Recreational Fisheries in Biscayne National Park, Florida, 1976–1991

Harper, Douglas; Bohnsack, James; Lockwood, Brian

Recreational creel survey landings by number: white grunt, Haemudata from 28,923 intercepts collected from lon plumieri, 15.8%; spiny lobster, Panuli-Biscayne National Park, Florida and sur-rus argus, 10.6%; gray snapper, Lutjanus rounding waters were analyzed for January griseus, 10.6%; unidentified grunts, Haem1976 through July 1991, prior to dis-ulon spp., 7.3%; and dolphin, Coryphae na ruptions caused by Hurricane Andrew in hippurus, 6.6%. An average of 4.39 fish 1992. A total of 261,268 fish and shellfish or shellfish were reported released per representing 170 species or higher taxa trip. Five taxa accounted for 67% of all were recorded. The average trip landed releases. Lobster divers reported the high9.03 fish and/or shellfish. Mean annual est average release rate (5.73 per trip) and landings per angler were 4.77 fish/angler/ spearfishing the lowest (0.70 per trip). The trip (from 3.80 in 1991 to 5.83 in 1981) ratio of releases to landings was 0.49:1 for and dropped significantly for each of the 2 all taxa, but ranged from 0.03:1 for dolphin years following Florida’s adoption of mul-to 1.19:1 for unidentified grunts. Spearfishtiple new minimum size limits in 1985 and ing accounted for 12.0% of the total fish1990. The relative contribution to total ing trips sampled but only 10.3% of the numerical landings by recreational party total number organisms landed and 7.6% type were: skilled anglers (34.0%), food of all organisms caught. Hogfish, Lach(19.8%), family (14.5%), novice (11.5%), nolaimus maximus, accounted for 49% spearfishing (10.3%), lobstering (9.6%), of total spearfishing landings (13,286 of and other (0.3%). Five species or higher 27,015) and 84.3% of total 15,762 hogfish taxa accounted for more than 50% of total landed.

Recreational Fisheries in Biscayne National Park, Florida, 1976–1991

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