Development of the methodology and analysis, Creel census of Corpus Christi Bay area, 1974 summer

Abstract

A sportfishing creel census of Corpus Christi Bay area was conducted during the summer months of 1974. During the three months June, July, and August, 7,575 interviews of fishing parties with 22,313 persons were made. The data extrapolated to the total area and a full year indicate a catch from the bay of 2.87 million pounds of fish caught per year and a Gulf catch of 0.88 million pounds, Fishing yield per unit effort was greatest for the Gulf because of the summer runs of kingfish. The bay was divided into biotopes and related to fish catch. The poorest area was the fish pass. The most fish per hours fishing were caught in the bay oil platform or bulkhead biotopes, however, the size was small. Speckled trout and redfish were the major fish caught by weight in the Grassflats and shallow bay which is reflected in a large fishing effort. The open bay yielded higher numbers of fish per hour fishing (4.9 fish) than either the grassflat (3.0) or the shallow bay (2.0). If the fishing intensity was equal for the above biotopes the bay should have the best yield. The average boat fishing party lasted four hours. Boat fishing was generally better per party than shore fishing. The weight catch per person in boat fishing was approximately one pound per person per hour, and only 0.4 pounds per person per hour on the same basis for shore fishing. Fish yields in the Corpus area were related to Galveston Bay. The efficiency of various lures was discussed.