UC San Diego Library – Scripps Digital Collection

Effort, catch, and catch rates for southern California sportfishing from private boats and from the shoreline were estimated for one-year periods. These categories represent two of four major types of marine sportfishing; the others are fishing from party boats and from piers and jetties.

Probability sampling plans employing fisherman interviews were used in obtaining the basic data for the surveys. Shoreline surveys were supplemented by aerial progressive counts of fishing poles.

Private boat sportfishing activities during 1964 were estimated at 2.8 million man hours (mh) of fishing. The catch of almost 1 million fish was composed primarily of five species, Pacific bonito, California halibut, white croaker, sand bass, and kelp bass.

A 12-month survey, 1965–66, revealed that surf fishermen expended an estimated 1.7 million mh of effort in taking 0.5 million fish. More fishing effort was expended from the bay shoreline, 869,557 mh, than from the open coast, 776,732 mh. The catch in each area was markedly different. White croaker, queenfish, and smelt (jack and top) were the most significant species in inland bays, while for the open coast, barred surfperch, opaleye, and California corbina were most important.

A synoptic picture of the annual sportfishing activities and harvest in southern California was constructed. The total effort from party boats, piers, jetties, private boats, and the shoreline was estimated to be 12.3 million man hours of fishing. Three groups contributed well over half of the 7.3 million fish captured: tunas, 1.9 million; sea basses, 1.4 million; and croakers, 1.1 million. Pacific bonito, with 1.6 million fish, made the largest contribution by a single species. California barracuda was second with 0.6 million and white croaker was third with 0.5 million.