Relationships between bait collection, bait type and catch: A comparison of the NSW trailer-boat and gamefish-tournament fisheries

Abstract

Information from separate angler surveys was analysed to examine the relationships between bait use and catch composition for both the New South Wales (NSW) trailer-boat fishery and the NSW gamefish-tournament fishery. Anglers in both fisheries were categorised as either “baitfish harvesters”, i.e. anglers who collected baitfish as part of their fishing trip, or “baitfish non-harvesters”, i.e. anglers that did not collect baitfish as part of their fishing trip. Multivariate analysis (multidimensional scaling analysis (MDS) and Similarity Percentages analysis (SIMPER) analysis) was carried out to determine the relationship between bait use, bait type (live bait, dead bait and lure) and catch of target species. Predominant species harvested for use as live bait in both fisheries were blue mackerel ( Scomber australasicus) and yellowtail scad ( Trachurus novaezelandiae). Significant differences were found between “baitfish harvesters” and “baitfish non-harvesters” and catch within the trailer-boat fishery. However, there was no corresponding trend for competition gamefish anglers. Ordination of capture information obtained from gamefish tournaments, categorised by bait type (live baitfish, dead bait and lure), identified associations between the use of live baits and striped marlin ( Tetrapturus audax) and dead baits and short-finned mako sharks ( Isurus oxyrichus).