Comparison of the Recreational and Commercial Fisheries for Lingcod ('Ophiodonelongatus') Off the Pacific Coast of the United States, and a Description of the Recreational Lingcod Fishery

摘要

Recreational lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus) landings data from the Pacific coast ofthe United States were compared to commercial landings data for the same areas and years by weight for the years 1980 through 1989. Marine Recreational Fishery Statistics Survey (MRFSS) estimates were summarized by number and weight of fish landed, fishing mode, and length frequencies to assess their adequacy for management. Also, MRFSS estimates for the Washington and California subregions were compared with data collected by state surveys. There were no annual trends in recreational lingcod landings over the 1980 through 1989 period, with the possible exception of the southern California subregion, which had a decreasing trend in lingcod landings, but the trend was based on a single, particularly high 1980 estimate. Northern California landings were erratic, but with a slight downward trend. Oregon and Washington subregions had no annual trends for recreational landings. Examining the total number of recreationally caught lingcod landed by fishing mode showed that at least 61 percent of lingcod were landed from private/rental boats, 32 percent from party/charter boats, and 7 percent from shore. The average fork length of lingcod landed ranged from 602-651 mm, with a coastwide average of 634 mm. Comparison of the MRFSS estimates with both the Washington Department of Fisheries (WDF) ocean sport fishery survey data and the California Department of Fish and Game (CDF&G) Commercial Passenger Fishing Vessel catch data showed the MRFSS estimates to be higher than the WDF survey data and CDF&G data prior to 1983 and more similar in later years. There was no apparent reason for these differences.