Table 1.--Number of anglers counted bihourly, number of anglers interviewed, 
and total hours fished at three locations in St. Andrew Bay system, Florida, 
and adjacent coastal waters, 1973. 
Time of counts Anglers interviewed 
Location 0900 1100 1300 1500 Number Hours fished 
West Jetty 196 409 331 294 298 594.25 
Hathaway Bridge 252 323 249 273 234 508.50 
Deer Point Dam 158 144 156 189 180 305.00 
Total 606 876 736 756 712 1,407.75 
the corrected totals were 4.96 for maximum variation, 
3.43 for minimum variation, and 4.4 for average varia- 
tion. 
RECREATIONAL FISHING EFFORT 
Distribution of Effort 
Finfish fishing was by far the most important of the 
five recreational fisheries that were disclosed by the ef- 
fort survey (Table 2). Of the sum of the estimated 
average daily instantaneous number of recreational 
fishermen, 92.0% fished for finfish, 3.7% for crabs, 2.7% 
for scallops, 1.4% for oysters, and 0.2% for shrimp. 
Finfish fishing dominated the recreational fishing ef- 
fort in all areas. Coastal water was the most important 
single area for finfish fishing (36.2%), closely followed by 
St. Andrew Bay (31.8%). St. Andrew Bay was the most 
important for crabbing (64.8%) and scalloping (93.8%), 
East Bay for oystering (71.8%), and North and West 
Bays for shrimping (56.3%). While finfish fishing and 
crabbing were important activities in all areas, oystering 
and shrimping were limited to the bay system and 
scalloping to St. Andrew Bay and adjacent coastal 
waters (Table 3). 
NORTH AND WEST BAYS 
DAILY AVERAGE 
8 
3 
DAILY AVERAGE 
8 
Finfish Fishing Effort 
The estimated recreational finfish fishing effort on 
weekdays, weekend-days each month in the four major 
areas is shown in Figure 2. The effort on weekend-days 
exceeded the weekday effort each month in all areas. The 
seasonal effort pattern differed by area, however. In 
North and West Bays and in Kast Bay, the greatest effort 
occurred during late fall and winter months, while in St. 
Andrew Bay and coastal waters it occurred during spring 
through fall months. 
Factors contributing to the differences in seasonal fish- 
ing pattern in the four major areas were chiefly environ- 
mental conditions, availability of finfish, and vacation 
schedules. Adverse weather and sea conditions limit boat 
operations in open bay and coastal waters in late fall 
through early spring. Pelagic fishes decline in avail- 
Table 2.--Percentage distribution of recreational fishing effort among 
fisheries and areas, 1973. 
North and East St. Andrew Coastal 
Fishery West Bays Bay Bay waters Sum 
Finfish 19.8 9.6 2953 33.3) 92.0 
Crabs 0.8 0.4 2.4 0.1 3.7 
Scallops 0.0 0.0 2.6 0.2 Zi 
Oysters 0.3 1.0 0.1 0.0 1.4 
Shrimp <0.1 <0.1 <0.1 0.0 0.2 
Table 3.--Percentage distribution of recreational fishing effort within 
fisheries by areas, 1973. 
North and East St. Andrew Coastal 
Fishery _ West Bays Bay Bay waters Sum 
Finfish 21.6 10.4 31.8 36.2 100 
Crabs 21.9 9.5 64.8 3.8 100 
Scallops 0.0 0.0 93.8 6.2 100 
Oysters 18.7 71.8 9.5 0.0 100 
Shrimp 56.3 1959 23.8 0.0 100 
EAST BAY 
80 
o 
oO 
> 
oO 
DAILY AVERAGE 
i) 
is) 
COASTAL WATERS 
DAILY AVERAGE 
Figure 2.—Estimated average daily instantaneous numbers of recreational finfish fishermen 
(dark) and persons (light) by areas, weekdays (W), and weekend-days (E) each month in 1973. 
