HMS recreational fisheries description and catch and effort

Washington recreational HMS fishery statistics are available from
PSMFC through their Recreational Fisheries Information Network (RecFIN)
website. RecFIN provides estimates based on field sampling of HMS catch
and telephone survey for effort. While RecFIN also contains estimates
for Oregon, ODFW’s Ocean Recreational Boat Survey (ORBS) data are used
here given nuances in recreational fishery sector differentiation.
RecFIN does not contain estimates of HMS catch and effort for
California, and CDFW similarly provides data from its Marine Logbook
System (MLS) and California Recreational Fishing Survey (CRFS)
estimates.

Albacore

Recreational anglers fishing from private vessels and from commercial
passenger fishing vessels (CPFVs) target albacore in all three West
Coast states. Albacore is targeted almost exclusively with rod-and-reel
gear, and success is highly dependent upon the distance from port to the
fish, weather and ocean conditions, and fuel prices.

In recent years albacore typically begin to show up within range of
the recreational fishery in California in late spring, migrating
northward and appearing off Oregon and Washington in mid to late June,
and are available through late September or early October in most
years.

Fishery performance

The following tables show recreational albacore catch, fishing
effort, and catch per unit of effort (tables updated 07/09/2024):

  • Table R1a.Recreational albacore catch (number of kept fish) for
    charter and private boats by year and port, 2021-2023 regardless of trip
    type.
  • Table R1b.Recreational albacore catch (number of kept fish) for
    charter and private boats by year and port, 2021-2023 for trips
    targeting tuna.(Note: For California, there is no equivalent target
    category between CPFV and private effort. Therefore, all catch is listed
    in table R1a)
  • Table R2. Recreational albacore effort (angler days*) for charter
    and private boats by year and port, 2021-2023.(Note: California does not
    produce estimates for albacore-specific effort)
  • Table R3. Recreational albacore catch per unit of effort (number of
    kept fish/angler day*) for charter and private boats by year and port,
    2021-2023.(Note: California does not produce estimates for
    albacore-specific effort therefore CPUE is not calculated)

Note: California and Oregon record catch and effort by angler day.
Washington records catch and effort by angler trip, although the
majority of trips are equal to one day. With very infrequent exceptions,
the duration of Oregon recreational fishing trips by private anglers and
by charter anglers is 24 hours or less, and encompasses one day of
fishing activity.NAs represent data that are not collected/able to be
calculated. Zeros represent no catch.

Table R1a

2021
2022
2023
Port Area Charter Private Combined Charter Private Combined Charter Private Combined
North Coast 0 42 42 0 942 942 0 282 282
Westport 3,405 3,115 6,520 10,350 24,389 34,739 7,210 16,086 23,296
Ilwaco 928 3,242 4,170 3,046 12,636 15,682 1,700 8,535 10,235
Washington Subtotal 4,333 6,399 10,732 13,396 37,967 51,363 8,910 24,903 33,813
Astoria 0 53 53 0 1,841 1,841 0 560 560
Pacific City 0 122 122 0 182 182 0 403 403
Garibaldi 59 1,437 1,496 0 5,446 5,446 365 5,359 5,724
Depoe Bay 36 1,045 1,081 396 2,494 2,890 912 1,784 2,696
Newport 56 2,157 2,213 168 4,369 4,537 786 11,976 12,762
Florence 0 186 186 0 0 0 0 0 0
Winchester Bay 0 4,948 4,948 0 619 619 0 1,295 1,295
Coos Bay 52 7,144 7,196 0 3,268 3,268 20 12,218 12,238
Bandon 83 243 326 0 0 0 163 369 532
Gold Beach 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Brookings 245 3,730 3,975 167 2,873 3,040 126 166 292
Oregon Subtotal 531 21,065 21,596 731 21,092 21,823 2,372 34,130 36,502
Redwood District 373 9,269 9,642 2,036 4,738 6,774 253 2,257 2,510
Wine District 55 0 55 377 24,940 25,317 1,270 14,653 15,923
San Francisco District 10 0 10 15 270 285 266 57 323
Central District 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 0 12
Channel District 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
South District 0 0 0 7 0 7 66 0 66
California Subtotal 438 9,269 9,707 2,435 29,948 32,383 1,867 16,967 18,834
Mex 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Mexico Subtotal 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Oregon-Washington Total 4,864 27,464 32,328 14,127 59,059 73,186 11,282 59,033 70,315
U.S. Total 5,302 36,733 42,035 16,562 89,007 105,569 13,149 76,000 89,149
Coastwide Total 5,302 36,733 42,035 16,562 89,007 105,569 13,149 76,000 89,149

