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We estimated 1981-86 average annual fishing effort for all modes and gears in northern and central California at 2,685,000 fishing days, a 65% increase over our adjusted 1958-61 estimate of 1,628,000 days (Table 1); the increase over the unadjusted 1958-61 estimate was 90%. Most of the difference between the two periods occurred in boat-mode fishing.
Percentage increases in population and fishing license sales support our adjustments to the 1958-61 estimates. Between the two survey periods, population in the 20 telephone-survey "coastal" counties increased 57% (4,968,375 to 7,783,267), and population statewide increased 64% (15,576,000 to 25,614,933) (California Department of Finance data). Resident one-year fishing license sales statewide increased 58% (1,320,000 to 2,087,000) (CDFG data). The 65% effort increase obtained by adjusting the 1958-61 estimates is more comparable to those increases than the 90% increase that would be obtained with the unadjusted 1958-61 estimate.
The PRB and CPFV modes showed the greatest increases in effort between the 1958-61 and 1981-86 surveys. PRB effort increased from 227,000 (adjusted) to 936,000 fishing days (312% increase) (Table 1). CPFV effort increased from 227,000 to 406,000 fishing days (79% increase). While boat fishing increased substantially between the two surveys, shore fishing did not; it actually decreased relative to population growth. Miller and Odemar (1968) found a similar pattern in marine recreational fishing effort from San Francisco to Yankee Point; PRB fishing effort there between 1959 and 1966 increased by 59%, while shore fishing effort decreased by 29%.
Shore fishing is much less expensive than boat fishing (which requires boat ownership, rental, or payment of a passenger fee). The relative decrease in shore fishing effort may be a reflection of changing lifestyles of low-income people. A 1989 survey of southern California found that a significantly larger percentage of "recent" anglers (people who had gone fishing at some time in the last three years) had annual incomes in excess of $50,000 than people who had not (Fletcher and King 1989). Loss of interest, insufficient time, pollution of oceans, bays, and estuaries, and high costs were the main reasons given by past anglers for not fishing.
We estimated that in 1981-86 direct expenditures for fishing activities, in 1992 dollars, averaged $163 million per year (Table 1).
The estimated average annual catch for all modes and gears for 1981-86 was 6,491,000 fish weighing 5382 metric tons (MT) (Table 2). The increase from our adjusted 1958-61 estimate of 3,944,000 fish weighing 2716 MT was substantial (65% by number, 98% by weight). Catch estimates for pier and shore modes decreased somewhat, while catch estimates for boat modes increased greatly.
Our 1981-86 estimate of average catch per day for all modes and gears is 2.4 fish weighing 2.0 kg (Table 3); our adjusted 1958-61 estimate is 2.4 fish weighing 1.7 kg. The number caught per day decreased from piers (1.9 to 1.6), other shore areas (1.7 to 1.1), and PRBs (2.8 to 2.4), and increased from CPFVs (5.4 to 6.0) and for spear fishing (0.5 to 1.9). The number caught per day for all modes combined did not decrease between the two surveys mainly due to the large increases in effort for the boat modes and inherently larger catch-per-day rates for those modes, relative to the shore modes.
No distinct trends in overall fishing effort or catch were evident within the 1981-86 survey period (Figure 3). Our annual estimates of effort ranged from 2,398,000 to 3,400,000 fishing days, and the annual effort and catch estimates were generally within the 95% confidence intervals of the other years' estimates. CPUE data from the 1980-86 MRFSS creel survey were plotted by mode and year (Appendix B). No trends were observed and no further interannual analysis was performed.
In 1958-61 the northern and central California adjusted recreational catch by weight was 6.6% of the total recreational and commercial catch of 41,000 MT, and in 1981-86 it was 8.0% of the total recreational and commercial catch of 67,000 MT (Figure 4). Since the 1958-61 average percentage was less than each of the annual 1981-86 percentages, which ranged from 6.7% to 9.3%, the data indicate a trend towards a higher portion of recreational catch between the two surveys.
Most major fish taxonomic categories showed large increases in both recreational and commercial catch between the two survey periods (Figure 5). Exceptions are salmon, where recreational landings increased by 151 MT but commercial landings decreased by 565 MT, and surfperch, where recreational and commercial landings declined by 54% and 27% respectively. Surfperch were also the only major category with greater recreational catch than commercial catch.
