Abstract

The signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus Dana) has been commercially fished in the Delta region since 1970. Catch statistics have been maintained by the California Department of Fish and Game since that time. The number of boats fishing at least part of each season ranged from 9 to 59 (X = 32). Between 1970 and 1974, 50% of the catch was taken by 24.4% of the boats; between 1975 and 1980, 15.5% of the boats took 50% of the total catch. Seven age classes (O+ to 6+) are postulated for the Delta population. The commercial catch is composed primarily of ages 2+ and 3+ crayfish. Ages 4+ to 6+ represent about 15% of the catch. Regulations adopted by the California Fish and Game Commission after the 1975 season include a minimum legal size of 92 mm TL, a requirement that fishermen sort their catch on their boat and return short crayfish to the water irmiediately, and standards for holding and transporting crayfish to minimize loss. The mean size of crayfish over 92 mm TL has remained at about 105 mm between 1976 and 1980. Optimum effort appears to be about 300,000 trap-sets per year. Effort in excess of this appears only to reduce catch-per-unit-effort.

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