EXTENSION PLATFORMS 43.53% 
PERCENT 
PRIVATE BOATS 30.80% 
SEEM PAM 8) VA SION ED 
SHORELINE PLATFORMS 15.25% 
PERCENT 
CHARTER BOATS 6.77% 
JER M EAM id AS i ONE D) 
Figure 3.—Percentage distribution of the estimated average daily instantaneous numbers of 
recreational finfish fishermen in all areas by type of platform used each month in 1973. 
NORTH AND WEST BAYS 
DAILY AVERAGE 
DAILY AVERAGE 
Saline s 
wm 
6 
DAILY AVERAGE 
wn 
COASTAL WATERS 
DAILY AVERAGE 
Figure 4.—Estimated average daily instantaneous numbers of private boats used in recrea- 
tional finfish fishing by areas, weekdays (W), and weekend-days (E) each month in 1973. 
ability during these months and certain bay fishes, par- 
ticularly spotted seatrout, Cynoscion nebulosus; red 
drum, Sciaenops ocellata; and mullet, Mugil sp., become 
increasingly available in protected waters. The latter are 
pursued vigorously by fishermen in small boats and from 
fixed platforms in lagoons and bayous of the bay areas. 
Fishing effort in St. Andrews Bay increases in March 
with the arrival of Spanish mackerel, Scomberomorus 
maculatus, and in coastal waters with the arrival of king 
mackerel, Scomberomorus, cavalla, from mid-May to 
early June. Summer visitors to the area contribute heavi- 
ly to recreational fishing in St. Andrew Bay and coastal 
waters. 
The percentage distribution of recreational finfish 
fishing effort by type of platform and by month is shown 
in Figure 3. The sum of all daily estimates of persons fin- 
fish fishing was included in the percentage calculations. 
The relative importance of fixed platforms that extend 
out from the shorelines to other types is clearly in- 
dicated. Limitations of the coastal water survey to 2 
miles offshore minimizes the relative importance of char- 
ter boats as a fishing platform. Frequently, charter boats 
were seen fishing just beyond the 2-mile boundary during 
the survey period; many others were observed in transit 
within the survey area. The limitation also applied to 
private boats, but to a lesser extent. 
