of sardines in the area. After the start of fishing, the sardine school 

 group, which had been observed in the fishing area for 2 wk or more 

 before the season opening, appeared to immediately start migrating 

 southeast. After 2 d of fishing and a catch of about 2.7 x 10" t, only a 

 few additional tons were taken in the San Nicolas Island area. During 

 1966-69 (Fig. 15). only a few small schools were sighted along the 

 coast offMorro Bay. Avila. and Santa Barbara. 



Pt. Hueneme to San Diego.— 1962-65. Fig. 16: 1966-69, Fig. 

 17; 1970-73. Fig. 18. 



During 1962-65. sardines were most frequently sighted in the 

 San Pedro Channel south of Los Angeles Harbor, and near Catalina 

 Island. In 1966-69, only six sightings were recorded off the Los 

 Angeles area and southwest of San Clemente Island. The 1970-73 

 chart shows a small number of sightings off La Jolla, near San 

 Diego. Since 1974, the aerial spotters have not sighted any individ- 

 ual schools of sardines. 



Index Trends. — The pelagic resource aerial monitoring program 

 was started after the major decline in sardine abundance occurred. 

 However, the aerial index gives an insight into the last declining 

 years of a once major resource (Fig. 19). In 1964, the catch was 

 only about 6.4 x 10 3 1 and the night index value was about 1.00; it 

 was the last year sardines were caught in any quantity off southern 

 California. In 1965, the index level declined to a very low level and 

 has remained at a 0.00 level since. No individual schools of sar- 

 dines have been recorded since 1973. 



The day apparent abundance index (Fig. 28) remained at an aver- 

 age level of 1 .44, 1963-67. then decreased sharply to 0.43 in 1968. 

 and to 0.26 in 1969. The catch declined about one-third during this 

 period. No data was available for June-December 1970. but the 

 first half-year data (normally low) indicated few schools were 

 observed. The index increased to a peak of 1.1 1 in 1972, possibly 

 due to an anomalous warm period in the northeastern Pacific dur- 

 ing the summer and fall of 1972, which may have caused an 

 increased migration of Pacific bonito into southern California from 

 off northwestern Mexico. The index declined sharply in 1973 to 

 0.39, while catches off California increased to a level of about 

 8.2 X lO-'t. The day index continued to decline over the years 1973- 

 78 to a very low level. 0.12. Catches declined sharply in 1975 to 

 the 1.8to2.7x 10 3 1 level and remained low, with a California catch 

 of 1.2x10' t reported in 1978. 



The major sighting areas for Pacific bonito (Fig. 29) were the Santa 

 Barbara coast and Channel Islands (zones C and D) and the coastal area 

 from near San Diego to Dana Point (zone J). The south coastal zone (J) 

 had high index levels in 1963 and 1966 (record high for any one area) 

 through 1971 . The Santa Barbara coast and Channel zone (C) was the 

 high index area for 1964. 1965. 1972, 1974, and 1975. Since 1972. 

 index values for all areas declined to the low levels observed in 1977. 

 In 1978, the night index increased to 0.94 as Pacific bonito were 

 observed in greater quantities at night than during the day. a situation 

 that occurred only in one other year. 1973. 



Pacific Mackerel 



Pacific Bonito 



Morro Bay to San Nicolas Island.— 1962-65. Fig. 20; 1966- 

 69, Fig. 21; 1970-73, Fig. 22; 1974-78, Fig. 23. 



The geographical distribution of Pacific bonito sightings in this 

 area changed little during the survey period. They were frequently 

 sighted along the coast from east of Pt. Conception to near Ventura, 

 around Anacapa Island, Santa Cruz Island, and near the southeast 

 side of Santa Rosa Island. They were more frequently observed 

 along the south side of Santa Cruz Island. During 1974-78, the fre- 

 quency of sightings decreased, but the general distribution of sight- 

 ings remained the same. 



Pt. Hueneme to San Diego.— 1962-65, Fig. 24; 1966-69, Fig. 

 25: 1970-73. Fig. 26; 1974-78. Fig. 27. 



The geographical distribution of sightings changed little in this 

 area from 1962 to 1978. As in the case of the northern anchovy, the 

 distribution pattern of Pacific bonito since the mid-1960s has 

 become more restricted, with sightings being found closer to the 

 mainland coast and islands. The frequency of sightings peaked dur- 

 ing 1966-69, with the major sighting area being from the Coronado 

 Islands, Mexico, to Dana Point. In 1970-73, however, they were 

 more commonly observed off San Diego. Sightings of Pacific 

 bonito were fewer in number during 1974-78, and the 1978 sight- 

 ings were primarily off Dana Point, Newport Beach, and Pt. 

 Dume. 



Index Trends. — Pacific bonito increased in abundance off Cali- 

 fornia during the warm years of 1957-58 and was fished lightly 

 between that time and 1965. Due to decreases in the availability or 

 abundance of the Pacific sardine. Pacific mackerel, and jack mack- 

 erel. Pacific bonito became a target species. Catches off California 

 more than doubled between 1 965 and 1 966, peaking with a catch of 

 about 9.2xl0 1 t. 



Morro Bay to San Nicolas Island.— 1962-65. Fig. 30: 1966- 

 69, Fig. 31; 1974-78. Fig. 32. 



In the area of Morro Bay to San Nicolas Island, Pacific mackerel 

 were commonly sighted in the Santa Barbara Channel area and 

 about the Channel Islands during 1962-65. Concentrations were 

 sighted along the coast from east of Pt. Conception to near Ventura, 

 with a center of sighting near Santa Barbara. Some schools were 

 sighted along the north coast of Santa Cruz Island and the south side 

 of Anacapa, and on the north side of San Nicolas Island. During 

 1966-69, only 21 schools or school groups were sighted, most of 

 which were along the Santa Barbara coast. No schools were 

 recorded for 1970 and 1974, but in 1977 and 1978, Pacific mack- 

 erel schools were again sighted about the Santa Barbara Channel 

 Islands in large numbers, as shown on the 1974-78 charts. Between 

 1974 and 1977, 54 schools or school groups were recorded: in 

 1978, 74 were sighted. 



During the 1962-65 period which preceded the decline of the Pacific 

 mackerel resource to a very low level, most schools were sighted most 

 frequently along the Santa Barbara coastline, and less frequently 

 around Santa Cruz and Anacapa Islands. In contrast, during 1977 and 

 1978. only 1 1 schools or school groups were sighted along or near the 

 Santa Barbara coast, while 117 schools or school groups were sighted 

 off the north and southeast coasts of Santa Cruz Island and about Ana- 

 capa Island, indicating a shift in distribution pattern from the coast to 

 about the Santa Barbara Channel Islands. 



Pt. Hueneme to San Diego.— 1962-65. Fig. 33; 1966-69. Fig. 

 34; 1970-73, Fig. 35: 1974-78, Fig. 36. 



During 1962-65, the principal centers of sighting were around 

 the east end of Catalina Island, and south of Long Beach. Pacific 

 mackerel were also sighted at scattered locations along the coast 

 from San Diego to Pt. Hueneme. and around San Clemente Island. 

 Santa Barbara Island, and Cortez Bank. Few schools or school 

 groups were sighted during 1966-69 or 1970-74. but a substantial 



