Species composition and catch per unit of effort of Monterey Bay surf, pier, and skiff anglers in 1979

Abstract

In 1979, Monterey Bay sport anglers were sampled for species composition of the catch and catch per unit of effort. A total of 4150 surf, pier, and skiff anglers was interviewed. Catch per hour was 0.71, 0.58, and 1.25 for surf, pier, and skiff anglers, respectively. Barred surfperch, Amphisticus argenteus, totaled 76% of the surf catch. The species composition of the pier catch was dominated by juvenile bocaccio, Sebastes paucispinis; white croaker, Genyonemus lineatus; and walleye surfperch, Hyperprosopon argenteum. The skiff fishery was dominated by sanddabs, Citharichthys spp., and blue rockfish, Sebastes mystinus. The best surf fishing area was between Palm Beach and Sand Dollar Beach in northern Monterey Bay, while Monterey Wharf No. 2 was the best public fishing pier. However, a small privately operated pier inside Moss Landing Harbor had the best catch rate (2.44 fish per h) of all piers sampled. (23pp.