Analysis of anglers' catch data from the Swartkops Estuary

Abstract

An analysis of anglers' catch data from 1972-1978 revealed that the spotted grunter Pomadasys commersonni is the most abundant angling species in the Swartkops estuary (83% of mass and 87% of numbers). It is followed by Lithognathus lithognathus, Argyrosomus hololepidotus and Lichia amia. During the early part of this century L. lithognathus was the most abundant species in the estuary followed by A. hololepidotus, P. commersonni and Pomatomus saltatrix. Various factors such as food availability, reproduction and climatic conditions which could be responsible for seasonality of catches are discussed.