Robinson, LanceProceedings: The State of the Bay Symposium IV. January 28-29, 19992010-02-152010-02-151999http://hdl.handle.net/1969.3/25855pgs. 255-256The recreational and commercial fisheries of Texas are a valuable resource to the citizens of Texas. For 1996 (the most recent year data from both fisheries are available) the total economic impact of these fisheries to Texas was $1.4 billion ($887.6 million recreational and $554.7 million commercial). Of this total, approximately one third can be attributed to the Galveston Bay system. This paper will examine the long-term trends in relative abundance, size, and catch for two popular recreational finfish species [red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) and spotted sea trout (Cynoscion nebulosus)] and two commercial shellfish species [blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) and oysters (Crassostrea virginica)].commercial fisheriesrecreationsport fishingfinfish fisheriesshellfish fisheriesharvestingquality controlred drumsciaenops ocellataspotted sea troutcynoscion nebulosusblue crabcallinectes sapidusoysterssamplinghabitat lossdegradationChapter