TRENDS IN TILEFISH DISTRIBUTION AND RELATIVE ABUNDANCE OFF SOUTH-CAROLINA AND GEORGIA

Abundances of tilefish Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps off South Carolin a and Georgia are lower than previously estimated. Mean density of til efish burrows, determined by counts from side-scan sonar records, decr eased from 258 burrows/km2 in 1986 to 13 burrows/km2 in 1987 in overla pping transect segments at one site. A bimodal depth distribution of b urrows was believed to be due to the presence of burrows of blueline t ilefish Caulolatilus microps in water shallower than 160 m, especially at the southernmost site, and L. chamaeleonticeps burrows typically i n greater depths. The mean catch of L. chamaeleonticeps per 100 hooks was greatest within the water temperature interval of 13.0-14.4-degree s-C (5.4 fish/100 hooks) and within the depth interval of 194-203 m (5 .3 fish/100 hooks). Within comparable areas and depths, a general tren d in decreasing L. chamaeleonticeps lengths and catch per unit effort from research fishing was supported by similar trends in data from Sou th Carolina commercial landings between 1977 and 1989. Recent landings indicated that L. chamaeleonticeps is still being harvested and mean length has continued to decrease. Presently, the fishery should be man aged by reducing the fishing effort.