MODDE and ROSS: SEASONALITY OF FISHES OCCUPYING A SURF ZONE HABITAT 



(0300-0900) for all six 24-h samples made in 1976 

 (Figure 4). From May to September, excluding 

 August when diel collections were not taken, 

 fishes exhibited a distinct rise in abundance be- 

 tween 0300 and 0600 h c.s.t. with peak occurrences 

 just after sunrise. The number of fishes collected 

 during this time period far exceeded those cap- 

 tured during the later daylight hours; in June no 

 collection was made during this time period. 



The daily pattern of catch per effort reflected the 

 numerical dominance of H. jaguana and A. lyo- 

 lepis. The greatest number offish for both species 

 was collected during the early morning with a 

 subsequent decline throughout the day (Figure 5). 

 Peak capture rates for H . jaguana and A. lyolepis 

 were 1,712 and 2,339 fish/seine haul, whereas the 

 lowest mean rates were 6 and 0.1 fish/seine haul 

 during the 1200-1500 h period for H . jaguana and 

 the 1800-2100 h period for A. lyolepis. A secondary 

 peak in abundance occurred between 1500 and 



2400- 0300- 0600- 0900- 1200- 1500- 1800- 2100- 

 0300 0600 0900 1200 1500 1800 2100 2400 



TIME OF DAY 



Figure 4. — Monthly mean number of fish per seine haul 

 collected during the designated time intervals from the surf zone 

 of Horn Island, Miss., between March and September 1976, 

 excluding August. 



2400- 0300- 0600- 0900- 1200- 1500- 1800- 2100- 

 0300 0600 0900 1200 1500 1800 2100 2400 



TIME OF DAY 



Figure 5. — Daily changes of mean number offish per seine 

 haul for the Horn Island, Miss., surf zone (April 1976-September 

 1976). Data are for the numerically most important species. 

 A = Anchoa lyolepis (broken line) and Harengula jaguana 

 (solid line). B = Anchoa hepsetus. C = Trachinotus carolinus 

 (broken line) and Menticirrhus littoralis (solid line). 



1800 h with 252 and 545 fish collected per seine 

 haul for H. jaguana and A. lyolepis. High numbers 

 of A. hepsetus also occurred during the morning; 

 however, peak catch per effort occurred between 

 0600 and 0900 h. This species was less abundant 

 than H. jaguana and A. lyolepis, with only 33 fish 

 collected per seine haul. Anchoa hepsetus re- 

 mained within the beach area through 1200- 

 1500 h, but no fish were captured between 1500 and 

 1800 h. 



Menticirrhus littoralis and T. carolinus did not 

 exhibit distinct daily activity patterns, but tended 

 to be more abundant during midafternoon or even- 

 ing. The greatest number of M. littoralis collected 

 was only 2.0 fish/seine haul between 1800 and 

 2100 h while the greatest number of 



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