Recreational catch by number and weight for most major species increased greatly between the two surveys (Figure 6). Exceptions were vermilion rockfish, barred surfperch, redtail surfperch, shiner perch, silver surfperch, striped seaperch, walleye surfperch, jacksmelt, kelp greenling, and white croaker. The major decreases in number and weight caught were confined to the surfperch.
Average weight per fish decreased in about as many species as it increased. Relatively large decreases in weight per fish occurred in black rockfish, brown rockfish, bocaccio, chilipepper, gopher rockfish, olive rockfish, vermilion rockfish, widow rockfish, barred surfperch, redtail surfperch, and striped seaperch (Figure 6). The changes in catch and mean weight of rockfish and surfperch are discussed in the Status of Important Stocks section.
For CPFVs, the main changes in species composition, expressed as percent of catch by number, were decreases in olive rockfish, lingcod, striped bass, and vermilion rockfish, and increases in chilipepper and Pacific mackerel (Figure 7). The most pronounced changes were the decreases in striped bass and vermilion rockfish and the increases in chilipepper and Pacific mackerel. Between the two surveys, annual average percent of catch by number of 13 of the top 20 species decreased, while only seven increased. Because fewer species dominate the total CPFV catch, the variety of different species in a day's catch of fish was likely to be lower in 1981-86 than in 1958-61.
The main species composition changes for PRBs were decreases in copper rockfish and jacksmelt and increases in gopher rockfish, brown rockfish, yellowtail rockfish, and Pacific mackerel (Figure 7). The decreases in copper rockfish and jacksmelt were the most pronounced. Annual average percent of catch by number of 12 species decreased, while eight increased. Thus, like the CPFV catch, the variety of different species in a day's catch appears to have decreased.
The main differences in relative species composition for shore fishing were decreases in redtail surfperch, silver surfperch, walleye surfperch, kelp greenling, and striped bass, and increases in Pacific staghorn sculpin, pile perch, black perch, starry flounder, Pacific mackerel, and brown rockfish (Figure 7). The changes in walleye surfperch, kelp greenling, and Pacific staghorn sculpin were the most pronounced. Annual average percent of catch by number of nine species decreased, while 11 increased.
For pier fishing, the main species composition changes were decreases in white croaker, shiner perch, walleye surfperch, barred surfperch, and silversides (mainly topsmelt), and increases in Pacific herring, Pacific staghorn sculpin, bocaccio, Pacific sanddab, Pacific mackerel, and brown rockfish (Figure 7). The most pronounced changes were the decreases in white croaker, barred surfperch, and silversides. Annual average percent of catch by number decreased for seven taxa and increased for 13.
The main species composition changes for spear fishing were decreases in striped seaperch and kelp greenling and increases in cabezon and olive rockfish (Figure 7).
For boat modes, more species decreased than increased, while the converse was true for shore modes. Much of the change in shore species composition appears to be related to replacement of a few dominant surfperch species by a larger number of other species. The pattern in the boat catch is less clear. Species that changed similarly in multiple modes include Pacific mackerel (increases in CPFV, PRB, shore, and pier), Pacific staghorn sculpin (increases in pier and shore), walleye surfperch (decreases in pier and shore), and brown rockfish (increases in PRB and shore). Catch trends in rockfish, lingcod, surfperch, and Pacific mackerel are further discussed in the sections on Status of Important Stocks and Distributional Shifts Related to the 1982-83 ENSO.
The following sections provide a general discussion of the northern and central California marine recreational fishery by fishing mode, based on 1980-86 MRFSS data. Boat fishing trips targeting salmon are excluded.
A CPFV is a boat which is operated by a hired skipper, and on which anglers pay a fee to board and fish. The term CPFV encompasses the terms charter boat (which usually refers to a boat carrying a prearranged, or closed, group of anglers) and party boat (which usually refers to a boat carrying a nonprearranged group). CPFVs in northern and central California typically have capacities of six to 50 anglers. Fishing trips normally are for one-half day or a full day; overnight trips are unusual. Our CPFV-mode definition includes hook-and-line gear only.
