us. Marine Recreational Fisheries 



The total annual catch of stnped bass increased steadily 

 from 10.8 million fish in 1995 to 17.5 million fish in 1997. 

 After increasing from 14.1 million fish in 1999 to nearly 

 1 9 million tish in 2UU0, stnped bass catch declined slighdy 

 to 15.6 million fish in 2001 and 2002, increased to 17.3 

 million fish in 2003, and dien to 19.8 million fish in 2004. 

 Over 87 percent of the striped bass caught m 2004 were 

 released alive. Annual summer flounder catch decreased 

 from 28 million fish in 2001 to 16.7 million fish m 2002, 

 and remained steady at 20.6 million fish in 2003 and 

 2004. Over 77° o of the summer flounder caught m 2004 

 were released aHve. Bluefish catch has varied between 

 9.2 million fish (1998) and 20.4 million fish (2001), feU 

 to 15 milHon fish in 2003, but increased again to 18.7 

 million tlsh in 2004. Black sea bass catch, which has 

 varied between 6.3 and 19 miUion fish from 1995 

 through 2000, remained steadv at 16.2 million fish in 

 2001 and 2002, but decHned to 10.8 miUion fish m 2004. 



The species most commonlv caught on Atlantic coast 

 trips that fished primarily in federally managed waters 

 were black sea bass, Atlantic cod, bluefish, summer 

 flounder, and dolphinfish. Thirty percent of the total 

 Atiantic catch came from saltwater trips that fished 

 primarily in the state territorial seas, and 57 percent came 

 from trips that fished primarily in inland waters. 



GULF OF MEXICO. In 2004, 3.6 milUon residents 

 participated in marine recreational fisliing. j\ll participants, 

 including visitors, took over 24 million tnps and caught over 

 187 million fish (excluding Texas). About 68 percent of die 

 trips were made in west Florida, followed by 20 percent in 

 Louisiana, 8 percent in .\labama, and 4 percent in Missis- 

 sippi. The most commonly caught non-bait species (num- 

 bers of fish) were spotted seatrout, red drum, wliite grunt, 

 sheepshead, and gray snapper. The largest harvests by 

 weight were for red drum, spotted seatrout, sheepshead, 

 red snapper, Spamsh mackerel, and king mackerel. 



Red snapper catch has varied over die last ten years 

 between 1.5 (1995) and 3.2 (1999 and 2002) miUion fish, 

 with a total catch of over 3.1 million fish in 2004. King 

 mackerel catch has varied between 750,000 (1996) and 

 420,000 (1999) over the last ten years, with total catch at 

 447,000 fish in 2004. Spotted seatrout catch has vaned 

 between 1 8 million fish and 29 million fish over the last 

 ten years, with a catch of just over 29 million fish in 2004. 

 Red drum catch varied over die last ten years between 6. 1 

 million fish (1996 and 1999) and 8.7 million fish (2000), 

 reaching 8.4 million fish in 2004. 



The species most commonlv caught on Gulf of 

 Mexico trips that fished prmiarily m federally man- 

 aged waters were wliite grunt, red snapper and black 

 sea bass. rwent\--eight percent of the total Ciulf catch 

 came trom trips that tished primarily in the state 

 territorial seas, and 61 percent came from trips that 

 fished primarily in inland waters. 



PACIFIC. In 2004, about 4 million in-state marine 

 recreational fishing participants took over 4.8 million 

 tnps and caught a total of 18 million fish. Niner\--one 

 percent of the tnps were made m CA, followed by 5 

 percent in OR, and 4 percent in \XA. The most 

 commonly caught non-bait species (in numbers of 

 fish) were barred sand bass. Pacific bonito, kelp bass, 

 black rockfish, coho salmon, and Pacific barracuda. 

 By weight, the largest han,-ests were Chinook sahnon, 

 coho salmon, black rockfish, barred sand bass, Pacific 

 barracuda, and albaco. 



Total annual catch of hngcod has varied between 240,000 

 fish (1995) and 1.2 million fish (2002) over the last ten 

 years, but decreased to 323,000 fish m 2004. Total black 

 rockfish catch, which has varied between 595,000 (1997) 

 and 1.4 miUion (2000) fish over the last ten years, 

 decreased to 700,000 fish m 2004. 



The most commonly caught Pacific coast species in 

 federally managed waters were barred sand bass. Pacific 

 sanddab, kelp bass, California scorpionfish, and Chi- 

 nook salmon. Eighty-two percent of the total Pacific 

 catch came from trips that fished primarily in the state 

 terntorial seas, and 10 percent came from tnps that tished 

 pninarily in inland waters. 



PUERTO RICO. In 2004, about 167,000 manne 

 recreational participants took 1.1 million tnps and caught 

 a total of about 1.1 miUion fish. The most commonly 

 caught non-bait species (in numbers of fish) were 

 dolphinfish, coney, blue mnner, silk snapper and cero. By 

 weight, die largest harvests were dolphinfish, blackfin 

 tuna, skipjack tuna, yellowfin tuna, mutton snapper, and 

 great barracuda. 



HAWAII. In 2004, more than 407,000 manne recre- 

 ational participants took 2.9 million trips and caught a 

 total oi about 4.5 million fish. The most commonly 

 caught non-bait species (in numbers of fish) were 

 yellowstnpe goatfish, skipjack tuna, yellowfin tuna, blue- 

 tin trevally, and dolphinfish. By weight, the largest 

 harvests were yellowfin mna, dolphintish, skipjack tuna, 

 walioo, and blue marlin. 



22 



