California Department of Fish and Game, Marine Resources Division
Abstract
The Tomales-Bodega Bay catch during the past two seasons
has been from the northern part of Bodega Bay, due to the
closure of the Tomales Bay fishery.
In the Tomales-Bodega Bay area, 4-, 5-, and 6-yr-old herring
Clupea pallasi, comprised 79% by number of the 1990-91
season's gill net catch.
The number of 4-yr olds (1987 year class) increased to 21%
of the gill net catch. Four-yr olds are an indicator of recruitment strength into the gill net fishery.
Average length of herring in the Tomales-Bodega Bay area
gill net catch decreased due to a shift to younger herring
in the catch, as well as, poor growth characteristics during
1990.
Herring age and size data obtained from Tomales Bay with a
variable mesh research gill net were similar to data from San Francisco Bay obtained with the same net. All age classes were taken and herring ranged in length from 148 mm to 226 mm.
In San Francisco Bay, the age composition of the gill net
catch was also primarily 4-, 5-, and 6-yr-old herring, which
comprised 79% of the catch. In the round haul fishery 2- and
3-yr-old herring dominated, comprising 72% of the catch.
The average length of herring in the San Francisco Bay gill
net and round haul catches decreased. Both are the lowest
recorded average lengths by the respective gear types except
for the 1983-84 El Nino season.
Observed poor growth characteristics this season are attributed to reduced upwelling off central California in 1990. (26pp.
