3. Cynoscion nothus 

 Sea Trout 



White or Silver 



This is the smallest member of the weak- 

 fish or sea trout group occurring on our 

 Atlantic coast and seldonn reaches a length 

 of 12 inches. It is not included in the com- 

 mercial landings, though larger specimens 

 are saved and used for human consumption. 

 Also, it is taken in quantity by sport 

 fishermen. 



4. Leiostomus xanthurus - Spot 



This species ranks fifth in volume of the 

 Cape Canaveral Area fisheries. Specimens 

 over 10 inches in length are seldom found, and 

 most fish caught would not exceed 6 or 7 

 inches. Larger specimens are saved and used 

 for hunnan food. The species is also important 

 to sport fishermen. 



5. Menticirrhus spp. - King Whiting 



King whiting ranks seventh of the Cape 

 Canaveral Area fisheries, and much of the 

 production is taken incidental to shrimp fish- 

 ing operations. The species reaches a maxi- 

 mum weight of 2 to 3 pounds and about 14 

 to 16 inches in length. Most of the fish taken 

 in the trawl fishery would weigh less than a 

 pound and probably not average over one -half 

 pound. The species is an excellent food fish 

 and important in the sport fishery of the 

 area. 



6. Larimus fasciatus - Banded Croaker 



This small species is not included in the 

 commercial catch, nor is it important to sport 

 fishermen. We believe it is seldom utilized 

 for human consumption. 



CARANGIDAE - JACKS 



7. Chloroscombrus chrysurus - Bumper 



This small fish does not enter the commer- 

 cial landings, is not utilized for human con- 

 sumption, and is not important to sport fisher- 

 men. It is probably an important forage fish. 



8. Vomer setapinnis - Moonfish 



This small fish does not enter the commer- 

 cial landings, is not utilized for human con- 

 sumption, and is not important to sport fisher- 

 men. It is probably an important forage fish. 



ARIIDAE - SEA CATFISH 



9. Bagre marinus - Gafftopsail Catfish 



A few hundred pounds of this fish are landed 

 each year, but the species is not of significant 

 commercial importance. It is utilized for 

 human consumption in very limited quantities. 

 Some are taken by sport fishermen, but it is 

 not a prized fish. 



10. Galeichthys felis - Sea Catfish 



This species has no connmercial importance, 

 is seldom utilized for human food, and is not 

 sought by sport fishermen. 



SERRANIDAE - SEA BASSES 



11. Centropristis philadelphicus - Rock Sea 

 Bass 



This small nnember of the sea bass group 

 reaches a maxinnunn size of about 12 inches, 

 but most of the catch incidental to shrimp 

 trawling is under 8 inches. The larger speci- 

 mens are used for human consumption. This 

 species is not significant either commer- 

 cially or for the sport fishery. 



FISH AND GENERAL INVERTEBRATE GROUPS TAKEN DURING 

 EXPLORATORY FISHING 



Limited explorations in the Cape Canaveral 

 Area with trawling gear- -in addition to that 

 carried out during the 1933-35 shrimp studies- - 

 were accomplished in two general periods, 

 1940 and during 1957-63, 



During January 1 940 and again during March- 

 April 1940 the Bureau of Fisheries M/V 

 Pelican made a series of drags on the Con- 

 tinental Shelf utilizing a 10-foot trynet. These 

 data are presented in table 11 for each of the 

 periods and in two water depth categories 

 (surface to 20 and 20 to 100 fathoms). 



JANUARY 



Considerably n-iore fish were taken in sur- 

 face to 20 fathoms than in 20 to 100 fathoms 



(62 fish per hour of trawling compared to 15), 

 and about 67 percent of the catch consisted of 

 members of the family Sciaenidae (croakers). 

 Spot ( Leiostomus xanthurus ) was the most 

 abundant single species and represented about 

 47 percent of total catch in surface to 20 

 fathoms of water and 15 percent in 20 to 100 

 fathoms. 



MARCH-APRIL 



In this period over twice the number of fish 

 was taken in 20 to 100 fathoms as in surface 

 to 20 fathoms (65 fish per hour of trawling as 

 compared to 31), reversing the condition found 

 in January. 



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