Green, A.W.Heffernan, T.L.Breuer, J.P.Martinez, A.R.Favor, M.N.Garcia, M.A.Benefield, R.L.Weixelman, M.G.2010-02-152010-02-151978http://hdl.handle.net/1969.3/2043981 p.During September 1976 to August 1977 the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department monitored the weekend recreational boat fishing in 7 major bay systems. This survey showed that weekend boat fishermen expended 2,481,900 man-hours to land 1,837,800 lb of finfish (an average catch rate of .78 lb/h). Total finfish landings (in pounds) by bay system were: Galveston, 583,500 lb; Lower Laguna Madre, 279,200 lb; Corpus Christi, 167,900 lb; and Matagorda, 166,400 ob. A comparison of weekend boat sport fishing estimates from 1974-75 and 1975-76 with estimates obtained during the 1976-77 survey showed that there has been a 19 to 35% decline in landings. These comparisons also showed that the decrease was mostly due to a decrease in fishing pressure. Catch rates for the three years have remained virtually unchanged for all surveyed species. The decrease in fishing pressure was attributed to a severe winter during 1976-77 and possibly a change in the manner that boat ramp sites were selected for interviewing.sport fishingfinfishharvestingentangling netsgillnetsfishing gearBook