Mortality Rates and Management Strategies for Black Sea Bass off the Southeast Coast of the United States

Mortality rates were estimated from catch curves of black sea bass (Centropristis striata) caught with traps off South Carolina and Georgia in June-July 1978, April-May 1979, and September 1979. Depth of collection ranged from 20 to 46 m. The estimated annual instantaneous rate of fishing mortality in depths less than 30 m was approximately 0.53, while that in depths greater than 30 m was 0.30. Size composition of black sea bass caught in summer over heavily fished artificial reefs was much smaller than that of fish from lightly fished sites, although age composition was virtually identical. For lightly fished sites, size composition of black sea bass in summer was similar to that of fish caught in winter. Size composition (by weight) of commercial catches varied considerably by area, but overall was close to an estimated optimum of 29% small, 23% medium, and 48% large black sea bass. Effects of 203-mm, 229-mm, 254-mm (total length) size limits for all fishermen and a combination 203-mm commercia...