During 1981-86, CPFV fishing accounted for about 334,000 fishing days annually, or about 13% of total nonsalmon effort (Table 1). It was the most productive mode, with an average catch per day of 7.0 fish weighing 6.5 kg (Table 3). CPFV fishing was most active in the San Francisco district (172,000 fishing days); little CPFV effort occurred in Del Norte/Humboldt (Figure 8).
CPFV fishing was most successful in Mendocino/Sonoma and in Santa Cruz/Monterey, where catch per day averaged 10.9 fish weighing 11.8 kg and 12.6 fish weighing 9.9 kg, respectively (Figure 9). The lowest catch per day (0.5 fish weighing 3.4 kg) was in San Francisco Bay, where anglers target white sturgeon and striped bass.
The species of greatest importance (as defined by our IRI) in the CPFV fishery were yellowtail rockfish, blue rockfish, chilipepper, bocaccio, lingcod, and canary rockfish (Figure 10). Yellowtail rockfish was the most important species in the Mendocino/Sonoma and San Francisco districts, while blue rockfish was the most important species in the Santa Cruz/Monterey and San Luis Obispo districts.
The owner of a CPFV is required by state law to procure a commercial passenger fishing boat license, maintain a daily log of persons fishing and fish taken, and report the log data to CDFG. The number of reporting CPFVs in northern and central California has not changed greatly since the early 1960s, fluctuating between about 180 and 210 boats (CDFG unpublished data). The total effort and total catch estimates of the 1958-61 survey were from CPFV log data, supplemented by creel sampling to determine species composition of the catch. However, subsequent information indicates that log data and the level of compliance by CPFV skippers are inadequate for fishery management purposes (Ally et al. 1991). From 1981 through 1986, CPFV log data account for 38% to 62% of our best estimate of total effort, and 49% to 84% of our best estimate of total catch (Appendix C). Thus our estimates indicate that 1) CPFV log data underreport both effort and catch, 2) percentages of effort and catch reported by CPFV logs can vary from year to year, and 3) like true fishermen, CPFV skippers overreport catch relative to effort.
Despite shortcomings, CPFV log data are of potential value for indicating long-term trends. CPFV log data indicate total effort. Rockfish catch rose substantially between the late 1950s and the early 1970s, and has remained fairly constant since then (Figure 11). Years of relatively high salmon catch per day show relatively low rockfish catch per day, and vice versa, a reflection of increased effort for rockfish in years when salmon fishing is poor (Figure 12). The highest salmon catch per day and the lowest rockfish catch per day occurred in 1964. The lowest salmon catch per day, corresponding to the second highest rockfish catch per day, occurred in 1992. Thus catch-per-day estimates from CPFV log data are poor indices of rockfish abundance in areas where salmon fishing also occurs.
The PRB mode encompasses all hook-and-line sport fishing activity from boats other than CPFVs. In northern and central California PRBs (commonly called "skiffs") are typically 5-8 m long, privately owned, trailered, and launched from ramps for single-day trips.
In 1981-86, PRB fishing was the most popular fishing mode, accounting for about 853,000 fishing days annually, or about 34% of nonsalmon effort (Table 1). It was the second most productive mode, with an average catch per day of 2.5 fish weighing 2.7 kg (Table 3). Over half the PRB fishing effort occurred in the San Francisco district (514,000 days) (Figure 8).
PRB anglers took the greatest weight of fish per day in Del Norte/Humboldt (5.6 kg) and Mendocino/Sonoma (5.3 kg). PRBs took the highest number of fish per day in Santa Cruz/Monterey (7.2) and San Luis Obispo (5.9). The least successful PRB fishing was in San Francisco Bay (1.1 fish weighing 2.4 kg) (Figure 9).
The catch of the PRB fishery, like that of the CPFV fishery, was dominated by rockfish and lingcod (Figure 13). The species with the largest IRIs were blue rockfish, black rockfish, lingcod, canary rockfish, copper rockfish, and white croaker. Black rockfish was most important in Del Norte/Humboldt. Blue rockfish was most important in Mendocino/Sonoma and San Luis Obispo. White croaker had the highest IRI in Santa Cruz/Monterey.
The beach and bank mode encompasses hook-and-line fishing from all naturally-formed shoreline areas, including sandy beaches, rocky headlands, and the muddy banks of estuaries.
