Analysis on the catch composition of Nemipterus virgatus gillnet in the northern South China Sea

According to the sales records of fishing boat YUE YANG DONG NO.18023 from January 2006 to December 2007, together with the sampling data of catches caught in spring and autumn, catch composition of large-scale Nemipterus virgatus drift gillnet vessels fishhing in the northern South China Sea, were analyzed. Results showed that catches were mainly composed of bottom and near-bottom species, Trichiurus haumela, Priacanthus tayenus and N.virgatus accounted for 29.7%, 13.3% and 10.5% in catch, respectively, or 27.4%, 24.4% and 15.7% in value, respectively. The vessel fished all the year round, the major fishing season was from November to March, and the fishing peak season was in January. The production and value of catches during the fishing off season were relatively small compared to the whole year catches. The dominant species caught were mainly adult fishes, and the season of high CPUE was nearly consistent with the fishing season.