1. Marine Sport-Harvest Monitoring Program

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department personnel have interviewed private-boat anglers at boat-access sites along the Texas coast since May 1974. Party-boat anglers have been interviewed since May 1983. Over 26,200 private-boat and almost 3,300 party-boat anglers were

interviewed during the 2002-03 survey year (15 May 2002 to 14May 2003). Sport-boat (private-boat and party-boat combined) anglers expended an estimated 6.6 million man-h

(fishing effort) in 2002-03 to land an estimated 2.1 million fish.

The primary objectives of this study were to estimate daytime annual fishing pressure(effort in man-hours), landings (number offish harvested), catch rates (harvest per unit effort as an indicator of resource availability or fishing success), species compositions, and size

compositions (mean lengths and mean weights of fish harvested) for sport-boat anglers on trips

lasting 12h or less in Texas marine waters. The secondary objectives were to summarize the residential origin, species sought, and trip satisfaction of these sport-boat anglers and to assemble supporting information to aid in interpretation of study results. The tertiary objectives were to estimate daytime annual fishing pressure, landings, and catch rates for bay and pass private-boat

anglers on trips lasting more than 12 h, and to summarize their residential origin.

4200 Smith School Road

Austin, TX 78744

512-389-4489

Mailing Address:

GULF STATES MARINE FISHERIES COMMISSION

P.O. Box 726

Ocean Springs, Mississippi 39566-0726

Shipping Address:

2404 Government ST

Ocean Springs, MS 39564

Phone: (228) 875-5912

Fax: (228) 875-6604