Table R1b

2021
2022
2023
Port Area Charter Private Combined Charter Private Combined Charter Private Combined
North Coast 0 42 42 0 705 705 0 248 248
Westport 3356 3034 6390 10219 23667 33886 7151 15664 22814
Ilwaco 928 3188 4117 3046 12152 15198 1700 8241 9941
Washington Subtotal 4284 6264 10549 13265 36524 49789 8851 24153 33003
Astoria 0 53 53 0 1670 1670 0 484 484
Pacific City 0 122 122 0 182 182 0 403 403
Garibaldi 59 1384 1443 0 5066 5066 365 5079 5444
Depoe Bay 36 1018 1054 396 2407 2803 893 1642 2535
Newport 56 1866 1922 168 4134 4302 786 11006 11792
Florence 0 186 186 0 0 0 0 0 0
Winchester Bay 0 4626 4626 0 592 592 0 1243 1243
Coos Bay 52 7144 7196 0 2967 2967 20 12030 12050
Bandon 83 243 326 0 0 0 163 282 445
Gold Beach 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Brookings 233 3696 3929 167 2852 3019 126 164 290
Oregon Subtotal 519 20338 20857 731 19870 20601 2353 32333 34686
Redwood District NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Wine District NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
San Francisco District NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Central District NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Channel District NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
South District NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
California Subtotal NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Mex NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Mexico Subtotal NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Oregon-Washington Total 4803 26602 31406 13996 56394 70390 11204 56486 67689
U.S. Total NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Coastwide Total NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

Table R2

2021
2022
2023
Port Area Charter Private Combined Charter Private Combined Charter Private Combined
North Coast 0 49 49 5 149 154 0 94 94
Westport 613 1944 2557 863 4962 5825 856 4043 4899
Ilwaco 630 1310 1940 936 2682 3618 592 2485 3078
Washington Subtotal 1,243 3303 4546 1,804 7793 9597 1,448 6622 8071
Astoria 0 61 61 0 413 413 0 210 210
Pacific City 0 43 43 0 73 73 0 74 74
Garibaldi 38 762 800 0 1207 1207 136 1230 1366
Depoe Bay 33 260 293 236 535 771 314 376 690
Newport 10 536 546 104 1003 1107 246 2324 2570
Florence 0 34 34 0 4 4 0 0 0
Winchester Bay 0 1117 1117 0 226 226 0 474 474
Coos Bay 31 1730 1761 7 1093 1100 25 3198 3223
Bandon 32 98 130 0 0 0 66 139 205
Gold Beach 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Brookings 38 984 1022 36 385 421 29 91 120
Oregon Subtotal 182 5625 5807 383 4939 5322 816 8116 8932
Redwood District 47 NA NA 488 NA NA 41 NA NA
Wine District 5 NA NA 130 NA NA 283 NA NA
San Francisco District 8 NA NA 29 NA NA 108 NA NA
Central District 0 NA NA 0 NA NA 7 NA NA
Channel District 0 NA NA 0 NA NA 0 NA NA
South District 0 NA NA 4 NA NA 65 NA NA
California Subtotal 60 NA NA 651 NA NA 504 NA NA
Mex 0 NA NA 0 NA NA 0 NA NA
Mexico Subtotal 0 NA NA 0 NA NA 0 NA NA
Oregon-Washington Total 1,425 8928 10353 2,187 12732 14919 2,264 14738 17003
U.S. Total 1,485 NA NA 2,838 NA NA 2,768 NA NA
Coastwide Total 1,485 NA NA 2,838 NA NA 2,768 NA NA

