Standardized Catch Rates of Gag, Mycteroperca Microlepis, From the United States Headboat Fishery in the Gulf of Mexico During 1986-1999

摘要

Rod and reel catch and effort from party (head) boats in the Gulf of Mexico have been monitored by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Southeast Zone Headboat Survey (conducted by the NMFS Beaufort Laboratory). The available catch per unit effort (CPUE) series, from 1986-1999, was used to develop abundance indices for gag. Material and Methods The NMFS Southeast Zone Headboat Survey collects data on the catch and effort for a vessel trip. This information on the landing dateand location, vessel identification, the number of anglers, a single fishing location for the entire trip, the type/duration of the trip (half/three-quarter/ full/multi-day, day/night, morning/afternoon), and catch by species in number and weight. Catch rate was calculated in number of fish per angler-hour.