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2J6, ASSESSNENT OF THE SINK NET FISFIERY ALONG NORTH CAROLIN.AS OUTER BANKS, FALL 1982 THROUGH SPRING 1987, VVM-1 NOTES ON OTHER COASTAL GILL NET FLETEERIES North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources Division of Marine Fisheries Morehead City, North Carolina 28557 SPECIAL SCIENTIFIC REPORT NO. 50 SH 344.6 October 1989 .G5 A87 1989 ASSESSMENT OF THE SINK NET FISHERY ALONG NORTH CAROLINA'S OUTER BANKS, FALL 1982 THROUGH SPRING 1987, WITH NOTES ON OTHER COASTAL GILL-NET FISHERIES by Jeffrey L. Ross Special Scientific Report No. 50 October 1989 property of CSC Library North Carolina Department of Environment, Health,and Natural Resources Division of Marine Fisheries Morehead City, NC 28557 US Department of Commerce NOAA Coastal Services Center Library 2234 South Hobson Avenue Charleston, SC 29405-2413 ABSTRACT The coastal gill net fishery along the Outer Banks, which is active from late fall through early spring, accounted for 9.5 - 22.3% of North Carolina's marketable finfish harvest from 1982 through 1987, the percentage increasing throughout the period. The sink net fishery had its beginnings in the 1930's, expanded dramatically during the 1980's in terms of fishing effort and finfish landings, and currently dominates other winter ocean gill net fisheries. From Fall 1982 through Spring 1987, 316 sink net, 42 anchored gill net and 44 floating gill net catches were sampled. Sink nets were by far the most prevalent and productive gill net employed. Sink net catches were dominated by Cynoscion regalis, Pomatomus saltatrix and Micropogonias undulatus. Anchored gill net catches were more diverse and composed predominantly of P. saltatrix, Euthynnus alleteratus, Scombermorous cavalla, Mustelus Zani-s-,@. rigalis, and M. undulatus. Floating gill nets were fished for Morone saxatili.E only during the first two seasons of this study due to the closure of the ocean fishery for the species in 1984. Sink net catches of C. regalis increased from 558 to 1094 kg/trip, and total landings steadiTy increased during the study. Most fish were ages 1 and 2, and the percent of age 3-10 fish has declined. P. saltatrix catches fluctuated between 400 and 848 kg/trip, and landings increased during the 1985-86 and 1986-87 fishing seasons. Catches included fish age 0 to age 10, with ages 0, 1, 4 and 5 dominating. undulatus catches have increased from <1 kg to 120.7 kg/trip, ages 2 and 3 fish dominated the catches, and landings have generally increased. While the sink net fishery has expanded and CPUEs and landings have risen, inter- and intra-fishery gear conflicts and fluctuating market prices have become increasingly problematical. CONTENTS ABSTRACT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 METHODS AND MATERIALS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 RESULTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Seasonal Catch Composition Sink Nets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Anchored and Floating Gill Nets and Gear Comparisons 15 Monthly Catch Composition Sink Nets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Comparison of Sink Net Catches North and . . . . . .. . . . . . 19 South of Cape Hatteras Species Trends: Landings, CPUE, and Size-Age . . . . . . . . 21 Composition of Sink Net Catches Weakfish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Bluefish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Atlantic Croaker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 DISCUSSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 LITERATURE CITED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 52 INTRODUCTION The sink net fishery of North Carolina's Outer Banks is a revived fishery that has expanded dramatically in recent years. Sink nets are gill nets weighted to fish just above the bottom. Fishing takes place from just beyond the surf zone's outer bars to depths of 27-37 m (15-20 fathoms) from late fall through early spring. During the last five fishing seasons (Fall 1982 through Spring 1987), the value of finfish landings by this fishery has increased from 2.3 to 3.8 million dollars. I Sink netting had its beginnings at Hatteras, N.C. in the 1920s >everal crews fished out of Hatteras Inlet in 7.6-7.9 m (25-26 ft) round-sterned boats with displacement hulls between the Inlet and Cape Hatteras during the winter months. They set 274-365 m (300-400 yds) of 6.3-7.6 cm (2.5-3 in) stretched mesh cotton sink nets for weakfish (Cynoscion regalis) and Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus). During the 1930s, 30-35 boats fished out of Hatteras, including three or four 10.7-12.2 m (35-40 ft) class vessels built locally for the fishery. 1 Several of these, including the Albatross I and Jackie Faye, were still fishing in 1987. These boats were low-sided, round-sterned craft with no cabin, so fouled nets could be lifted up over the boat. Crews of 3-5 men fished 1097-1372 m (1200-1500 yds) of net. Stretched mesh as small as 3.7 cm (2.5 in) was used for Atlantic croaker and weakfish. After World War 11, fishing was good for a few years, but with declining prices, landings also declined. Little sink netting occurred in the 1950s and 1960s because of the lack of available weakfish and Atlantic croaker. I The resurgence of sink netting off Cape Hatteras began in 1977-78 and was enhanced by two factors: 1) the increased abundance of weakfish and bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) and (2) the availability of hydrauli- cally powered net reels. The successful use of hydraulically powered systems for net reels by a crew of two led to their use by the entire Pers. commun. Cap tain Ernal Foster, Albatross Fleet, Hatteras, N.C., June 1988. 2 fleet fishing off the Outer Banks (Lebovitz 1982). The net reels were initially suggested by Sea Grant agents to assist fishermen with their striped bass nets. The use of net reels allowed a reduction in crew size and speeded up the net handling process. Today, vessels most commonly used in the fishery are 10.7-13.7 m (35-45 ft) with low-sides and large cockpits to hold fish on deck. New England lobster type boats, Chesapeake Bay rigs, and Wanchese-built, high-prowed, large cockpit craft are prevalent. Most are versatile and used du.ring other seasons offshore for tuna, king mackerel, and grouper-snapper fishing, or inshore for long haul seining. In a typical day of sink net fishing, the two-man crew left the dock at 0400 h, arrived on the fishing grounds by 0430, and began searching for concentrations of weakfish with fish finders (chromoscopes, depth recorders) or by sighting surface feeding birds. Often the first sets of the day were the best, before the fish were scattered by vessel and net activity later in the day. Several 274-731 m (300-800 yd) lengths of gill net were set over fish concentrations depending on movements of fish and the operations of other vessels on the grounds. Depending on local conditions, nets were either retrieved immediately or allowed to fish for up to several hours. Nets were retrieved onto net reels with the webbing directed through vertical guides which are mounted over the transom. Fish were picked during net retrieval and stored (loose and/or in boxes) on deck. The rest of the day is spent alternately setting the nets, picking up their webbing, and searching for. more fish. Most vessels headed for port by sunset and unloaded their catch that evening at one of 6-8 fish houses, several of which were active only during the sink net season. When the fishing was good, boats often had to wait into the early morning hours to get packed out. The fishery's primary gear is a heavily weighted monofilament gill net assembled in 91-273 m (100-300 yard) sections (shots). The lead line is weighted with 27.2-45.3 kg (60-100 lbs) of lead per 91 m (100 yds) of net to assure it fishes directly over the bottom; most nets are 3 3.6-4.6 m (12-15 ft) deep. Large buoys (balls) or high flyers are attached to one or both ends of the net by enough line to allow the net to sink freely. Anchors are usually not used, and nets are retrieved at the end of the day. Vessels remain in the vicinity while the nets are fishing. The mesh sizes most prevalent in the fishery have been 7.6-8.9 cm (3-3.5 in) stretched mesh for weakfish, Atlantic croaker, and small bluefish, and 11.4-15.2 cm (4.5-6 in) stretched mesh for large blue- fi sh and weakfish. In 1986-87, 9.5 cm (3.7 in) stretched mesh was very productive (larger fish, better price, and less picking) and was 2 becoming more prevalent through the fishery . The sink net fishery on the Outer Banks is most active from December through April, though some vessels target large bluefish when they arrive in November. Most vessels begin sink net fishing in December or early January, after the king mackerel (Scombermorous regalis) and yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) season and several inshore fisheries conclude. Vessels fish out of two primary ports and inlets. Those landing fish in Wanchese, N.C. use Oregon Inlet, while those landing in Hatteras, N.C. use Hatteras Inlet (Figure 1). The fleet is usually concentrated in Hatteras from January through March, and split between the two ports early and late in the season. Several vessels from Ocracoke, N.C. utilize Ocracoke Inlet, and a few boats run across the Pamlico Sound from Englehard and Stumpy Point, N.C. Two smaller gill net fisheries take place along the Outer Banks' beaches from Fall through Spring for weakfish, bluefish, spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus), king mackerel (Scombermorous regalis), and red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus). Several two-man crews fish anchored gill nets from beach-launched dories. These daily sets are made just beyond the outer sand bars from Corolla to Ocracoke. This fishery is ongoing today scattered throughout the area though effort has been 2Pers. commun. Captain Fred Fox, F/V Apparition, Wanchese, N.C., October, 1988. 4 Chesapeake Bay 37* VA NC orolla Albemarle Sound Oregon inlet Wanchese wimble Shoals Englehard, 36* 0 j von Rocks Hatteras V 0 Hatteras Inlet Ocracoke Inle Morehead City Beaufort ........... 35' ....... ....... .-C..ape - Lookout "50Q 00 101, '77' 76* 75 o Figure 1. Sink net fishing grounds off the Outer Banks of North Carolina. 