Table R3

2021
2022
2023
Port Area Charter Private Combined Charter Private Combined Charter Private Combined
North Coast 0.0 0.9 0.9 0.0 4.7 4.6 0.0 2.6 2.6
Westport 5.5 1.6 2.5 11.8 4.8 5.8 8.4 3.9 4.7
Ilwaco 1.5 2.4 2.1 3.3 4.5 4.2 2.9 3.3 3.2
Washington Subtotal 3.5 1.9 2.4 7.4 4.9 5.4 6.2 3.8 4.2
Astoria 0.0 0.9 0.9 0.0 4 4 0.0 2.3 2.3
Pacific City 0.0 2.8 2.8 0.0 2.5 2.5 0.0 5.4 5.4
Garibaldi 1.6 1.8 1.8 0.0 4.2 4.2 2.7 4.1 4
Depoe Bay 1.1 3.9 3.6 1.7 4.5 3.6 2.8 4.4 3.7
Newport 5.6 3.5 3.5 1.6 4.1 3.9 3.2 4.7 4.6
Florence 0.0 5.5 5.5 0.0 0 0 0.0 0 0
Winchester Bay 0.0 4.1 4.1 0.0 2.6 2.6 0.0 2.6 2.6
Coos Bay 1.7 4.1 4.1 0.0 2.7 2.7 0.8 3.8 3.7
Bandon 2.6 2.5 2.5 0.0 0 0 2.5 2 2.2
Gold Beach 0.0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0.0 0 0
Brookings 6.1 3.8 3.8 4.6 7.4 7.2 4.3 1.8 2.4
Oregon Subtotal 2.9 3.7 3.7 1.9 4.3 4.1 2.9 4.2 4.1
Redwood District 7.9 NA NA 4.2 NA NA 6.2 NA NA
Wine District 11.0 NA NA 2.9 NA NA 4.5 NA NA
San Francisco District 1.2 NA NA 0.5 NA NA 2.5 NA NA
Central District 0.0 NA NA 0.0 NA NA 1.7 NA NA
Channel District 0.0 NA NA 0.0 NA NA 0.0 NA NA
South District 0.0 NA NA 1.8 NA NA 1.0 NA NA
California Subtotal 7.3 NA NA 3.7 NA NA 3.7 NA NA
Mex 0.0 NA NA 0.0 NA NA 0.0 NA NA
Mexico Subtotal 0.0 NA NA 0.0 NA NA 0.0 NA NA
Oregon-Washington Total 3.4 3.1 3.1 6.5 4.6 4.9 5.0 4 4.1
U.S. Total 3.6 NA NA 5.8 NA NA 4.8 NA NA
Coastwide Total 3.6 NA NA 5.8 NA NA 4.8 NA NA

Other HMS (Southern California)

Recreational anglers in California take the entire suite of
management unit species (MUS) included within the HMS FMP using
rod-and-reel gear almost exclusively; in addition, a nominal amount of
fish, primarily tunas and dorado, are taken by free divers using spear
guns. In Oregon and Washington anglers only occasionally take HMS
species other than albacore, such as blue sharks, and more recently
Pacific bluefin tuna.

CPFVs also make trips from Southern California ports (primarily San
Diego) into Mexican waters. Yellowfin, bluefin, and skipjack tunas as
well as dorado are the most commonly caught HMS species.

Private vessel data for California are collected by the California
Recreational Fisheries Survey (CRFS) program while the state’s mandatory
logbook program provides an estimate of fishing activity for CPFVs. The
fact that a much higher overall percentage of highly migratory MUS
catches are represented in logbook data than in CRFS samples is why
logbooks are preferred over CRFS in determining the catch of these
species by anglers fishing from CPFVs. Logbooks also have the advantage
of supplying catch information on MUS taken in Mexico. However, CRFS
data are the best available for making catch estimates of anglers
fishing from private boats. Statistics for the CPFV fishery are also
available from the federal charter logbook program. In Oregon statistics
for recreational fisheries, including private, CPFV, and tournament
fisheries, are available from the ODFW Ocean Recreational Boat Survey
Program. Beginning in 2005, a mandatory charter boat tuna logbook
program was implemented in Washington to provide additional information
on location and effort in the charter albacore fishery.

Fishery performance

The following tables present recreational catch in Southern
California waters(tables updated 2024-07-09):

  • Tables R-4 and R-5. Estimated number of highly migratory MUS kept
    and thrown back alive by recreational anglers fishing from California
    private vessels in U.S. EEZ waters (Table R-4) and Mexico waters (Table
    R-5), 2021-2023.
  • Tables R-6 and R-7. Reported number of highly migratory MUS kept and
    thrown back by recreational anglers fishing from California Commercial
    Passenger Fishing Vessels (CPFVs) in U.S. EEZ waters (Table R-6) and
    Mexico waters (Table R-7), 2021-2023.

