t  sampling s tudy ,  
q u a r t e r l y  r e p o r t a o .  10.  C a l i f .  Dept. F i sh  and Game, Mar. R e s .  
Admin. Rept. ,  78-11:l-65. 
. 1979. Southern C a l i f o r n i a  commercial passenger  f i s h i n g  v e s s e l  
sampling s tudy ,  q u a r t e r l y  r e p o r t  no. 13 .  C a l i f .  Dept. F i s h  and Game, 
Mar. Res. Admin. Rept . ,  79-15:l-57. 































































Southern California commercial passenger fishing vessel sampling study Quarterly Report no. 14; October 1 - December 31, 1978

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Southern California commercial passenger fishing vessel sampling study Quarterly Report no. 14; October 1 - December 31, 1978

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