5 reduced in recent years, as most of the crews have entered the sink net fishery. Second, a floating gill net fishery for striped bass took place in' the late 1970s and early 1980s from January through mid-March and included crews from the beach-launched dory fleet and part of the sink net fleet. During the last few seasons, they used 25.4 cm (10 in) stretched mesh monofilament nets that were rigged to float just below the surface and fish to depths of 3.0-4.6 m (10-15 ft). The nets were anchored on one or both ends, fished daily, and left in the water throughout the fishing season. Fishing effort was concentrated on the edge of Diamond Shoals in 12.2-19.8 m (40-65 ft) of water, as well as on the shoals off Ocracoke Inlet and Portsmouth Island. This fishery continued through the 1983-84 season after which the waters of the Atlantic Ocean off North Carolina were closed to the taking of striped bass (Regulation NCAC 3B .1504(b)--North Carolina Dept. of Nat. Resour. and Community Develop., DMF 1988). The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) has sampled all three gill net fisheries operating in the Atlantic Ocean off the Outer Banks since Fall 1982. The objective of this report is to characterize these fisheries for the five fishing seasons from Fall 1982 through Spring 1987. Data are presented on trends in species catch/ effort (CPUE), landings, seasonality, and size and age composition of the target species for the three different gears. Since the prepon- derance of the gill net fishery landings and catches sampled were from sink nets, this fishery will be the emphasis of the discussion. METHODS AND MATERIALS The sink net fishery catches were sampled monthly and analyzed on a seasonal basis (December through April) from 1982 through 1987. Samples were taken at fish packing houses in Hatteras and Wanchese while the catches were being offloaded. Anchored gill net catches were sampled from September through April and floating gill net catches were sampled from February through March. Culled samples were taken on the beach as crews offloaded dories into trucks for transport to fish markets. For all gear types, captain or crew members were interviewed, when available, to obtain information including: area and depth fished, days 6 at sea, and gear(s) used including mesh size and length of gill nets. Two or more sink net catches were sampled each week, when possible. Random stratified samples of the graded catch were taken to insure adequate coverage of all sizes and species landed. This involved sampling one or more 22.7 kg (50 lb) cartons for each species and market grade (small, medium, large, jumbo, etc.) for each gill net catch sampled. More cartons of the larger grades were sampled to compensate for the fewer fish contained in them. Each sample was weighed to the nearest 0.1 kg, the individual fish measured to the nearest millimeter (FL or TL), and the total number of individual fish recorded. The total weight of each market category for each species was obtained from the fish dealer's records with the permission of the captain and fish dealer. Total weight of the scrap fish was estimated if not available from the dealer; only total scrap fish.>50 kg was recorded and sampled. If the scrap fish was <50 kg, a list of all associated species was kept. Occasionally, a species' market grade was included on the trip ticket, but time did not permit sampling. Typically, these were incidental market species. In these instances, the number of fish landed for this species grade was estimated from the mean weights of the same grade from another catch sampled that evening. Length frequencies for each catch were derived by expanding the sample length frequencies for each market category (grade) by a raising factor (RF) where: RF Total species market grade weight Total sample weight of species market grade Species market grade weights were obtained from trip tickets. Species length frequencies were developed by combining those expanded for the- respective species market grades. Approximately 30-60 scale samples were taken monthly, when avai- lable, from weakfish, Atlantic croaker, and bluefish over the entire size range of individuals captured. Length (mm) and weight (0.01 kg) were rewarded for each f ish samp led; samples were not always taken for 7 each species from each catch. Scales were aged using criteria for determining annuli given by Wilk (1977) for bluefish, Ross, S. (1988) for Atlantic croaker, and Massmann (1963), Merriner (1973) and Hawkins (1988) for weakfish. Depending on the species, semi-annual or quarterly age-length keys were generated for each 20-mm size interval. Age data from the North Carolina sink net fishery and the winter trawl fishery were pooled to generate age-length keys. These were merged with expanded length frequency data from the same time period to produce the overall annual age composition. Atlantic croaker age composition was determined using an age-length key from fish caught in 1979-1981 (Ross, S. 1988). Bluefish and weakfish age length keys were developed from fish caught from Fall 1982 through Spring 1985 and from January 1982 through December 1983, respectively. Average catches and landings were determined for trend analysis. Average catch(kg)/trip (CPUE) was defined as the total catch/species/one day trip; a trip may consist of one or more gill net sets. Landings refer to commercial landings (kg) derived from the North Carolina General Canvas Data File compiled through the DMF and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) cooperative data collection program. RESULTS Seasonal Catch Composition Sink Nets A total of 27 sink net catches were sampled between January 1982 and April 1983, with all but two catches made south of Cape Hatteras (Table 1). CPUE ranged from 47 to 3,814 kg/trip and averaged 1,418 kg/trip. Bluefish dominated the catches by weight (59.8%) and weakfish dominated by number (69.3%). Together, these species accounted for 99.1% of the catches sampled (Table 2a). A total of 69 sink net catches were sampled from December 1983 through April 1984, with all but 9 catches made from Cape Hatteras to off Ocracoke (Table 1). CPUE ranged from 68 to 7,589 kg and averaged 8 Table 1. Monthly summary of sampling of ocean gill net fisheries from September 1982 through April 1987 by area fished (N=north of Cape Hatteras; C=Cape Hatteras to Cape Lookout) and gear (sink nets, anchored nets, floating nets); n=number of catches samples. Catch weiqht (kq) -Sample weight (kq) Season Month Gear Area n Mean Ranqe Mean Range 1982-83 Sep Anchored C 2 61.5 51- 72 61 5- 72 Anchored N 3 194.1 68- 393 194 68-393 Oct Anchored C 1 134.0 134 Anchored N 3 86.8 12- 170 78 12-170 Nov Anchored C 4 68.2 37- 138 68.2 37-138 Anchored N 1 484.0 287.6 Dec Anchored C 5 278.2 88- 645 188.2 88-352 Anchored N 1 65.6 65.6 Jan Sink C 11 734.1 47-2,895 90.4 24-318 Anchored C 2 513.4 417- 609 234.3 168-300 Feb Sink C 10 1,556.6 144-3,595 201.7 53-377 Anchored C 3 243.4 67- 475 164.7 67-239 Floating C 26 163.8 15-1,025 137.3 15-727 Mar Sink C 2 2,521.9 1,529-3,515 119.7 81-159 Floating C 14 99.4 12- 291 81.5 12-205 Apr Sink C 2 2,712.9 1,612-3,814 219.1 208-230 Sink N 2 2,056.3 401-3,712 350.4 300-401 Anchored N 5 2,047.9 65-9,072 203.8 38-654 Total Sink C 25 1,364.1 47-3,813 Sink N 2 2,056.3 401-3,712 Anchored C 17 202.2 37- 645 Anchored N 13 894.8 12-9,072 Floating C 40 141.3 12-1,025 1983-84 Dec Sink C 6 365.8 68- 753 53.9 35- 88 Sink N 4 470.2 84- 897 225.3 84-355 Jan Sink C 18 918.3 108-2,358 140.3 54-320 Feb Sink C 19 1,168.7 107-4,431 132.0 56-259 Floating C 4 27.9 15- 65 27.9 15- 65 Mar Sink C 14 1,094.9 146-3,589 143.2 50-306 Anchored N 1 257.2 95.8 Apr Sink C 3 1,263.4 290-1,884 130.1 34-251 Sink N 5 3,524.5 1,218-7,589 299.0 126-485 Anchored N 1 1,717.4 1,717.4 Total Sink C 60 1,000.8 68-4,431 Sink N 9 2,167.0 84-7,590 Anchored N 2 987.3 257-1,717 Floating C 4 27.9 15- 65 9 Table 1. (continued) Catch weight (kq) Sample weight (kq) Season Month Gear Area n Mean Range Mean Range 1984-85 Oct Anchored C 6 292.5 156- 420 156.7 66-236 Dec Sink C 7 1)030.6 565-2,051 83.5 0-141 Jan Sink C 16 837.8 176-2,169 80.5 0-183 Feb Sink C 14 25570.2 151-8,137 280.6 0-782 Mar Sink C 11 1,630.4 527-3,759 100.4 57-185 Sink N 3 1 709.0 237-4,540 333.8 237-420 Apr Sink N 7 1:511.3 273-5,029 150.6 0-252 Total Sink C 48 1 552.8 151-8,137 Sink N 10 1:570.6 237-5,029 Anchored C 6 292.5 156- 420 1985-86 Dec Sink C 6 780.3 553-1,087 145.8 0-282 Jan Sink C 10 1513.6 763-3,040 110.0 0-252 Sink N 10 1:500.7 14-2,931 28.3 0-192 Anchored C 1 738.4 88.5 Feb Sink C 15 lJ967.1 630-4,349 79.2 0-181 Sink N 5 719.5 516-1,247 56.6 0- 72 Mar Sink C 19 2,197.8 518-5,968 111.6 0-436 Anchored C 2 309.4 300- 318 24.5 0- 49 Apr Sink C 3 632.0 425- 813 58.8 47- 78 Anchored C 1 208.7 57.4 Total Sink C 53 1754.3 425-5,968 Sink N 15 1:240.3 14-2,931 Anchored C 4 391.5 209- 738 1986-87 Dec Sink C 3 768.9 496-1,193 96.6 45-148 Sink N 4 12022.5 555-1,570 115.8 69-148 Jan Sink C 6 1,143.1 238-2,117 83.4 47-115 Sink N 9 1P237.6 500-1,777 108.3 72-134 Feb Sink C 21 2046.1 262-5,986 141.0 23-421 Mar Sink C 32 2,029.4 530-4,532 165.5 71-307 Apr Sink N 19 13366.9 54-4,330 139.0 46-281 Total Sink C 62 1,922.2 238-5,986 Sink N 32 12287.5 54-4,330 10 1,151 kg/trip. Weakfish dominated catches by weight (62.2%) and n umber (78.4%). Together with bluefish, they accounted for 96.8% of the weight and 92% by number (Table 2b). Of the 58 sink net catches sampled from December 1984 through April 1985, all but 10 catches were from below Cape Hatteras to off Ocracoke (Table 1). CPUE ranged from 151 to 8,137 kg/trip and averaged 1556 kg/trip. Weakfish and bluefish were co-dominant by weight ( 47%), though weakfish were more numerous (65%). Collectively, bluefish, weakfish, and Atlantic croaker comprised 99% of the weight (Table 2c). Of the 68 sink net catches sampled from December 1985 through April 1986, 53 were f rom south of Cape Hatteras and 15 were north of Cape Hatteras (Table 1). CPUE ranged from 14 to 5,968 kg/trip and averaged 1,641 kg/trip. Weakfish were dominant by weight (61.1%) and number (78%). Together with bluefish, they accounted for 94% of the catch weight, and with Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus) and Atlantic croaker, represented 98% of the catch (Table 2d). During the 1986-87 fishing season, a total of 94 sink net catches were sampled, including 62 from Cape Hatteras to Ocracoke Inlet and 32 from north of Cape Hatteras (Table 1). CPUE catches ranged from 54 to 5,986 kg/trip and averaged 1,726 kg/trip. Weakfish dominated catches by weight (64%) and number (76%). Together with bluefish and Atlantic croaker, they accounted for 98% of the catches sampled (Table 2e). Species composition of the sink net catches has remained constant through the five year period (Table 3). Weakfish and bluefish have dominated catches every year; in 1982-84, they accounted for 96.8 and 98.2% of the weight, respectively. Since then, Atlantic croaker have become more prevalent in the catches (3.8-6.9%). Collectively, these three species accounted for 96.3 to 99.0% of the total weight season _ I ally. The fishery demonstrated the ability to target bluefish and weakfish as market conditions permit. Table 2. Species composition of sink net catches sampled from October 1982 through April 1987; n=number of catches sampled; OBS=species observed in catches but not occurring in samples. Mean fish Percent Weight NO Number weight freq. Species Mean Percent Mean Percent (kq) occur a) 1982-83 (n=27) Pomatomus saltatrix 848.4 59.82 377 28.9 2.520 92.5 Cynoscion regalis 558.3 39.36 905 69.3 0.617 88.8 Mustelus canis 5.0 0.35 - - - 7.4 Brevoortia tyrannus 3.6 0.25 16 1.2 0.222 11.1 Euthynnus alletteratus 1.8 0.12 <1 <0.1 5.950 18.5 Peprilus triacanthus 0.7 0.05 7 0.6 0.102 37.0 Micropogonias undulatus 0.2 0.01 <1 <0.1 0.354 11.1 Alosa mediocris 