NAs represent data that are not collected/able to be calculated.
Zeros represent no catch. CONFID represents data excluded for
confidentiality.

Table R-4

2021
2022
2023
No. Fish
No. Fish
No. Fish
Species Kept Released Kept Released Kept Released
Tuna
Tuna, albacore 9,269 194 29,948 0 16,967 311
Tuna, bigeye 0 0 70 0 98 0
Tuna, bluefin 4,363 361 4,061 139 3,255 54
Tuna, skipjack 52 49 0 0 115 6
Tuna, yellowfin 373 0 1,063 102 2,954 288
Billfish
Marlin, striped 0 0 11 57 16 11
Swordfish 44 0 12 0 8 0
Sharks
Shark, blue 0 302 0 256 37 425
Shark, shortfin mako 10 60 96 332 18 235
Shark, thresher 396 678 181 531 201 256
Other Fish
Dolphin (fish) 3,418 351 48,268 3,815 6,093 1,077
Total 17,925 1,995 83,710 5,232 29,762 2,663

Table R-5

2021
2022
2023
No. Fish
No. Fish
No. Fish
Species Kept Released Kept Released Kept Released
Tuna
Tuna, albacore 0 0 0 0 0 0
Tuna, bigeye 0 0 0 0 0 0
Tuna, bluefin 1,673 11 916 111 0 0
Tuna, skipjack 12 16 83 0 0 0
Tuna, yellowfin 670 11 492 50 0 0
Billfish
Marlin, striped 0 0 11 14 0 0
Swordfish 0 0 0 0 0 0
Sharks
Shark, blue 0 22 0 105 0 0
Shark, shortfin mako 11 23 13 83 0 0
Shark, thresher 0 0 0 0 0 0
Other Fish
Dolphin (fish) 815 785 5,575 765 0 0
Total 3,181 868 7,090 1,128 0 0

Table R-6

2021
2022
2023
No. Fish
No. Fish
No. Fish
Species Kept Released Kept Released Kept Released
Tuna
Tuna, albacore 438 0 2,435 5 1,867 20
Tuna, bigeye 0 0 0 0 8 0
Tuna, bluefin 34,931 311 24,823 253 60,394 671
Tuna, skipjack 374 182 25 3 146 54
Tuna, yellowfin 2,985 19 6,487 57 18,382 89
Billfish
Marlin, striped 3 CONFID 8 9 4 6
Swordfish 6 0 CONFID 0 8 0
Sharks
Shark, blue 0 40 CONFID 60 5 155
Shark, shortfin mako 31 81 41 102 40 170
Shark, thresher 10 CONFID 15 11 5 4
Other Fish
Dolphin (fish) 6,499 98 72,832 1,431 21,710 780
Total 45,277 729 106,664 1,931 102,569 1,949

Table R-7

2021
2022
2023
No. Fish
No. Fish
No. Fish
Species Kept Released Kept Released Kept Released
Tuna
Tuna, albacore 0 0 0 0 0 0
Tuna, bigeye 206 0 12 0 182 0
Tuna, bluefin 29,844 157 19,609 104 19,990 149
Tuna, skipjack 88 55 1,527 2,828 15 45
Tuna, yellowfin 44,318 3,508 35,431 2,008 39,432 1,746
Billfish
Marlin, striped CONFID 343 CONFID 61 0 20
Swordfish 0 0 CONFID 0 0 0
Sharks
Shark, blue 0 CONFID 0 0 0 4
Shark, shortfin mako 7 CONFID CONFID 3 7 0
Shark, thresher 0 0 0 0 CONFID 0
Other Fish
Dolphin (fish) 36,304 1,780 7,367 738 9,385 1,633
Total 110,766 5,841 63,943 5,742 69,010 3,597

Data from these tables are summarized in the figures below.

This figure shows estimated catch (retained plus discarded) by fleet,
zone (Mexico or US waters), and species group for the years 2021 to
2023. The Tuna species group accounted for the most catch at 65%. The
CPFV fleet in US waters accounted for 39% of catch followed by the CPFV
fleet in Mexico waters at 39%.

Total recreational catch (retained plus discarded) by sector and zone.

Total recreational catch (retained plus discarded) by sector and zone.

This figure shows catch by species (retained plus discarded) aggregated
by fleet and zone, 2021 – 2023.

Total catch (retained plus discarded) by species.

Total catch (retained plus discarded) by species.