SOUTH ATLANTIC No species group clearly dominated the recreational fishery in the South 

 Atlantic during 1986. Atlantic croaker, spot and herrings were the most abundant species 

 caught in I 986 and accounted for approximately 29 percent of the total catch. 



Anglers fishing in the shore mode took approximately 67 percent of the recreational 

 catch in I 986. Seven percent of the total number of fish was taken in the ocean greater than 3 

 miles from shore area. Part of the percent change in catches among the modes is attributable 

 to the exclusion of the party boat catch from the 1 986 survey. 



Average catch rates in 1986 were similar to those in 1979-85. Catch rates were highest 

 in the shore mode with an average of 4.3 fish/ trip and lowest in the charter boat mode with an 

 average of 3.2 fish/trip. 



An estimated 1.7 million residents of the South Atlantic States participated in the 

 marine recreational fishery in 1986. The estimated participation was lower than the 1979-85 

 average of 2.1 million South Atlantic resident fishermen and may be attributed to exclusion of 

 party boats from the sample frame. Coastal residents made approximately 77 percent of the 

 estimated 14.8 million trips in 1986. Fishing activity was greatest in the September/October 

 wave with approximately I I percent of the coastal population of the subregion participating in 

 the fishery. Over 7 percent of all households surveyed reported marine recreational fishing 

 activity during each wave. 



As in 1983-85, four of the five most highly sought species were spotted seatrout, 

 bluefish, red drum and king mackerel. Dolphins were added to the list of most sought after 

 species in 1986. 



The coefficient of variation for the total number of fish caught during 1986 was 5 

 percent. The actual total catch was 53.0 to 65.1 million fish at the 95 percent confidence 

 level. 



GULF OF MEXICO. Forty-one percent of the total marine recreational catch in the Gulf of 

 Mexico in 1986 consisted of various members of the Sciaenid family (i.e., drums, seatrouts, 

 croakers) an increase from 34 percent of the total catch in 1985. Spotted seatrout was the 

 most commonly caught species with 16 percent of the total catch. Other commonly caught 

 species groups were saltwater catfishes, Atlantic croaker, Spanish mackerel, sand seatrout and 

 pinfish. The exclusion of Texas and party boat sampling in the Gulf subregion in 1986 may 

 account for several apparent changes in Gulf of Mexico results. In the 1985 MRFSS, Texas 

 accounted for 24.8 million fish caught on 7.3 million trips by 1.8 million participants. The 

 exclusion of party boats, many of which target reef fish, may contribute to the changes in 

 species sought for the subregion. 



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