0.1 0.01 <1 <0.1 0.345 11.1 Alosa sapidissima 0.1 <0.01 <1 <0.1 1.800 3.7 Paralichthys dentatus 0.1 <0.01 <1 <0.1 0.700 3.7 Menticirrhus americanus <0.1 <0.01 <1 <0.1 0.243 7.4 Urophycis floridana <0.1 <0.01 <1 <0.1 0.500 3.7 Urophycis Ltaj2 <0.1 <0.01 <1 <0.1 0.300 3.7 Peprilus alepidotus <0.1 <0.01 <1 <0.1 0.010 3.7 Alosa aestivalis OBS 3.7 b) 1983-84 (n=69) Cynoscion regalis 716.5 62.18 812 78.48 0.883 85.5 Pomatomus saltatrix 399.7 34.68 139 13.48 2.670 88.4 Euthynnus alletteratus 12.3 1.07 3 0.27 4.410 36.2 Micropogonias undulatus 11.6 1.00 51 4.88 0.229 44.9 Brevoortia tyrannus 8.7 0.76 24 2.28 0.370 8.7 Sciaenops ocellatus 1.8 0.16 <1 0.01 2.330 2.9 Peprilus triacanthus 0.5 0.04 <1 0.42 0.119 34.8 Lophius americanus 0.3 0.02 <1 0.02 1.264 13.0 Cynoscion nebulosus 0.2 0.02 <1 0.03 0.811 15.9 Scomberomorus cavalla 0.2 0.01 <1 <0.01 5.450 1.4 Menticirrhus americanus 0.1 0.01 <1 0.03 0.406 14.5 Paralichthys dentatus 0.1 0.01 <1 0.01 0.753 7.2 Alosa mediocris 0.1 0.01 <1 0.04 0.227 2.9 Alosa sapidissima <0.1 0.01 <1 <0.01 1.150 1.4 Urophycis earlii <0.1 <0.01 <1 <0.01 1.360 1.4 Centropristis striata <0.1 <0.01 <1 0.01 0.272 1.4 Leiostomus xanthurus <0.1 <0.01 <1 <0.01 0.670 2.9 Alosa pseudoharengus <0.1 <0.01 <1 0.01 0.325 2.9 Urophycis L2aij <0.1 <0.01 <1 0.01 0.300 2.9 Menticirrhus sp. <0.1 <0.01 <1 <0.01 0.333 2.9 Alosa aestivalis <0.1 <0.01 <1 <0.01 0.250 1.4 Urophycis chuss <0.1 <0.01 <1 <0.01 0.500 1.4 Caranx hippos <0.1 <0.01 <1 <0.01 0.500 1.4 Prionotus evolans <0.1 <0.01 <1 <0.01 0.350 1.4 Orthopristis chrysoptera <0.1 <0.01 <1 <0.01 0.050 1.4 Loligo pealii OBS 1.4 Merluccius bilinearis OBS 2.9 Sphoeroides maculatus OBS 1.4 c) 1984-85 (n=58) Cynoscion regalis 730.5 46.95 1,203 64.65 0.607 91.4 Pomatomus saltatrix 726.2 46.67 265 14.23 2.743 84.5 Micropogonias undulatus 84.3 5.42 352 18.92 0.240 55.2 Euthynnus alletteratus 5.7 0.36 1 0.06 4.699 34.5 Peprilus triacanthus 3.4 0.22 29 1.56 0.116 37.9 Menticirrhus americanus 2.1 0.14 5 0.28 0.411 20.7 Mustelus canis 1.1 0.07 - - - 19.0 Alosa mediocris 0.9 0.06 2 0.12 0.427 13.8 Lophius americanus 0.2 0.02 <1 0.01 1.611 12.1 Menticirrhus sp. 0.2 0.01 1 0.03 0.433 19.0 Centropristis striata 0.2 0.01 1 0.03 0.331 3.4 Scomberomorus cavalla 0.2 0.01 <1 <0.01 3.033 1.7 Menticirrhus saxatilis 0.1 0.01 <1 0.01 0.507 3.4 Leiostomus xanthurus 0.1 0.01 1 0.03 0.218 10.3 Cynoscion nebulosus 0.1 0.01 <1 0.01 0.756 6.9 12 Table 2. (Continued) Mean fish Percent Weight (kq) Number weight freq. Species Mean Percent Mean Percent (kq) occur Merluccius bilinearis 0.1 0.01 <1 0.01 0.550 3.4 Paralichthys dentatus 0.1 0.01 <1 0.01 0.522 10.3 Alosa sapidissima <0.1 <0.01 <1 <0.01 0.540 5.2 Tautoga onitis <0.1 <0.01 <1 0.01 0.400 1.7 Alosa pseudoharengus <0.1 <0 *01 <1 0.01 0.287 3.4 Urophycis Ltaj2 <0.1 <0.01 <1 0.01 0.317 6.9 Urophycis sp * <0.1 <0.01 <1 0.01 0.233 3.4 Urophycis eariii <0.1 <0.01 <1 <0.01 0.250 1.7 Ortho ristis chrysoptera <0.1 <0.01 <1 <0.01 0.250 1.7 Alosa sp. <0.1 110.01 <1 <0.01 0.450 1.7 Scomberomorus maculatus <0.1 <0.01 <1 <0.01 0.450 1.7 Callinectes sapidus OBS 1.7 Brevoortia tyrannus OBS 70.7 1 Larimus fasciatus OBS Trichiurus lepturus OBS 1.7 d) 1985-86 (n=68) Cynoscion regalis 1,003.7 61.17 1,688 77.60 0.595 82.4 Pomatomus saltatrix 539.6 32.89 197 9.07 2.734 91.2 Micropogonias undulatus 37.4 2.28 163 7.51 0.229 51.5 Scomber scombrus 28.6 1.74 36 1.65 0.796 5.9 Euthynnus alletteratus 11.9 0.72 2 0.11 5.018 41.2 Menticirrhus americanus 7.2 0.44 17 0.79 0.419 36.8 Peprilus triacanthus 6.0 0.36 63 2.88 0.095 48.5 Alopias vulpinus 1.9 0.12 <1 <0.01 43.100 2.9 Mustelus canis 1.3 0.08 1 0.02 2.509 19.1 Menticirrhus sp. 0.6 0.04 1 0.07 0.400 11.8 Urophycis Ltaj2 0.5 0.03 1 0.06 0.365 20.6 Alosa sapidissima 0.3 0.02 <1 0.01 1.700 10.3 Leiostomus xanthurus 0.3 0.02 2 0.10 0.132 13.2 Scomberomorus maculatus 0.3 0.02 <1 0.01 1.657 1.5 Acipenser oxyrhynchus 0.2 0.01 <1 <0.01 15.900 1.5 Lophius americanus 0.2 0.01 <1 0.01 0.873 4.4 Alosa sp. 0.2 0.01 <1 0.02 0.397 2.9 Menticirrhus saxatilis 0.2 0.01 <1 0.02 0.345 5.9 Alosa mediocris 0.1 0.01 1 0.02 0.271 14.7 Carcharhinidae 0.1 0.01 - - - 1.5 Paralichthys dentatus 0.1 0.01 <1 0.01 0.800 8.8 Cynoscion nebulosus 0.1 0.01 <1 0.01 0.678 11.8 Centropristis striata 0.1 <0.01 <1 0.01 0.315 8.8 Orthopristis chrysoptera 0.1 <0.01 <1 0.01 0.183 5.9 Merluccius bilinearis 0.1 <0.01 <1 <0.01 0.457 2.9 Scomberomorus cavalla <0.1 <0.01 <1 <0.01 3.180 1.5 Archosargus probatocephalus <0.1 <0.01 <1 <0.01 0.700 1.5 Trichiurus lepturus <0.1 <0.01 <1 <0.01 0.500 1.5 Paralichthys sp. <0.1 <0.01 <1 <0.01 0.500 1.5 Alosa aestivalis OBS 1.5 Brevoortia tyrannus OBS 35.3 Opisthonema oglinum OBS 5.9 Priacanthus arenatus OBS 1.5 Bairdiella chrysoura OBS 1.5 Larimus fasciatus OBS 1.5 e) 1986-87 (n=94) Cynoscion regalis 1,094.4 63.39 2,118 75.92 0.517 91.5 Pomatomus saltatrix 479.0 27.74 163 5.85 2.934 74.5 Micropogonias undulatus 120.7 6.99 472 16.94 0.255 68.1 Euthynnus alletteratus 20.6 1.19 4 0.14 5.365 52.1 Carcharhinus sp. 4.3 0.25 - - - 9.6 Peprilus triacanthus 2.7 0.16 23 0.83 0.118 51.1 Mustelus canis 1.0 0.06 - - - 4.3 Menticirrhus americanus 0.7 0.04 2 0.06 0.371 35.1 Brevoortia tyrannus 0.5 0.03 3 0.10 0.184 19.1 Lophius americanus 0.5 0.03 <1 0.01 1.181 18.1 13 Table 2. (Continued) Mean fish Percent Weight (kq) Number weight freq. Species Mean Percent Mean Percent (kq) occur Alosa sapidissima 0.4 0.02 <1 0.01 1.235 7.4 Cynoscion nebulosus 0.3 0.02 <1 0.01 1.740 9.6 Acipenser oxyrhynchus 0.3 0.02 <1 <0.01 25.400 1.1 Menticirrhus sp. 0.2 0.01 1 0.02 0.361 9 *6 Carcharhinus limbatus 0.2 0.01 <1 <0.01 18.100 1.1 Alosa mediocris 0.2 0.01 <1 0.01 0.762 10.6 Peprilus alepidotus 0.1 0.01 2 0.06 0.057 2.1 Thunnus alalunga 0.1 0.01 <1 <0.01 4.300 2.1 Urophycis Lft%jj 0.0 0.00 <1 0.01 0.301 9.6 Leiostomus xanthurus 0.0 0.00 <1 0.01 0.152 7.4 Alosa pseudoharengus 0.0 0.00 <1 <0.01 0.533 2.1 Urophycis sp. 0.0 0.00 <1 <0.01 0.242 5.3 Centropristis striata 0.0 0.00 <1 <0.01 2.900 5.3 Scomber scombrus 0.0 0.00 <1 <0.01 0.500 9.6 Pogonias cromis 0.0 0.00 <1 <0.01 1.400 1.1 Urophycis floridana 0.0 0.00 <1 <0.01 0.500 2.1 Paralichthys dentatus 0.0 0.00 <1 <0.01 0.250 2.1 Urophycis chuss 0.0 0.00 <1 <0.01 0.400 2.1 Alosa sp. 0.0 0.00 <1 <0.01 0.500 1.1 Pollachius virens 0.0 0.00 <1 <0.01 0.500 1.1 Percidae 0.0 0.00 <1 <0.01 0.500 1.1 Menticirrhus saxatilis 0.0 0.00 <1 <0.01 0.320 1.1 Prionotus evolans - - - - - - Larimus fasciatus - I, Table 3. Gear comparison by dominant species (top 99% seasonally) in gill net catches sampled September 1982 through April 1987, including catch/trip (CPUE), percent of the weight (% Wt), and number (% Num) of fish caught, and the mean fish weight (Mean fish wt); Note: all weights in kilograms; n=number of catches sampled. 1982-83 1983-84 1984-85 1985-86 1986-87 Mean Mean mean Mean fish fish fish fish fish Species CPUE % Wt % Num wt CPUE % Wt % Num vt CPUE % Wt % Num wt CPUE % Wt % Num wt CPUE % Wt % Num wt Siff NM (n=27) (n=69) (n=58) (n=68) (n=94) Cynoscion regalis 558.3 39.4 69.3 0.617 716.5 62.2 78.5 0.833 730.5 46.9 64.7 0.607 1,003.7 61.2 77.6 0.595 1,094.4 63.4 75.9 0.517 Pomatomus saltatrix 848.4 59.8 28.9 2.252 399.7 34.7 13.5 2.867 726.2 46.7 14.2 2.743 539.6 32.9 9.1 2.734 479.0 27.7 5.8 2.934 Ricrovogonias undulatus 11.6 1.00 4.88 0.229 84.3 5.4 18.9 0.240 37.4 2.3 7.5 0.224 120.7 7.0 16.9 0.255 Euthynnus alletteratus 12.3 1.07 0.27 4.410 5.7 0.3 0.1 4.699 11.9 0.7 0.1 5.018 20.6 1.2 0.1 5.365 Brevoortia tyrannus 8.7 0.8 2.3 0.370 Scomber scombrus 28.6 1.7 1.6 0.796 Menticirrhus americanus 7.2 0.4 0.8 0.419 INCHORED NM (n=30) (n=2) (n=6) (n=4) Pomatomus saltatrix 378.1 62.9 79.6 2.933 531.2 53.8 30.5 4.024 50.6 12.9 14.3 0.504 Cynoscion regalis 3.5 0.6 1.5 1.462 90.9 9.2 10.0 2.091 318.7 81.4 77.7 0.586 Euthynnus alletteratus 66.4 10.8 7.0 5.823 124.3 42.5 48.4 5.524 Squalus acanthias 50.0 8.3 Mustelus canis 46.4 7A 211.4 21.4 Scomberomorus cavalla 33.8 5.7 2.9 7.291 134.4 46.0 31.9 9.063 Carcharhinidae 12.0 2.0 0.7 10.214 4.9 1.7 Alosa sapidissima 4.8 0.8 1.6 1.860 7.7 0.8 1.2 1.540 Scomber scombrus 63.9 6.5 18.3 0.804 Scomberomorus maculatus 1.4 0.2 0.3 2.950 CluDea harengus 57.5 5.8 34.0 0.390 Acipense oxyrhynchus 17.7 1.8 1.1 3.550 Alosa aestivalis 5.3 0.5 4.3 0.286 Sciaenops ocellatus 28.8 9.8 19.4 3.200 Alosa mediocris 8.7 2.2 4.5 0.279 Cynoscion nebulosus 6.6 1.7 0.8 1.143 Menticirrhus spp. 4.2 1.1 1.4 0.442 Ricropogonias undulatus 72.6 30.2 43.2 0.162 Menticirrhus americanus 26.5 11.0 17.4 0.147 Menticirrhus saxatilis 4.2 1.7 1.2 0.341 Centropristis striata 2.1 0.9 1.1 0.180 FWATIM GILL NET (n=40) (n=4) Morone saxatilis 133.8 94.7 83.2 16.624 55.8 100.0 100.0 18.617 Euthynnus alletteratus 5.4 3.8 8.8 6.324 Lophius americanus 1.4 1.0 6.5 2.192 Acipenser oxyrhynchus 0.5 0.4 0.5 10.650 Alosa sapidissima 0.2 0.1 0.8 2.033 15 Anchored and Floating Gill Nets and Gear Comparisons From September 1982 through April 1983, 30 anchored gill net catches were sampled (Table 1). This reflected the greater effort by fishermen at that time using dories off the beach. Anchored gill nets were fished from September through April. They were directed towards king mackerel through November, weakfish and bluefish December through April, and American shad (Alosa sapidissima) in February and March. In declining rank by weight, the catches were composed primarily of bluefish, weakfish, little tunny (Euthynnus alleteratus), spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias)., smooth dogfish (Mustelus canis), and king mackerel (Table 3). After 1983, sample sizes for anchor gill nets were much smaller (Table 1) because of both reduced fishing activity and redirected sampling effort. The dominant species in 1983-84 samples were bluefish, smooth dogfish, and weakfish; in 1984-85, king mackerel, little tunny, and red drum; in 1985-86, weakfish and bluefish, and in 1986-87, weakfish, Atlantic croaker, and sea mullet (Menticirrhus spp.). Floating gill net catches of striped bass were sampled during the 1982-83 (n=40) and 1983-84 (n=4) fishing seasons (Table 1). In 1982-83, the average catch sampled was 134 kg (8 fish); catches ranged from 123 to 1,025 kg/trip (Table 3). In February and March, 258 and 64 fish were sampl ed, averaging 16.3 and 17.8 kg,* respectively. In 1983-84, floating nets were set in February and March, but the 12 fish sampled represented nearly the entire catch. The four catches in which fish were caught averaged 56 kg and individual striped bass averaged 18.6 kg. Since the 1982-83 season, sampling efforts focused more on sink net catches and less on anchored and floating gill nets (Table 1). This reflected the increased fishing effort within the sink net fishery, the decline of the less effective anchor gill net, and the prohibition of ocean fishing for striped bass. 16 Monthly Catch Composition Sink Nets Paralleling the annual species composition, monthly catches in each season were dominated by weakfish and bluefish, with good catches of Atlantic croaker during the beginning or end of several seasons (Tables 4 and 5). In December, large bluefish were caught from Oregon Inlet to Avon Rocks, Atlantic croaker were caught in the Hatteras Bight