Table 17. --Species composition, Ocean City charter boat fishery, 1952-1953 



for porgy and sea bass is confined to the 

 wrecks in the vicinity of Fenwick Island, Isle 

 of Wight, Gull, Winter Quarter, and to shoals 

 lying no more than 10 miles offshore. Trolling 

 for bluefish and other small, pelagic species is 

 conducted throughout the area, generally on 

 grounds within 25 miles of the coast. Trolling 

 for marlin usually is conducted from 15 to 40 

 miles offshore. 



Delaware 



Ocean sport fishing centers in Delaware 

 are located at Lewes and Indian River. Vessels 

 from the former port operate in both the ocean 

 and in Delaware Bay, whereas, the Indian River 

 fleet fishes exclusively in the ocean. In addi- 

 tion to the party boat fishery, ocean surf fishing 

 occurs from Cape Henlopen to Fenwick Island. 



Data respecting activities of the party 

 boat fishery during 1952 were tabulated by 

 source of catch, either ocean or bay. In 1953, 

 however, the Indian River and Lewes fleets 

 were treated separately. Summary analyses 

 are presented in table 18 . Due to an inadequate 

 sample of the Lewes fleet in 1953, the results 

 were reported in actual recorded figures, and 

 no estimates of total effort or catch were made. 

 Furthermore, survey data included numbers of 

 fish only. However, using average weights ob- 

 tained from the Ocean City, Maryland fishery 

 by the authors, it was estimated that the Dela- 



ware sport catch in 1952 amounted to over 2.0 

 million pounds, and in 1953, 1.5 million pounds. 



Species composition of the 1952 and 1953 

 catches is presented in tables 19 and 20. In 

 table 19, the 1953 data include the estimated 

 total for the Indian River fleet only. In table 20, 

 on the other hand, are presented the recorded 

 catch and species composition for the Lewes 

 fleet, irrespective of origin of catch. The sea 

 bass was the leading species in both years, in 

 both the Indian River and Lewes fisheries. 



From the published data, a simple index 

 may be calculated for the ocean party boat fish- 

 ery in terms of fish per man hour, or pounds 

 per fisherman per hour. In 1952, the average 

 catch for all ocean party boat fishing was 6.7 

 fish per man hours, or in terms of our estimated 

 poundage, 5.4 pounds per fisherman per hour. 

 In 1953, the average catch for the Indian River 

 fleet was 4. 1 fish per man hour, or 3.3 pounds 

 per fisherman per hour. 



In 1952, a surf fishing survey was con- 

 ducted along Delaware beaches from Roosevelt 

 Inlet to Fenwick Island. During the period from 

 mid-June until mid-September, 8,200 fishermen 

 caught 15,700 fish in 34, 100 hours of fishing, or 

 0.46 fish per man hour. Species composition of 

 the surf fishery catch for 1952 is shown in table 

 21. 



47 



