Catch per unit effort, sex ratio and maturity of Honmoroko <i>Gnathopogon caerulescens</i> caught by recreational anglers in the Shinyamaji River, an inlet of Ibanaiko Lagoon, Lake Biwa

Abstract

With a view towards effective fisheries management, catch features, including catch per unit effort (CPUE; number of fish caught per angler per hour) , sex ratio and maturity status of Honmoroko Gnathopogon caerulescens caught by recreational anglers using long dip nets in the Shinyamaji River inlet to Ibanaiko Lagoon, adjacent to Laka Biwa, were examined. Mature individuals caught from April to June 2020 and 2021 were characterized by the CPUE ranging from 10 to 50, and high gonadosomatic index, the sex ratio tending to be more female biased during the periods of higher CPUE. The higher catches achieved by using long dip nets may be related to the spawning behavior of Honmoroko in the inlet to the lagoon, indicating the importance of evaluating the recreational catches for the management of Honmoroko in Lake Biwa.