and weakfish were. scattered throughout both areas (Table 4). Within a season, the largest catches of Atlantic croaker generally occurred in December (Table 5). By January, most of the fleet had located in Hatteras although some fishing occurred north of Diamond Shoals to off Avon Rocks when water temperatures were warm (January 1986 and 1987). In the 1982-1985 seasons, bluefish and weakfish dominated January catches and no effort was observed north of Cape Hatteras (Tables 4 and 5). The 1985-1987 seasons had warmer water conditions in January and Atlantic croaker catches were higher in the Hatteras Bight than in the earlier three seasons. Weakfish were available north and south of Diamond Shoals, whereas in the earlier three seasons, they were caught only south of the Shoals. From February through March, the fishing fleet was concentrated in Hatteras, N.C., and fishing was spread from Diamond Shoals to the south end of Ocracoke Island (Tables 4 and 5). Weakfish were the target species, though bluefish catches were occasionally landed when favorable market conditions existed. Weakfish catches generally reached their seasonal highs during this period (Tables 4 and 5). In Apri I , bl uef i sh, weakf i sh, and Atl anti c croaker stocks begin moving north across Diamond Shoals and inshore towards the various inlets. The sink net fleet was split between the ports of Wanchese and Hatteras and fished north and south of Diamond Shoals. During the 1982-85 fishing seasons, large weakfish ("sow" trout) were targeted and Table 4. Monthly comparison of dominant species (top 99%) average catch/trip (CPUE) in sink net catches sampled September 1982 through April 1987, including percent of the weight (% Wt) and number (% Num) of fish caught, and mean fish weight (Mean fish wt.); Note: all weights in kilograms; n=number of catches sampled. 1982-83 1983-84 --Ka-n 1984-85 -1 Fea-n 1985-86 1986-87 Mean Mean Mean fish fish fish fish fish Species CPUE % Wt % Num wt CPUE %Wt % Num wt CPUE % Wt % Num wt CPUE % Wt % Num wt CPUE % Wt % Num wt DECEMBER (n=O) (n=10) (n=7) (n=6) (n=7) Cynoscion regalis 94.0 23.4 19.5 0.642 577.6 56.0 42.1 0.478 268.5 34.4 24.8 0.414 618.1 67.6 79.6 0.501 Pomatomus saltatrix 130.7 32.6 13.1 1.326 119.5 11.6 11.1 0.376 231.0 29.6 23.1 0.383 265.0 29.0 13.4 1.277 Micropwonias undulatus 70.1 17.5 41.3 0.226 291.4 28.3 41.3 0.246 147.2 18.9 25.7 0.219 19.2 2.1 5.6 0.219 Brevoortia tyrannus 59.8 14.9 21.5 0.371 Euthynnus alletteratus 41.9 10.4 1.3 4.361 34.3 4.4 0.3 4.680 6.0 0.7 0.1 4.644 Peprilus triacanthus 14.7 1.4 4.3 0.119 51.8 6.6 21.7 0.092 Menticirrhus americanus 11.6 1.1 0.9 0.461 33.3 4.3 3.2 0.395 JANUARY (n=11) (n=18) (n=16) (n=20) (n=15) Cynoscion regalis 164.5 22.3 48.7 0.360 278.0 30.3 68.2 0.703 727.2 86.8 83.0 0.448 1,404.8 93.2 89.3 0.487 1,217.1 92.2 87.8 0.473 Pomatomus saltatrix 561.8 76.0 46.5 1.287 619.0 67.4 29.3 3.645 62.6 7.5 8.8 0.364 22.7 1.5 1.5 0.463 Brevoortia tVrannus 8.7 1.2 4.2 0.222 Eutbynnus alletteratus 18.0 1.9 0.8 4.151 8.6 1.0 0.1 4.613 22.5 1.7 0.1 5.352 Micropogonias undulatus 22.3 2.6 4.5 0.252 55.3 3.7 7.1 0.242 60.5 4.6 8.7 0.236 Peprilu triacanthus 5.5 0.7 2.5 0.113 7.5 0.6 2.2 0.117 Alosa mediocris 3.4 0.4 0.4 0.429 Menticirrhus americanus 12.8 0.8 0.9 0.437 FEBRUARY (n=10) (n=19) (n=14) (n=20) (n=21) Cynoscion regalis 428.5 27.5 66.6 0.524 821.2 70.2 86.7 0.731 350.1 13.6 32.6 0.537 982.6 59.4 84.0 0.729 1,613.0 75.2 93.7 0.520 Pomatomus saltatrix 1,112.6 71.4 31.9 2.839 343.3 29.4 12.8 2.072 2,039.8 79.4 26.8 3.914 564.5 34.1 8.0 4.376 494.6 23.0 3.5 4.260 Mustelus canis 12.4 0.8 Kicropogonias undulatus 20.2 0.9 2.3 0.268 Scomber scombrus 97.1 5.8 7.6 0.796 MARCH (n=2) (n=14) (n=14) (n=19) (n=32) Cynoscion reaalis 2,521.1 100.0 100.0 0.495 761.4 69.5 91.9 0.704 1,274.5 77.4 95.0 0.714 905.7 41.2 71.9 0.748 1,242.7 61.2 83.6 0.529 Pomatomus saltatrix 327.8 29.9 7.5 3.706 365.9 22.2 4.8 4.037 1,239.3 56.4 19.4 3.789 710.5 35.0 9.6 2.629 Hicropogonias undulatus 27.4 1.2 7.3 0.224 41.8 2.0 6.2 0.241 Euthynnus alletteratus 19.7 0.9 0.2 5.844 31.1 1.5 0.2 5.620 APR (n=4) (n=8) (n=7) (n=3) (n=19) Cynoscion regalis 984.3 41.3 41.9 3.768 2,154.1 80.5 88.9 1.576 563.9 37.3 40.2 3.201 560.8 88.7 90.5 0.529 350.1 25.5 24.0 0.578 Pomatomus saltatrix 1,400.4 58.7 58.1 3.866 502.2 18.8 9.7 3.376 943.0 62.4 59.6 3.611 5.3 0.8 0.9 0.497 526.3 38.4 5.6 3.739 Alopias vulpinus 34.0 5.4 <0.1 102.1 Micropogonias undulatus 10.9 1.7 5.4 0.172 449.7 32.8 68.6 0.260 Euthynnus alletteratus 9.8 1.5 0.2 3.675 14.9 1.1 0.1 4.654 Alosa spp. 4.2 0.7 0.9 0.397 Carcharhinus spp. 17.9 1.3 Table 5. Catch/trip (CPUE, kg/trip) for weakfish (Cynoscion regalis, bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix), and Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus) for sink nets by area fished from September 1982 through April 1987. North of Cape Hatteras Cape Hatteras to Cape Lookout 00 CPUE (kq/trip) CPUE (kq/trip) Season Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr Weakfish 1982-83 1,946.3 '164.5 428.5 2,521.1 19.3 1983-84 92.5 2,722.2 95.1 278.0 821.2 761.4 905.3 1984-85 0.5 563.9 577.6 727.2 350.1 1,622.0 1985-86 1,457.4 5.1 268.5 1,352.3 1,308.5 905.8 560.8 1986-87 590.0 1,176.1 350.1 655.6 1,278.5 1,613.0 1,242.7 - Bluefish 1982-83 - - 107.1 - 561.8 1,112.6 0 2,693.6 1983-84 257.9 - 802.3 45.9 618.9 343.2 327.8 1.6 1984-85 - 1,707 943.0 119.6 62.6 2,039.9 0.2 - 1985-86 19.8 325.3 231.0 25.6 644.3 1,239.3 5.3 1986-87 418.3 3.7 526.3 60.6 2.2 494.6 710.5 - Atlantic 1982-83 - 0 - 0 0.5 - - croaker 1983-84 0 0 116.8 1.99 1.5 0.1 7.8 1984-85 - 0 0 291.5 22.3 177.9 0.5 - 1985-86 - 14.2 0 - - 147.2 96.4 0.1 27.4 10.9 1986-87 0 7.1 449.7 44.8 140.7 20.2 41.8 - 19 caught as they moved north from Wimble Shoals to Corolla, N.C. (Tables 4 and 5). Good catches of large bluefish were taken in April as they moved inshore and north around Oregon Inlet, and also off Hatteras in 1983 (Tables 4 and 5). Bluefish were often caught with or while searching for large weakfish. During the last two fishing seasons, good catches of medium weakfish occurred above (1987) or below (1986) *Cape Hatteras. Good catches of Atlantic croaker were made for the first time during this study in April 1987 around Avon Rocks (Table 5). Comparison of Sink Net Catches North and South of Cape Hatteras Most sampling effort in this study was south of Cape Hatteras and roughly reflected the distribution of fishing activity. The increasingly larger percentage of samples from northern waters each year, from 7% in 1982-83 to 34% in 1986-87 (Table 6), reflected increased sampling effort, as well as increased size and expanded range of the sink net fleet. In recent seasons, more boats stayed north and fished out of Wanchese for longer periods of time. Catches in the two regions were basically the same for the three dominant species, although the relative abundance varied seasonally (Table 6). Most secondary species, including kingfish (Menticirrhus spp.) and little tunny, were caught in both areas. In the 1986-87 season, Atlantic mackerel occurred in several catches north of Cape Hatteras. The average catch of weakfish increased for the area south and decreased for the area north of Cape Hatteras during this study (Table 6). South of Cape Hatteras, CPUEs increa sed steadily from 447 to 1,343 kg/trip from 1982-83 to 1987-88; mean fish weight remained between 0.48 and 0.68 kg. North of Cape Hatteras, CPUE declined from 1,949 kg/trip to 612 kg/trip and mean fish weight also declined, from 3.6-3.8 kg to 0.5-0.6 kg during the same period. Although availability and/or species targeting may both contribute to these trends, weakfish were the species targeted by this fishery, when available. 20 1 Table 1 6. Comparison of average catches (CPUE) of dominant species (top 99%) in sink net catches by areal fished from catches sampled September 1982 through April 1987, including percent of the weight (% WO and number (% Num) of fish caught, and average fish weight; Note: all weights are in kilograms; n=number of catches sampled. I Cape Hatteras to Cape Lookout North of Cape Hatteras Mean Mean fish fish Species CPUE 9b Wt 96 Num wt CPUE 96 Wt % Num wt 1982-83 (n=25) (n=2) Cynoscion reqalis 447.0 32.7 68.5 0.478 1,949.3 94.8 94.0 3.7631 Pomatomus saltatrix 907.7 66.4 29.6 2.246 107.1 5.2 6.0 3.244 1983-84 (n=60) (n=9) Cynoscion regalis 591.0 59.0 79.0 0.680 1,553.5 71.9 72.6 3.618 Pomatomul saltatrix 375.6 37.5 12.5 2.728 560.4 26.0 25.5 3.708 Micropogonias undulatus 13.3 1.3 5.3 0.229 45.8 2.1 1.8 4.340 Brevoortia tyrannus 10.1 1.0 2.5 0.370 Euthynnui alletteratus 7.3 0.7 0.2 4.477 1984-85 (n=48) (n=10) Cynosciol! regalis 800.4 51.5 66.2 0.561 1,172.2 74.6 71.3 3.790 Pomatomus saltatrix 633.3 40.8 11.8 2.419 394.9 25.1 28.5 3.2001 Micropogonias undulatus 101.9 6.6 19.2 0.240 Euthynnu� alletteratus 6.8 0.4 0.1 4.701 Peprilus triacanthus 4.1 0.3 1.6 0.116 Menticirrhus americanus 2.6 0.2 0.3 0.411 1985-86 (n=53) (n=15) Cynoscion regalis 1,012.3 57.7 75.8 0.591 973.3 78.5 85.2 0.610 Pomatomus saltatrix 657.9 37.5 10.5 2.782 121.6 9.8 3.2 2.056 Micropogonias undulatus 45.3 2.6 8.7 0.230 9.5 0.8 2.3 0.291 Euthynnu� alletteratus 14.4 0.8 0.1 5.065 2.9 0.2 0.4 4.310 Menticirrhus americanus 9.2 0.5 1.0 0.419 Peprilus triacanthus 7.5 0.4 3.5 0.095 Scomber scombrus 129.5 10.4 8.7 0.796 1986-87 (n=62) (n=32) Cynoscioli regalis 1,343.2 68.8 86.7 0.521 612.4 47.5 50.5 0.498 Pomatomus saltatrix 537.4 27.5 6.2 2.922 365.8 28.4 5.1 2.469 Micropogonias undulatus 44.2 2.3 6.2 0.242 269.0 20.8 42.5 0.260 Euthynnus alletteratus 20.8 1.1 0.1 5.571 20.1 1.6 0.2 4.997 Carcharhinus sp. 12.4 1.0 21 Bluefish catches were generally larger south of Cape Hatteras, but the average weight of the fish was greater north of Cape Hatteras (Table 6). However, several substantial catches of large bluefish were reported early in the season north of Hatteras by boats fishing out of Wanchese that were not sampled. CPUEs fluctuated seasonally, particularly north of Cape Hatteras where large bluefish catches occurred sporadically, but were often not sampled. Atlantic croaker have taken on increased importance in the catches since 1984 (Table 6). Atlantic croaker were more abundant south of Cape Hatteras from 1982-83 through 1985-86, and virtually absent from catches north of Cape Hatteras. However, some of the largest catches of Atlantic croaker by sink netters were made from Avon rocks to Wimble Shoals in April 1987. Species Trends Landings, CPUE, and Size-Age Composition of Sink Net Catches Weakfish During this study, weakfish catches by Dare County sink nets increased and closely paralleled seasonal commercial landings. CPUE rose from 558 to 1,094 kg/trip between 1982 and 1987 (Figure 2, Table 2). Seasonal landings increased from 0.8 million kg in 1982-83 to 2.7 and 2.3 million kg in the 1985-86 and 1986-87 fishing seasons, respectively (Table 7). During this period, weakfish landings by the winter trawl and long haul fisheries generally declined (Figure 3 ). Weakfish were caught by sink nets from December through April. The highest monthly CPUEs varied among years of the project (January through April), but catches were generally larger in February and March (Tables 4 and 5). CPUEs were greater south of Cape Hatteras during the last three fishing seasons and increased (800-1,012-1,343 kg/trip); however, during the 1982-84 seasons, CPUE was greater north of Cape Hatteras (1,553-1,949 kg/trip). The northern and southern areas contrast with each other as CPUEs increased in the south and decreased in the north. (D > 0 A) > tD -h = 0 (D (o COMMERCIAL co 0-3 0) (A :E = a, c COMMERCIAL LANDINGS (Kg 10') m C-t m iv c-" 0 0 Ia. rt (a 0 -h ru W elt to - n 0 =0 0 -Z cu U -3 0 0 ct 0-s m 0 n 0 M @< M ro I ct -1 ou :3 -$ c-t- 0 m C6, I 0 0 0 m -1. co 0 0 0 - LW fl%) 6 m n % % 0) 0 -4 c- ou % 0 C r\) :3 %.a CA OD = il@ clt -0 rt vu (< = = "s = (A m -1 ct to :r 0 0 (D (A > (D r) c -1 00 m 01 m M (D 0) to (D 0 cn Ln 0 m > -4 0 :3 ::r C-t -h m % ;o 00 @lo - (o z a- > I % - -h rt to C) t 00 --.o co a 0) N.C. . I " r) :E 0 0 (D (A co 0 LA rt, -4 :3 Pr z CL 06 0- C6 (D (D co 0 CA &A 00 rt a- (D (A -4 a) 00 C) N) t'. 