Assessment of catches in shore angling competitions from the border region of the Eastern Cape, South Africa

Seventeen years (1982 1998) of competitive shore angling catch and effort data from the Border region (Great Fish River Kei River) of the Eastern Cape of South Africa were analysed. Of a total of 34 species recorded, the most commonly caught were Rhinobatos annulatus (36 %), Argyrosomus japonicus (22 %) and Dasyatis chrysonota chrysonota (13 %). By mass, most of the catch was made up of R. annulatus (24 %), D. c. chrysonota (19 %), Carcharius taurus (16 %) and A. japonicus (13 %). These species constituted the most important species during each year of the study period. Mean annual catch per unit effort (CPUE) by number and mass has decreased slightly over the 17 years. Only R. annulatus and D. c. chrysonota showed a significant (P < 0.05) change in mean annual mass, with the mean sizes of other species remaining relatively constant. Although all recorded specimens were larger than applicable legal minimum size limits, the majority of recorded A. japonicus (99 %), Lithognathus lithognathus (73 %), Triakis megalopterus (92 %) and C. taurus (97 %) were immature. It is apparent that, with a limited number of exceptions, the status of the Border competitive shore fishery, in terms of catch composition and CPUE, has remained relatively constant over the period 1982 1998.Key words: competitive shore fishery, fish composition, catch per unit effort