During 1981-86, beach and bank fishing accounted for about 632,000 fishing days annually, or about 25% of total nonsalmon effort (Table 1). Catch per day averaged 1.2 fish weighing 0.4 kg (Table 3). Over half the beach and bank fishing effort (351,000 days) occurred in the San Francisco district (Figure 8).
The weight of fish caught per day by beach and bank anglers varied little among districts, ranging from 0.3 to 0.5 kg (Figure 9). Smaller fish were taken in the south where anglers in Santa Cruz/Monterey and San Luis Obispo took 2.0 and 1.7 fish per day respectively. In the other districts catch per day ranged from 0.9 to 1.1 fish.
The catch of the beach and bank fishery was dominated by the surfperch (Figure 14). Species with the largest IRIs were barred surfperch, redtail surfperch, silver surfperch, striped seaperch, cabezon, and kelp greenling. Redtail surfperch and striped seaperch were generally more important in the northern districts, while barred surfperch and silver surfperch were generally more important in the southern districts.
The jetty and breakwater mode encompasses hook-and-line fishing activity from artificial walls, usually made from boulders, built either on the shore or offshore. Their purpose is usually to restrain currents or to protect anchorages from waves.
During 1981-86, jetty and breakwater fishing accounted for about 103,000 fishing days annually (Table 1). The catch-per-day was the lowest of any mode, averaging 0.8 fish weighing 0.4 kg (Table 3). The greatest effort was in the San Francisco district (45,000 days) (Figure 8). Jetty and breakwater fishing showed little variation in catch-per-day among districts (Figure 9).
The catch of the jetty and breakwater fishery was not dominated by any particular taxonomic group and varied greatly among districts (Figure 15). Kelp greenling and striped seaperch were of high importance in Del Norte through Sonoma counties. Jacksmelt was of high importance south of San Mateo County. Barred surfperch was important primarily in San Luis Obispo County.
The pier and dock mode encompasses hook-and-line fishing from structures built over the water that are supported by pilings or floats. Piers may be constructed for mooring boats or specifically for fishing. Piers are popular shore fishing sites since they are frequently near urban areas, access is usually easy, and no license is required for sport fishing on public piers in the ocean waters of California, including San Francisco Bay.
During 1981-86, pier and dock fishing accounted for about 587,000 fishing days annually, or about 23% of total nonsalmon effort (Table 1). Catch per day averaged 1.6 fish weighing 0.4 kg (Table 3). Most fishing effort occurred in the San Francisco district (376,000 days) and in the Santa Cruz/Monterey and San Luis Obispo districts (184,000 days combined) (Figure 8). Generally, catch per day by weight was low and similar to the jetty and breakwater and beach and bank modes in all districts, with little variation among districts. Catch per day by number was higher than in the other shore modes, again with little variation among districts. Success in the Mendocino/Sonoma district was relatively high, where catch per day averaged 7.0 fish weighing 0.8 kg (Figure 9).
The species composition of the pier and dock catch, like that of the jetty and breakwater catch, was not dominated by any particular taxonomic group and varied greatly among districts (Figure 16). Pacific herring was highly important in Mendocino/Sonoma. The high importance of Pacific mackerel in the central districts was probably due to the 1982-83 ENSO event. White croaker had the highest IRI in the San Francisco and Santa Cruz/Monterey districts.
The spear mode encompasses all fishing activity, whether from a boat or from shore, where spear gear is used. Spear fishing in northern and central California is pursued by divers using scuba and by free (breathhold) divers.
During 1981-86, spear fishing was the least active mode, accounting for about 21,000 fishing days annually, or about 0.8% of total nonsalmon effort (Table 1). Catch per day averaged 1.9 fish weighing 1.9 kg (Table 3). Nearly all spearfishing activity occurred in the Mendocino/Sonoma and Santa Cruz/Monterey districts (Figure 8). Those districts have relatively good conditions for spear fishing due to lack of large river discharges of suspended sediment. Catch per day was similar in those districts (3.1 fish weighing 3.5 kg in Mendocino/Sonoma and 3.0 fish weighing 3.2 kg in Santa Cruz/Monterey) (Figure 9).
The catch of the spear fishery was dominated by lingcod, which had the largest IRI in all districts where spear fishing occurred (Figure 17). Other important species in the Mendocino/Sonoma and Santa Cruz/Monterey districts were blue rockfish and cabezon. Black rockfish and striped seaperch were also important north of the San Francisco district.