0', 03 U:@o ct 0- (D 0 L< 00- ::r - -1 a :3 -4 -5 = r) 0 oto (D - 0 (A a (A rt 0i (m (D 00 a) r%) Ln -4 rN.) r-n CPUE (Kg) 23 6- 0 Long haul Pound net o---o Winter trawl Sink (+ ocean gill) net 5- 0 4- 0 0 3- 0 < cr_ 0 2- 0 lb 01 0 0 -0-0 N 10 d 0- @0' 6.5 76 . . . Y5 8,0 815 YEAR ( 19- -) Figure 3. Annual commercial landings of weakfish, Cynoscion regalis, in North Carolina by long hauls, pound nets, winter trawls, and sink nets from 1950-1987. 24 Weakfish captured by sink nets ranged from 160 to 925 mm FL, though the relative number of large fish declined since the 1984-85 season (Figure 4). Throughout the period, 330-380 mm FL encompassed the predominant modal length classes and fish from 300 to 400 mm FL accounted for 53.5-82.1% of the samples. During the 1983-86 seasons, fish 400-600 mm FL made up approximately 33% of the catches; in 1986-87, they fell to only 14.8%. In the 1982-83 season, they were also less abundant in the samples (6.2%), reflecting apparent swings in stock abundance. The decline of large fish was most dramatic in the 600+ mm FL class. This group comprised 4.3-8.0% of the weakfish caught in 1982-84; by the 1984-85 season, they were reduced to only 1.3%, and since then have fallen to less than 0.2%. Historically, these large fish were targeted in March and April as they moved northward across Diamond Shoals and along the beaches. In April of the 1982-84 fishing seasons, catches of large fish were frequent, and on one day in 1983-84, 8-10 boats landed 100-200 boxes (100 lb boxes) of 600+ mm FL weakfish, all caught in one set per boat. In 1984-85, a catch of 250-500 kg of these large weakfish was a significant catch, and since then, virtually none have been caught. Sink net catches were composed mainly of ages 1 and 2 weakfish, though fish up to age 10 were captured (Figure 5). Age 1 fish, which ranged from 210 to 495 mm FL, and age 2 fish, which ranged from 241 to 561 mm FL, accounted for 80.2-92.9% annually of the fish landed. From 1983-84 to 1986-87, age 1 fish increased from 32.8 to 48.9% of the catch. During this time, the relative abundance of age 2 and 3 fish declined 4%/age class. More dramatic, and corresponding with the reduced catch of 600+ mm FL fish, was the decline in fish age 5 and older, down from 3.6-7.2% during the 1982-84 seasons to <0.1% during the 1985-87 fishing seasons. Fred Fox (pers. commun. ibid) attributes this local decline to warmer winters, i.e., the larger fish not migrating as far south. However, the winter trawl fleet has not caught these older fish in more northern waters since 1985 (Ross et al. 1989; Ross 1989). 25 15 1982-83 10- n = 2286 5- 10- 1983-84 n=6196 5- Z 10- 1984-85 Ui n =4902 Cr U- 5- Z w U Cr w a- 10- 1985-86 n 5750 5- 1986-87 10- n 7233 5- 300 400 500 660 700 800 900 TOTAL LENGTH (10 mm size classes) Figure 4. Expanded length frequencies of weakfish, Cynoscion regalis, from January 1983 through April 1987 sink net catches; n=number of fish measured. 26 50- 1982-83 1985-86 40- 30- 20- 10- -65 1=41= .8 1.0, 5 .3 A 50- 1983-84 1986-87 z w 40- :D I CY W 30- w LL- I 20- z LLI 10- ?D 2.4 IS 12 8 .9 .9 w [@<.I <1 <.I <.I <.I <.I L-:L. rI I 0 2 4 50- AGE 40- 1984-85 30- 20- 10- .4 .3 .2 1 1 <.I 0 2 4' 8 10 AGE Figure 5. Annual age composition of weakfish, Cynoscion regalis, in sink net catches, 1982-87. 27 Bl uef i sh As with weakfish, the trend toward increased bluefish landings since 1978 reflected the pattern of fishing effort in Dare County and its abundance off the Outer Banks in the winter months (Figure 6a). The increase in landings from virtually 0 in 1978 to 0.8 million kg in 1983 coincided with the expanded activity of the sink net fishery on 'the Outer Banks as well as increased availability of the species along the entire east coast (ASMFC 1987). Landings of bluefish by trawlers similarly rose dramatically during the late 1970s - early 1980s (Figure 7). Seasonal CPUEs of bluefish by sink nets have ranged between 400 and 848 kg/trip during the study period, with no trend apparent (Table 3). The inconsistency of CPUE and landings data (Figure 6b) might result from the sporadic nature of bluefish catches and our sampling effort, which, together with increased fishing effort since 1985, could explain the increased sink net landings of bluefish. Catches of bluefish fluctuated monthly with no pattern (Tables 4 and 5). Good catches of large bluefish occurred in November and December, but were not sampled. Large bluefish typically occur off Oregon Inlet to Cape Hatteras in late November through December, from Cape Hatteras to off Portsmouth Island December through early April, and again north of Cape Hatteras in late March through early May. Basically, the market price, demand, and the availability of higher priced species dictated bluefish catches. Bluefish were harvested by sink nets both north and south of Cape Hatteras. Annually, CPUE averaged from 375 to 908 kg/trip south of Cape Hatteras, and 107 to 1,172 kg/trip north of Cape Hatteras; CPUEs were larger south of Cape Hatteras during three of the last five fishing seasons (Table 6b). A broad size range of bluefish (220-850 mm FL) were captured by the sink net fishery. During the first four seasons, two or three primary length frequency modes were represented (Figure 8). The smaller fish 28 1,000 o----o Dare county a-,& Carteret county 0 0 C) % A OL@'0 500- o--6 LLI C) 7@ Y4 @6 i8 60 ' 82 84 86 YEAR (19--) Dare CPUE Dare gill net landings o---o State gill net landings 1,500- -1,200 1,250- -1,000 B. Iz 0 - 800 E 1,000- 0 M % Uj *%%% % -J 750- %% 600 _j 0----0" 500- 450 250- 200 E3 1982 1983 144 1985 1986 -83 -84 -85 -86 -87 FISHING SEASON Figure 6. A) Annual commercial landings of bluefish, Pomatomus saltatrix, in Dare and Carteret counties from ocean- 11 nets 1972-1987. fished gi B) Mean catch per trip (CPUE) and total commercial landings for Dare County ocean-fished gill nets, and total state ocean-fished gill net landings of bluefish, Pomatomus saltatrix., for 1982 through 1987 fishing seasons. 29 2,000- Long haul 9 Pound net 0 o Winter trawl Sink (+ ocean gill) net .0 1,500- a 1,000- 0 0: LLJ 500- 0 C) 0 0 U %1% q % %% A. '@O 50 55 65 70 1 1175 80 85 YEARS (19--) Figure 7. Annual commercial landings of bluefish, Pomatomus saltatrix, in North Carolina by long hauls, pound nets, winte-r--t-r-a-wTs-, and sink nets from 1950-1987. 30 10- 1982-83 n = 1988 10- 1983-84 n 1542 5- C3.M A Z 1984-85 10- n 2086 Cr 5- Uj Cr 10- 1985-86 n = 1436 5- 1986-87 10- n = 1145 T-I 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 FORK LENGTH (10mm size classes) Figure 8. Expanded length frequencies of bluefish, Pomatomus saltatrix, from January 1983 through April 1987 sink net catches; n=number of fish measured. 31 (220-450 mm FL) were captured incidentally, but on a regular basis by fishermen in pursuit of weakf i sh. Fish 500+ mm FL were caught in 12.7-15.2 mm (5-6 in) stretched mesh; these were occasionally targeted for or caught by crews in pursuit of large weakfish. A noticeable change in length-frequency distribution occurred in 1986-87: considerably fewer small bluefish (220-450 mm FL) were captured and large bluefish dominated (Figure 8). The decline in small bluefish could reflect reduced year class strength. Numbers of bluefish <450 mm FL from 1982-83 through 1985-86 were 45.5 to 69.6 fish/trip, while in 1986-87, this declined to 9.6 fish/trip. Through the 1985-86 season, large bluefish (>600 mm FL) dominated catches north of Hatteras, and accounted for 67.1 to 95.1% of the fish sampled. South of Hatteras, the catches were more evenly divided in sizes: f i sh 201-400 mm FL accounted for 37.3 to 49.3% and fish >600 mm FL accounted for 48.3 to 57.2%. In 1986-87, large bluefish dominated catches in northern (87%) and southern (66%) areas. Atypically, small bluefish only accounted for 3.8% of the catches below Hatteras. Fish in the 500-600 mm FL range, which through 1985-86 made up less than 10.6% of the catch north of Hatteras and 2.7% south of Hatteras, represented 26.7% of the fish sampled in 1986-87. Bluefish caught in sink nets ranged from age 0 through age 9. Age 0 fish were predominant during three fishing seasons, whereas ages 1, 4, and 5 fish in 1983-84 and ages 2, 4, and 5 fish in 1986-87 were co-dominant age groups (Figure 9). Bluefish ages 4 (650-710 mm FL) and 5 (680-750 mm FL) were the predominant age classes for bluefish >600 mm FL. The major decline in age 0 and age 1 fish in 1986-87 corresponded with the reduced numbers of fish <500 mm FL in the length frequency distributions (Figures 8 and 9). Also of note, 1986-87 was the first season where substantial numbers of age 2 and 3 fish (450-650 mm FL) were caught in sink nets. Atlantic Croaker Sink net landings of Atlantic croaker off the Outer Banks were higher from 1984 to 1987 than any of the preceding six years, this followed the pattern displayed by weakfish and bluefish (Figure 10). 32 30- 1982-83 20- 10 20- 1983-84 10-1 . :@] @-. .1 . I >- 40- 1984-85 z 30- LLI 20- LL- 10 z Ui U - Cr 40- 1985-86 Ui 30- 20- 10- 20- 1986-87 10- r-F .1 0 2 6' 1'0 AGE Figure 9. Annual age composition of bluefish, sa Pomatomus ltatrix, in sink net catches, 1982-87. (D co COMMERCIAL COMMERCIAL LANDINGS (Kg x 103) rt = m -J. = = cn su U@ su (A a- -5 ct in = =a C> En 0 m rD @P) -4 m 1:3 C) QL JW cn 0 C, w 0 0 0 0 C+ 0 0 C> C) En um r) -5 rt to r- I I -A 0 0 m n 0 ca 0 =r = lu 4 !A - 1-01 M o o' gu 2+lm m j In 0 0 C+ tn 0 A) o %% CA C) C) clt 'D to @ 0 D. o) to (< -.40 sw co co i . - = tw -4. 