DISCUSSION OF THE RESULTS 



The total number of fish caught along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts was estimated at 

 41 1.2 million fish in 1986. This was slightly higher than the 1979-85 average catch of 387.5 

 million fish. Approximately 37 percent of the total catch was released alive in 1986. 

 However, the percentage of live releases varied considerably among the subregions with 43 

 percent being released alive in the Gulf of Mexico subregion, 36 percent in the Mid-Atlantic, 

 35 percent in the South Atlantic, and 25 percent in the North Atlantic subregion. Overall, the 

 total Atlantic and Gulf estimates are very consistant with previous survey years. 



The 1986 catch did show some significant changes from 1979 to 1985 in the total number 

 of fish caught in some important species groups. Black sea bass and soup catches in 1986 were 

 more than double the 1979-85 average catches, while winter flounder catches in 1986 were less 

 than half of the 1979-85 levels. Bluefish, spot, Atlantic croaker, summer flounder, winter 

 flounder, spotted seatrout and black sea bass remained the most frequently caught species. 

 Bluefish, which ranked either first or second in number caught in 1979-1985, was ranked third 

 after black sea bass and Atlantic croaker in I 986. 



Over 80 percent of the catch in number of fish was taken in inland waters (e.g., rivers, 

 sounds, bays) or in the ocean within 3 miles of shore in 1986. Approximately 16 percent of the 

 catch was taken in waters greater than 3 miles from shore. The remaining portion of the 

 catch could not be identified by area. The proportion of the 1986 catch in number taken in 

 waters greater than 3 miles from shore varied from 7 percent in the South Atlantic to 21 

 percent in the North Atlantic. 



The private/rental boat mode accounted for the highest percentage of the catch in 

 number for all subregions combined in 1986 with 62 percent. All subregions except for the 

 South Atlantic (31 percent) had private/rental boat catches representing over 60 percent of 

 the total catch. 



The average weight of a fish, estimated from the Type A catch for all subregions 

 combined, was 0.67 kg (1.48 lbs) in 1986. The average weight of fish sampled ranged from 0.57 

 kg in the Mid-Atlantic subregion to 0.96 kg in the North Atlantic subregion. 



13 



