Mike G. Weixelman

Using results from on-site creel interviews, the use and fishing success of 16 bait types for 8 game fishes were studied for bay and pass saltwater sport-boat anglers in Texas. The success of catching at least 1 fish was evaluated using percentage of successful fishing parties by fish species, bay system, and bait type. For all fish species, the use of different baits was not proportional to the success of these baits in catching fish; however, we could not determine whether this was caused by ineffectiveness of the investigated bait or anglers not directing this bait toward the...

Estimates were made of the percent of sport-boat interviews and retained fish that would be missed by terminating weekend surveys early when no anglers have been seen prior to specified times. Surveys could be terminated at 1200 hours during the summer and not miss more than 2% of the total interviews within any 1 bay system. Fall, winter, and spring surveys could be terminated at 1400 hours and no more than 4% of the total interviews would be missed. The percent of surveys that could be terminated early is highest in winter (37%-67%) and lowest in summer and fall (2%-10%). The percent of...