0 N) = = (D a) C-) I ta. CL C) m �@-- ". z (D = i.0 C-) = C) co co- 0 -0 m - D, :3 0) M 000) (Jo C: > (D :3 - -4-1 CA (n rrl X -4-0 0 (+ C+ CD 00 (D 0 m Z-D 11 11 -5 -h > 0 ou (n rL (D cn 0003 t :3 = 1 00. .0 c) a) c5i I 00 a- (D C+ PJ a- 0 0 0 z It C+ 0 0) 1 Z3 0 0 060 1> ct to to oj 0 77 0003- 3--a p = (D -4a) 00 1 C+ -1 0 0 r) c -h 0 rD -0 =r r) (D S % to :3 a :x 00 - %0 -% ct M --h 0 1--o En -s -1 -1 W jW 0 0 b 00 7r a -0 1 0 N) CA I -_j m 0) fu 00 0 s= - 0 Lcl 0 cr) r-L 0 0 C) 0 (D 0 iw ct cL CPUE Kg) 34 Atlantic croaker dominated (70%) sink net landings in 1978 and were second to weakfish in 1979 (29%). Since then, Atlantic croaker have been the third most important species in the sink net fishery. Af ter 1984, ocean-fished gill nets were the second most productive gear for landings of Atlantic croaker in North Carolina (Figure 11). Sink net catches and landings of Atlantic croaker generally increased during the 1982-83 to 1986-87 fishing seasons (Figure 10); average CPUEs ranged from 0.2 kg/trip (1982-83) to 120 kg/trip (1986-87). Similarly, ocean gill net landings increased in Dare County and statewide. Atlant ic croaker CPUEs were higher (13.3-101.9 kg/trip) south of Cape Hatteras throughout the 1985-86 season, though in 1986-87 larger CPUEs (269 kg/trip) were made north of Cape Hatteras (Table 6). CPUEs of Atlantic croaker were largest in December during the 1983-84 through 1985-86 seasons south of Cape Hatteras, although good catches occurred in February 1985 (Table 5). The 1986-87 catches were small from December through March, but catches of 450 kg/trip in April were the highest monthly CPUEs for the entire study; these catches were made north of Cape Hatteras off Avon Rocks as fish migrated northward. The length frequency distributions of Atlantic croaker captured in sink nets were unimodal; modes of 260-275 mm TL existed annually, except in 1982-83 when few fish were measured (Figure 12). Atlantic croaker ranged from just under 200 mm to 366 mm TL. During the last 4 seasons, most of the fish were 250-300 mm TL (64.7-81.4%). Large Atlantic croaker (>300 mm TQ accounted for 4.9% (1985-86) to 21.9% (1986-87). The percentage of unmarketable (<225 mm TL) fish ranged from 0.4 to 2.1%. Atlantic croaker caught in sink nets were predominantly age 2 and 3, even though the size frequency distribution was unimodal (Figure 13). Ages 1 through 6 croaker were caught, but ages 2 and 3 accounted for 91.6% (1986-87) to 93.5% (1985-86) of the catches seasonally (excluding 1982-83, when few croaker were sampled). The relative.abundance of age 2 and age 3 fish has remained comparatively consistent since 1983-84. Older Atlantic croaker (age 4+) ranged from 3.2 to 6.5% from 1983 to 1987. 35 5 Long haul 9 11 Pound net o---o Winter trawl 3jC . . . . .Sink (+ocean gill) net 4- C) 3- E5 9 2- Ui M CD r P, d A IM P, 01 d5' 50 '@5' 70' '75 80 85 YEAR (19--) Figure 11. Annual commercial landings of croaker Micropogonias undulatus, in North Carolina by long @auls, pound nets, winter trawls, and sink nets from 1950-1987. 36 20- 1982-83 15- n 19 10- 5- 1983-84 10- n =663 5- Z 9 D Cr 1984-85 10- n--;1568 5-@ Z Cr_ 1985-86 10- n=1594 5- 1986-87 10- n=2524 5-L 200 250 360 350 TOTAL LENGTH (5mm size classes) Figure 12. Expanded length frequencies of Atlantic croaker, Micropogonias undulatus, from January 1983 through April 1987 sink net catches; n = number of fish measured. PERCENT FREQUENCY N -0. 0) co r\) -0, 0) 00 rN (D 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 c ol -0 LA M D> 0 A) > im i G) (DO C+ Lo 0) rri 0(a OD 00 0 :3 (D C+ 0 0 G) - =:I OD (D C: -0 :3 0 C C+ 0 = o- 0 W 0 cl+ > uj G) to C-+ -rs co @. m Oo A N) 0 U - 030 38 DISCUSSION Since 1978, sink nets have increasingly become the dominant type of gill net used in the coastal ocean waters along the Outer Banks of North Carolina from late fall through early spring. During the first year of this study (1982), considerable effort was exerted by fishermen using dories and fishing anchored and/or floating gill nets just off the beach. However, the closure of North Carolina coastal ocean waters to the taking of striped bass in 1984 ended the floating gill net fishery. The success of the sink net was a strong inducement to many other fishermen and thereby greatly reduced fishing effort in the anchored gill net fishery. The sink net and floating gill net fisheries are directed fisheries while anchored gill nets are a more generalized gear. Though mesh sizes used in the sink net fishery (7.6-15.2 cm stretched mesh) catch a variety of fish, they are, in fact, set for short periods on predetermined concentrations of fish and targeted for weakfish, bluefish, or Atlantic croaker. This results in catches totally dominated by one or two species and usually by one or two specific market grades of that species. The floating gill net was selective for striped bass with its 25.4 cm (10 in) stretched mesh when fished in very specific locations, left in the water overnight, and set off the bottom to avoid catching dogfish. Anchored gill nets, on the other hand, produced catches of greater species diversity. They were fished overnight close to the surf zone and had mesh sizes capable of catching a variety of species. Though ostensibly directed by season and location on either weakfish, king mackerel, bluefish, or spot, their catches were often dominated by species other than those intentionally sought. This parallels anchored gill net catches ("set nets") which occur in the inside waters of North Carolina's sounds and rivers. The sink net fishery along the Outer Banks has expanded during the last 10 years (Figure 14). Marketable finfish landings have doubled from 1982 to 1987 and accounted for 51-67% of North Carolina's marketable finfish landings from ocean gill nets (Table 7). The fishery's expansion was also in fishing effort. The number of boats 39 Carteret county landings 0___O Dare county landings ....... Dare and Carteret county 2T 3.0- -100 Cn 0 2.5- % I 90 < 2.0- 0., _j 80 12 w 1.5- 70 Q_ 1.0- 60 0.5- 50 10 E3 75 80 85 YEAR (19--) Figure 14. Total annual commercial finfish landings for Dare and Carteret County ocean-fished gill nets from 1972 through 1987 and the percent of all North Carolina ocean-fished gill net landings from Dare and Carteret counties. I Table 7. Seasonal commercial landings (weight; kg) from gill nets fished in the ocean during 1982-1987 fishing seasons (September-April) for North Carolina, Dare County, Carteret County, and other areas combined, including total value of state's landings and relative contribution of each area grouping (percent). C) September 1982-April 1983 September 1983-April 1984 September 1984-April 1985 September 1985-April 1986 September 1986-April 1987 Weight Value/ Weight Value/ Weight Value/ Weight Value/ Weight Value/ NO percent NO percent NO percent (kq) percent NO percent Bluefish 970,078 310,219 637,343 252,096 561,535 248,853 744,247 227,478 979,257 469,839 Dare 845,923 87.2 550,490 86.4 493,718 87.9 577,778 77.6 876,126 89.5 Carteret 76,077 7.8 70,057 11.0 27,377 7.2 118,593 15.9 80,542 8.2 Others 48,078 5.0 16,796 2.6 40,440 4.9 47,876 6.4 22,589 2.3 Weakfish 846,337 944,277 1,555,217 1,303,129 1,564,657 1,423,014 2,653,582 1,812,703 2,277,279 1,903,1B9 Dare 673,946 79.6 1,159,298 74.5 1,138,650 72.8 1,830,121 69.0 1,871,054 82.2 Carteret 112,686 13.3 315,765 20.3 337,709 21.6 635,852 24.0 254,009 11.2 Others 59,705 7.1 80,154 5.2 88,298 5.6 187,609 7.1 152,216 6.6 Croaker 384,986 396,676 539,698 477,841 1,218,711 823,714 1,252,499 1,065,779 1,203,675 980,102 Dare 8,769 2.3 35,755 6.6 199,276 16.4 114,982 9.2 161,070 13.4 Carteret 325,659 84.6 442,121 81.9 901,761 74.0 1,028,564 82.1 977,212 81.2 Others 50,568 13.1 61,822 11.4 117,674 9.6 108,842 8.7 65,393 5.4 Red drum 5,309 2,642 36,683 21,058 20,692 13,915 18,758 15,350 8,730 8,926 Dare 109 2.1 7,062 19.3 2,026 9.8 2,903 15.5 470 5.4 Carteret 3,074 57.9 22,465 61.2 13,465 65.1 12,338 65.8 4,731 54.6 Others 2,126 40.0 7,156 19.5 5,201 25.1 3,517 18.7 3,489 40.0 King mackerel 168,143 355,595 52,614 74,797 24,247 40,477 7,373 20,579 8,114 14,812 Dare 166,005 98.7 52,527 99.7 23,988 98.9 5,531 75.0 3,950 48.6 Carteret 536 0.3 79 0.3 176 0.7 1,842 25.0 1,409 17.4 Others 1,602 1.0 8 <0.1 83 0.4 0 0 2,755 34.0 Kingfish 29,933 23,304 26,046 22,974 76,221 66,242 118,297 106,802 109,501 104,845 Dare 498 1.7 566 2.1 4,288 5.6 13,186 11.1 4,744 4.3 Carteret 9,547 31.9 12,803 49.2 32,495 42.6 71,060 60.1 37,061 33.8 Others 19,888 66.4 12,677 48.7 39,438 51.7 34,051 28.8 67,696 61.8 Butterfish 38,322 14,961 5,605 3,845 12,613 8,180 9,044 6,643 11,122 8,833 Dare 3,156 8.4 1,837 32.8 4,682 37.1 6,059 67.0 6,885 61.9 Carteret 35,101 91.6 2,006 35.8 5,077 40.3 636 7.0 2,194 19.7 Others 65 <0.1 1,762 31.4 2,854 22.6 2,349 26.0 2,043 18.4 Spotted seatrout 2,273 3,950 4,216 9,294 4,188 7,230 15,902 27,767 9,827 15,954 Dare 663 29.2 418 9.9 487 11.6 3,219 20.2 801 8.1 Carteret 1,606 70.7 3,644 86.4 2,864 68.4 10,287 64.7 6,914 70.4 Others 4 0.1 154 3.7 837 20.0 2,396 15.1 2,112 21.5 Spanish mackerel 29,794 22,756 3,797 2,738 14,094 10,401 26,784 22,577 40,985 35,897 Dare 3,746 12.6 985 25.9 3,158 22.4 5,403 20.2 3,670 9.0 Carteret 21,892 73.5 2,812 74.1 10,254 72.8 19,933 74.4 22,943 56.0 Others 4,156 13.9 0. 682 4.8 1,448 5.4 14,372 35.0 = = = = = m = = = = m = = = = m = = m Table 7. (continued). September 1982-April 1983 September 1983-ADril 1984 September 1984-ADril 1985 September 1985-April 1986 SeDtember 1986-April 1987 Weight Value/ Weight Value/ Weight Value/ Weight Value/ Weight Value/ (ko) percent (kq) percent NO percent (kq) percent (kq) percent Spot 37,154 23,026 65,025 36,524 131,436 71,345 150,445 94,101 212,972 126,589 Dare 954 2.6 510 0.8 1,091 0.8 12,824 8.5 9,574 4.5 Carteret 18,695 50.6 43,155 66.4 92,126 70.1 72,154 48.0 141,503 66.4 Others 17,406 46.8 21,360 32.8 38,219 29.1 65,467 43.5 61,895 29.1 Striped bass 22,295 137,150 311 2,327 11 56 0 0 0 0 Dare 21,575 96.8 295 94.9 0 0 0 0 0 0 Carteret 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Others 720 3.2 16 5.1 11 100.0 0 0 0 0 bait (scrap) 66,498 5,760 43,519 3,266 100,138 6,628 13,019 1,035 23,467 1,646 Dare 5,799 9.2 24,756 56.9 4,688 4.7 1,896 14.6 199 0.8 Carteret 51,043 81.7 18,763 43.1 95,200 95.1 11,123 85.4 23,101 98.5 Others 5,656 9.1 0 0 250 0.2 0 0 167 0.7 Marketable finfish 2,613,259 2,263,418 3,027,583 2,228,161 3,725,283 2,760,354 5,144,289 3,495,581 5,043,405 3,791,425 Dare 1,748,478 66.9 1,849,980 61.1 1,914,415 51.4 2,621,917 51.0 3,005,025 59.6 Carteret 643,360 24.6 932,483 30.8 1,460,052 39.2 2,014,984 39.1 1,557,718 30.9 Others 221,413 8.5 245,120 8.1 351,116 9.4 507,388 9.9 480,662 9.5 Total finfisb 2,675,756 2,269,178 3,071,102 2,231,427 3,825,422 2,766,982 5,157,308 3,496,616 5,066,872 3,793,071 Dare 1,754,277 65.6 1,874,736 61.0 1,918,803 50.2 2,623,813 50.9 3,005,224 59.3 Carteret 694,411 26.0 951,246 31.0 1,555,252 40.7 2,026,107 39.3 1,580,820 31.2 Others 227,068 8.4 245,120 8.0 351,367 9.1 507,388 9.8 480,828 9.5 42 doubled with 100-110 boats fishing out of Hatteras during the height of the 1986-87 season. Since the 1982-83 fishing season, the mean length of net fished daily/boat for weakfish increased each of the last three seasons from 509 to 1,105 m (1,658 to 3,600 ft). The fleet fished roughly 110 km (68 miles) of net on any one day (100 boats x 1,105 m/boat). The average vessel size and speed increased, so more fishing days occurred with more hours on the fishing grounds. Although the Dare and Carteret County fisheries dominated North Carolina ocean gill net landings, which steadily increased during the last decade (Figure 14), there were some differences between them. Dare County catches were dominated,by weakfish, while Carteret County catches were