AN ANALYSIS OF COMMERCIAL PASSENGER FISHING VESSEL FISHERIES FOR KELPBASS AND BARRED SAND BASS IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BIGHT

We describe the sport fishery for kelp bass, Paralabrax clathratus, an d barred sand bass, P. nebulifer, in the Southern California Eight usi ng catch data from two commercial passenger fishing vessel (CPFV) cree l censuses conducted from 1975 to 1978 and 1986 to 1989. In the 1986-1 989 census, both species ranked in the top three as measured by catch per unit effort(CPUE). Catch per unit effort of both species was much higher during 1986-1989 than in 1975-1978. The increased catches in th e 1980s were likely due to increased abundance, rather than changes in targeting by vessel operators. Sites with highest CPUE for kelp bass contained high relief, both with and without kelp. The highest CPUE oc curred at several oil platforms offSanta Barbara. Most of the best fis hing sites were located in the northern part of the Southern Californi a Eight, probably because fishing pressure is lower there than to the south. Kelp bass fishing was best in late spring and early fall; catch es decreased during the peak of the spawning period. Highest catches o f barred sand bass occurred over low relief or sandy bottoms where spa wning aggregations occurred. Catch per unit effort was highest during the summer spawning period. Kelp bass were most commonly taken from <3 0 m. Barred sand bass were most abundant in 10-50 m. Mean lengths of b oth species taken in the CPFV fishery were essentially unchanged betwe en the 1970s and 1980s; during both periods the majority of the fishes caught were above the legal size limit of 30.5 cm total length.