Charterboat fishermen finfish catch statistics for Texas marine waters (May 1983-May 1984)

Date

1985

Authors

Osburn, H.R.
Ferguson, M.O.

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Coastal Fisheries Branch

Abstract

From 15 May 1983-14 May 1984 headboat (10 people) and party-boat (<=10 people) fishermen fishing in inshore and offshore marine waters of Texas and the adjacent U.S. Fishery Conservation Zone were surveyed. During this period 236 party-boat and 242 headboat trips were surveyed. Headboat and party-boat fishermen spent over 748,000 man-h to land 828,200 finfish from Texas marine waters. Party-boat fishing accounted for 51% of the pressure; however, headboat fishing accounted for 63% of the harvest. Eleven headboats fished exclusively in inshore bay and pass areas; 22 headboats fished offshore in the Texas Territorial Sea and the U.S. Fishery Conservation Zone. Inshore headboat fishermen spent 189,000 man-hours to land 131,000 fish, primarily sand seatrout and Atlantic croaker. Most of the pressure and harvest occurred in the bays during the high use season (15 May-20 November). Offshore headboat fishermen spent 198,300 man-hours to catch 392,000 fish, primarily red snapper. Less than 2% of the pressure and 1% of the harvest occurred in the Texas Territorial season although the highest catch rate occurred offshore (3.30 fish/man-h) during the low use season (21 November-14 May). Fifty-two offshore and 184 inshore party-boat trips were surveyed. Inshore party-boat fishermen spent 248,100 man-hours to catch 258,800 fish, primarily spotted seatrout. Offshore party-boat fishermen fished 96,300 man-hours in the U.S. Fishery Conservation Zone and 40,200 man-hours in the Texas Territorial Sea. The offshore harvest was 46,100 fish, primarily king mackerel and red snapper. The offshore catch rate (0.34 fish/man-h) was lower than the inshore catch rate (1.04 fish/man-h). The majority of the pressure and harvest occurred in the bays during the high use season. No offshore party boats were intercepted during the low use season.

Description

65 pgs.

Keywords

headboat fishing, charterboat fishing, finfish, catch statistics

Citation