predominantly Atlantic croaker. Bluefish were much more important in Dare County catches (Table 7). Dare County vessels fished out of Oregon and Hatteras Inlets, covering waters from Corolla to Ocracoke Inlet, whereas Carteret County vessels fished out of Bardens and Beaufort Inlets, covering waters from Beaufort Inlet to east of Cape Lookout Shoals and north to Drum Inlet. The fish caught in the Carteret 3 County fishery were smaller , which is consistent with observed geographic differences in winter trawl catches (Ross et al. 1989, Ross 1989). The Outer Banks sink net fleet fished primarily on the concen- trations of schooling fish located off Cape Hatteras in the late fall through early spring. The area is the primary wintering grounds for a large portion of the bluefish and weakfish populations occurring on the east coast, due to the proximity and warming influence of the Gulf Stream (Mercer 1983, Wilk 1977, ASMFC 1987). When stock size is large, the species tends to expand in spatial distribution to reduce interspecific competition, whereas when reduced in size, it will usually inhabit the most favorable areas within the species' seasonal distributional range (Moermond 1979). Assuming the 3 Pers. commun. Rick Monaghan, N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries, Morehead City, N.C. 43 Hatteras area is the primary wintering grounds for these species, CPUEs from the winter fisheries may be misleading because of the limited spatial coverage of the fishery and the fact that bluefish, weakfish, and Atlantic croaker will always be concentrated in this area. Weakfish were generally targeted by sink nets and dominated catches@ in all but the first year of this study. They were captured north of Cape Hatteras in December and early January. As water temperatures declined weakfish become concentrated in the Hatteras Bight, where the largest catches occurred from January through March. As water temperatures warm in late March-April, the fish moved northward across Diamond Shoals or very close to the beach and into Hatteras Inlet; during this period catches were made north and south of Cape Hatteras. Weakfish landings in the sink net fishery have risen dramatically since 1982 (Table 8, Figure 3) and CPUEs have steadily increased, though growth overfishing may be indicated. East coast landings, which peaked in 1978-1981 (11,946-16,394 mt), have since declined to 8,132 mt in 1987. North Carolina winter trawls, pound net, and long haul landings have also declined following 1980 peak landings (Table 8, Figure 3). The increased effort and fishing power of the sink net fishery has led to the virtual abandonment of the area by a portion of the winter trawl fleet. These factors facilitated the fishery's increased landings and concurrent decreased landings by winter trawls. Since the area fished is the primary wintering grounds for weakfish, the rising CPUEs may be an unreliable indicator of stock size. The decline in large weakfish age 3 and older suggests that the stock may not be able to sustain itself with increased fishing pressure. The sink net fishery has become the dominant commercial weakfish fishery, not only among North Carolina fisheries, but on the U.S. Atlantic coast, having increased from 10% to 18% of the entire east coast catch from 1982 to 1987. In fact, Dare County sink net landings alone for the 1985-86 and 1986-87 fishing seasons exceeded the annual commercial landings of any individual state during 1986 and 1987. 1 2 3 4 Table 8. Seasonal commercial landings (Weight; kg) of the pound net ,long haul , winter trawl ,and ocean gill net (gill net) fisheries 4@- in North Carolina for 1982-1987 (year = May-April), including total landingsYspecies, total value of state landings/species (value 4@. in dollars) and relative contribution of the three fisheries/species (percent). May 82-April 83 May 83-April 84 May 84-April 85 May 85-April 86 May 86-April 87 Value/ Value/ V Value/ Value/ Species Weight percent Weight percent Weight percent Weight Percent Weight percent Atlantic croaker 4,475,183 3,572,225 3,696,529 3,099,117 4,706,728 3,277,669 4,211,368 3,203,918 3,757,338 2,908,579 Pound net 862,826 19.31 292,366 7.91 442,596 9.40 567,300 13.47 234,416 6.24 Long haul 2,063,529 46.11 1,882,916 50.94 1,338,748 28.45 1,113,946 26.45 1,391,870 37.04 Trawler 546,971 12.22 478,225 12.94 1,359,245 28.88 1,068,981 25-38 720,638 19.18 Gill net 384,986 8.60 539,698 13.29 1,218,712 25.89 1,252,499 29.74 1,203,675 32.04 Weakfish 5,162,914 4,694,631 5,486,081 3,936,466 4,727,595 3,873,849 6,626,487 4,458,011 5,276,438 4,151,890 Pound net 126,297 2.45 73,252 1.34 167,074 3.53 191,738 2,89 87,785 1.66 Long haul 736,868 14.27 704,138 12.84 762,097 16.12 507,797 7.66 586 '247 11.11 Trawler 3,054,275 59.46 2,739,895 49.94 1,759,686 37.22 2,569,774 38.79 1,970,830 37.35 Gill net 846,333 16.39 1,555,298 28.35 1,564,658 33.10 2,653,583 40.05 2,277,279 43.16 Bluefish 3,469,797 914,334 1,618,306 565,016 1,344,411 509,375 1,734,020 513,017 1,712,022 731,837 Pound net 88,704 2.56 31,372 1.94 38,456 2.86 51,388 2.96 30,272 1.77 Long haul 193,795 S.58 153,069 9.46 111,266 11.65 216,208 12.47 211 '585 12.36 Trawler 1,775,769 51.18 464,709 28.71 359,196 26.72 352,673 20.34 185,401 10.83 Gill net 970,078 27.96 637,344 39.38 561,535 41.77 744,247 42-92 979,257 51.20 Spot 2,214,042 1,063,275 1,387,795 699,276 1,561,783 808,613 1,843,424 899,891 1,472,840 9,351,218 Pound net 150,048 6.78 29,721 2.14 88,802 5.69 56,318 3.06 22 012 1.49 Long haul 1,555,921 70.28 884,833 62.29 937,809 60.05 1,125,779 61.14 865:454 58.76 Trawler 35,746 1.61 69,193 4.99 49,812 3.19 75,033 4.07 38 395 2.61 Gill net 37,154 1.68 65,025 4.69 131,436 8.42 150,445 8.16 212:972 14.46 Butterfish 135,196 75,641 52,774 42,742 80,090 63,785 62 727 5 47,189 78,890 72,270 Pound net 10,922 8.08 1,445 2.74 6,857 8.56 13:949 22.24 9,969 12.62 Long haul 3,670 2.71 4,085 8.37 2,335 2.92 210 0.34 12,834 16.25 Trawler 74,338 54.99 37,826 71.68 51,761 64.63 33,594 53.56 38,961 49.22 Gill net 38,322 28.35 5,605 10.61 12,613 15.74 9,044 14.42 11022 14.08 Harvestfish 198,545 123,419 100,583 59,970 110,047 96,992 18,716 200,423 137,138 167,224 Pound net 34,151 17.20 16,852 16.75 31,755 28.86 86,322 46-48 33,770 24.63 Long haul 50,869 20.58 19,513 19.40 21,415 19.46 16,361 8.81 32 791 23.91 Trawler 34,214 17.23 7,123 7.08 5,143 4.67 42,716 23.00 6:563 4.79 Gill net 41,955 21.13 6,084 6.04 5,141 4.67 17,174 9.54 11 '333 8.26 Spanish mackerel 85,827 61,268 18,750 15,221 57,818 42,043 78,543 56,113 105,326 81,196 Pound net 3,110 3.62 2,654 14.15 6,321 10.93 9,759 12.43 16 '027 15.22 Long haul 925 1.07 1,480 7.89 2,578 4.46 4,952 6.31 13,057 12.40 Trawler 374 0.44 6 0.03 0 273 0.35 332 0.32 Gill net 29,794 34.71 3,797 20.25 14,095 24.38 26,784 34.10 40,995 38.91 Table 8. (continued). May 82-April 83 May 83-April 84 May 84-April 85 May 85-April 86 May 86-April 87 Value/ Value/ V Value/ Value/ Species Weight percent Weight percent Weight percent Weight percent Weight percent Spotted seatrout 42,357 71,764 72,151 120,497 68,392 122,505 65,092 171,346 85,44B 156,623 Pound net 4,920 11.62 4,900 6.79 4,089 5.98 229 0.35 260 0.30 Long haul 15,069 35.58 18,687 25.90 15,215 22.25 9,352 14.87 10 079 11.80 Trawler 408 0.96 283 0.39 433 0.63 1,845 2.83 5:698 6.67 Gill net 2,269 5.36 4,216 5.84 4,188 6.12 15,902 24.42 9,837 11.51 Red drum 22,098 11,238 145,989 81,232 90,600 59,570 76,829 113,247 104,466 339,535 Pound net 326 1.47 1,603 1.10 797 0.88 373 0.49 508 0.49 Long haul 4,512 20.42 9,464 6.48 7,005 7.73 2 124 2.76 32,229 30.85 Trawler 6,122 27.70 13,064 8.95 6,416 7.08 1:624 2.11 1,613 1.54 Gill net 5,309 24.02 36,683 25.13 20,692 22.83 18,753 24.41 8,730 8.36 Striped bass 109,627 451,330 185,351 356,001 211,534 365,232 100,642 169,542 134,547 297,433 Pound net - - - - - - - - 239 0.18 Long haul 103 0.09 9 0.01 21 0.01 - - - - Trawler 1,642 1.50 6,184 3.34 60 0.03 - - Gill net 22,295 20.34 311 0.17 11 <0.01 - - - - Bait 4,301,721 353j653 4,430,304 375,892 4,694,783 380,999 3,437,035 229,952 2,836,315 201,473 Pound net 349,400 8.12 200,648 4.53 421,003 8.97 549 316 15.98 123,088 4.34 Long haul 1,878,688 43.56 1,900,757 42.90 1,884,021 40.13 1,148:202 33.41 1,385,669 48.85 Trawler 1,364,153 31.71 1,612,931 36.41 11,721,847 36.68 1,619,860 47.13 904,971 31.91 Gill net 62,498 1.45 43,519 0.98 100,138 2.13 13SO19 0.38 23,467 0.83 Total finfish (w/out menhaden) 31,767,060 23,446,020 32,776,462 23,638,834 37,030,484 28,220,020 32,319,039 27,182,009 25,462,043 25,398,740 Pound net 1,669,377 5.35 706,031 2.15 1,284,724 3.47 1,552,521 4.80 684,065 2.69 Long haul 6,478,629 20.71 5,649,002 17.23 5,174,860 13.97 4,249,956 13.15 4,713,560 18.51 Trawler 10,336,900 32.63 11,778,857 35.94 11,898,864 32.13 9,850,153 30.48 6,492,565 25.50 Gill net 2,671,221 8.42 3,071,102 9.36 3,825,422 10.33 5,157,317 15.96 5,066,872 19.90 1 Pound net landings include Dare County. 2 Long haul landings include: Dare, Hyde, Carteret, Craven, Pamlico, and Beaufort counties. 3 Winter trawl landings include: Dare, Hyde, Pamlico, Beaufort, Craven, Carteret, Brunswick, and Onslow counties. 4 Ocean gill net landings include all state landings September through April 5 North Carolina commercial landings combined harvestfish and butterfish landings in 1985 as harvestfish; we extrapolated out butterfish landings from harvestfish landings based on monthly relative proportions of the two species in our samples. 4@b Ln 46 Si nk nets have also become the dominant commercial fishing gear harvesting bluefish both in North Carolina and for the U.S. Atlantic coast. Sink net landings in the last five years exceeded catches by the winter trawl fleet and all other gears in North Carolina; their contribution increased from 28 to 51% (Table 8, Figure 7), of which Dare County accounted for 78% (1985-86) to 89% (1986-87)(Table 7). Since 1979, bluefish landings in North Carolina have exceeded any other east coast state and in 1983 and 1986, sink net landings alone exceeded the catch of any east coast state. Landings of bluefish followed east coast trends, but there was no relationship between sink net CPUEs and landings. CPUEs fluctuated between 500 and 1,075 kg/trip, but tended to decline the last three seasons whereas landings increased. The increased fishing effort coupled with sporadic large catches often missed by once a week sampling were likely responsible for the lack of correlation. Both sets of landings were high in 1983, declined in 1984, and rose in 1985 and 1986. In spite of lowered CPUEs, sink net landings rose to their highest level in 1986-87, reflecting, in part, increased effort. Noteworthy changes in age composition of the bluefish catches occurred in the 1986-87 fishing season. The substantial decline in age 0 fish suggests a poor year class, since this age class was predominant in the catches the four previous seasons. The NMFS Southeast Fisheries Center young-of-the-year bluefish index in 1987 was the lowest on record.4 The increased contribution of ages 2 and 3 in 1986-87 was unique; earlier, they were rarely caught in sink nets as well as winter trawls off North Carolina (Ross 1989; Ross et al. 1989). This could represent a differential seasonal distribution by age (size) group. Ages 4 and 5 bluefish (650-750 mm FL) predominated catches of large fish each season because of their susceptibility to capture by 14-15.2 mm (5.5-6 in) stretched mesh net as well as their availability; similarly , they were the dominant ages in winter trawl catches of large bluefish off North Carolina (Ross 1989, Ross et al. 1989). 4 Pers. commun. Chris Moore, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, Annapolis, MD. 47 North Carolina has dominated east coast Atlantic croaker landings since 1966 (Mercer 1989), and sink nets have become an increasingly important gear. Historically, long haul seine and winter trawl catches produced most of these landings, but have declined since the late 1970s (Ross et al. 1986, Moye and Strasser 1989, Ross et al. 1989). On the other hand, sink net landings declined from 1980 to 1983 and then increased in recent years to become the co-dominant gear for croaker along with long haul seines (Figure 14, Table 8). Sink nets produced only 8.6% of the Atlantic croaker landed in 1982-83, but 29.7% and 32.0% of the landings during the 1985-87 fishing seasons. The majority of the Atlantic croaker were landed in Carteret Count (74-85%), although the contribution of Dare County has increased the last three seasons. Croaker caught by sink nets were consistently a larger, older class of fish than were harvested by other North Carolina fisheries. Whereas sink net catches were predominantly age 2 and 3 croaker, the winter trawl, pound net, and long haul fisheries were all dominated by age 1 and 2 fish (Ross 1989, Moye and Strasser 1989, Burns and Ross 1989). In the 1980s, the North Carolina sink net fishery experienced a tremendous increase in finfish landings. Sink nets became the dominant gear landing weakfish, bluefish, and Atlantic croaker not only in North Carolina (Table 8), but along the entire U.S. Atlantic coast. While other fisheries landings of these species have declined, sink net landings have risen. The amount of unmarketable finfish landed by sink nets in Dare County was negligible in spite of the increased effort and landings. In Carteret County, where 85-98% of the scrap fish were landed during the last three seasons (Table 7), these fish made up <2% of the sink net landings. The amount of discarded fish at Hatteras fish houses was always <25 kg/trip for gill net catches. Obviously, the size selecti- vity of the gill nets and the selective targeting of key market species such as weakfish (7.6-9.5 cm stretched mesh), Atlantic croaker (7.0-8.3 cm stretched mesh), or bluefish (7.6-15.2 cm stretched mesh) precluded an abundance of undersized fish. From 1982 to 1987, 12-36% of the 48 weakfish in long hauls, 18-29% in pound nets, and 12-16% in winter trawl catches were unmarketable-size fish, while even greater amounts of Atlantic croaker were undersized in these fisheries (Ross et al. 1986 , Ross and Moye 1989). The future of the Hatteras sink net fishery is uncertain, although catches and landings have increased, and profits have allowed crews to purchase larger and faster vessels. Weakfish landings peaked in the late 1970s, but have declined recently coastwide (Mercer 1983b). They are still abundant compared to the 1950 and 1960s landings, but weakfish can decline dramatically and remain at low population levels (Mercer 1983b). It is possible that the stock has recently experienced growth overfishing,- indicated by the lack of age 5 and older fish. The disappearance of large weakfish has also been observed in North Carolina winter trawl fishery catches during the same period, and this fishery covers grounds from New Jersey to Cape Lookout, N.C. (Ross 1989). Bluefish landings have also decreased since the peak landings in the late 1970s. Population levels may have declined in recent years (Crecco et al . 1987). However, both weakfish and bluefish are notorious for wide swings in abundance, and local conditions i.e. North Carolina-sink nets, may not be reflective of the total east coast population. Inter-fi-shery gear conflicts will continue to be a problem in North Carolina waters. Until the 1983-84 season, there were less than 50 sink net crews, and trawlers fished flynets for weakfish in the Hatteras Bight from January through March (Ross et afl. 1989). As the sink net fleet expanded, the trawler fleet was reluctantly forced out of the area, finding it impossible in daylight hours to fish around the increasing miles of gill net. Since 1986, virtually no trawlers based in Wanchese fished flynets in the Hatteras Bight. Trawlers from the Morehead City-Beaufort area and inland ports still fish in Hatteras Bight, but usually only at night after sink net crews have departed (Ross 1989). If the trawler fleet experiences declines in flounder, sea bass, and scup abundance in the future, they may be forced to redirect their efforts to weakfish, Atlantic croaker, and bluefish, resulting in gear and spatial conflicts with sink net fishermen. 49 More insidious are the intra-fishery problems relating to overcapi- talization of equipment and sheer numbers of operators in a confined area. One hundred vessels each fishing over 3,600 feet of net/day in a small area, often on the same body of fish, frequently results in crossed nets. Vessels leave the dock at 4:00 a.m. to locate fish and get the first set since early sets are usually the best before fi,sh get 1'run hard" or "scattered"; aggressive and rapid setting of nets displaces any semblance of courtesy. With good catches of 100 mt (more than 2,000 boxes) of weakfish/day, east coast markets are rapidly flooded, sending the prices to $0.05 or $0.10/lb, a low price for top quality 1-4 lb. weakfish. This has become a more frequent occurrence in the sink net fishery and, in part, was responsible for the trend towards larger boats with greater capacity, more speed, more net, more fishing days, and larger boat payments. Further compounding the situation, declining inshore shellfish resources, reduced water quality (open shellfish areas), and catastrophe (red tide in 1987-88) have prompted fishermen from other ports to enter this fishery. The author and sink net fishermen have discussed ways to stabilize the fishery, such as actions to control total catch (to reduce glut conditions) or limit effort; no clear consensus exists. A reduced fishing week (weekdays or not on Sundays) could reduce effort while allowing the market time to clear itself; this option is favored by fish dealers while others fear it would allow a window for opportunistic trawlers. However, sink netters could then gear up to catch the same amount of fish in the shorter period of time, thus producing even more exaggerated market swings. Limiting net size (914 m (1,000 yds)/ vessel) could reduce gear conflicts and stabilize daily catches but individuals with larger vessels and investments are reluctant to equalize fishing power throughout the fleet. Minimum mesh sizes could reduce total catch and stabilize market prices. This change could reduce potential growth overfishing, but it would not reduce gear conflicts and could even exacerbate them. Another option is limited entry. Controlling the size of the fleet would allow some security to those involved, while not immediately 50 regulating their fishing effort. or -power. Limited entry introduces direct control over fishing effort itself, i.e., limiting the number of fishing vessels, tonnage of vessels, etc. (Bell 1980). The salmon and herring fisheries of Alaska and British Columbia have had favorable experiences with limited entry in the form of limited licenses to individuals using specific types of gears (Adasiak 1980). Productive and profitable fisheries exist in Australia that are managed by limited entry, including the rock lobster fishery in which vessels licences and pots/vessel are limited, and the shrimp fishery where vessel licenses ar e limited (Meany 1980). However, the difficulty in controlling effort by restricting licenses was revealed in the northeastern Pacific halibut fishery of British Columbia. The replacement of traditional hooks with circle hooks doubled CPUE (Royce 1987). Modifications of sink net gear or vessels within a limited entry regulated sink net fishery could result in similar increased CPUEs and thus, fishing mortality. However, subsequent regulations on mesh size or net length might then be more palatable to fishermen if it was determined that reduced fishing effort or mortality was needed. 51 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This report would not have been possible without the field work and data processing of Beth Burns, Mark Rockett, Tonya Stevens, Steve Strasser, and John Zuaboni (N.C. DMF biological staff). John Gillikin, Terry Henley, and Katy West provided valuable help with computer- processing. Tonya Stevens and Dee Willis typed and helped organize the manuscript; the late Val Page and Meg Foward drafted the figures. Chris Moore (MAFMC), John Merriner (SEFC, NMFS), Jess Hawkins (DMF), Sara Winslow (DMF), Beth Burns (DMF), Paul Phalen (DMF), and Fred Fox (commercial fisherman) provided constructive comments on the manuscript. Finally, I am especially grateful to the many commercial fishermen and fish dealers in Wanchese and Hatteras who cooperated with this project. 52 LITERATURE CITED Adasiak, A. 1980. The Alaskan experience with limited entry. In: R.B. Rettig and J.J.C. Ginter, eds., Limited entry as a fishery management tool. Sea Grant Publ., Univ. of Washington Press, Seattle, WA, pp. 358-381. Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. 1987. Draft fishery management plan for bluefish. Bell, F. W. 1980. Fisheries economics. In: R. T. Lackey and L. A. Neilsen, eds., Fisheries Management. Blackwell Sci. Pub. Boston, MA, pp. 197-218. Burns, B. L., and J. L. Ross. 1989. Assessment of North Carolina sciaenid pound net fishery. In: Assessment of North Carolina commercial finfisheries, 1985-1988. 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Fishery management plan for Atlantic croaker, Micropogonias undulatus. N.C. Dept. Nat. Resour. and Community Devel., Div. Mar. Fish. 90 p. 53 1983b A biological and fisheries profile of weakfish, Cynoscion regalis. N.C. Dept. Nat. Resour. and Community Devel., Div. Mar. Fish. Spec. Sci. Rep. No. 39. 107 p. Merriner, J. V. 1973. Assessment of the weakfish resource, a suggested management plan, and aspects of life history in North Carolina. Ph.D. Diss. North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh, 201 p. Moermond, T. C. 1979. Resource partitioning: A dynamic competitive balance. In: H. Clepper (ed.) predator-prey systems in fisheries management. Sport Fish. Inst., Washington, D.C. pp. 303-307. Moye, D. W., and S. K. Strasser. 1989. Long haul sein.e fishery assessment. In: J. L. Ross and D. W. Moye Assessment of North Carolina commercial finfisheries: 1985-1988*fishing seasons. Compl. Rep. 2-419-R. N.C. Dept. Nat. Resour. and Community Develop., Div. Mar. Fish., pp. 1-100. 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