Recruitment, Distribution, and Feeding Habits of Young-of-the-Year California Halibut {Paralichthys californicus) in the Vicinity of Alamitos Bay-Long Beach Harbor, California, 1983-1985

Abstract

Distribution, recruitment, and feeding habits of young-of-the-year <br /><br />(YOY, SL) California halibut were investigated during the spring and <br /><br />early summer months of 1983-1985 in shallow water (0-6 m) near Alamitos Bay- <br /><br />Long Beach Harbor. YOY halibut were most abundant in fully-protected waters; <br /><br />semi-protected waters contained one-half to one-quarter the number of YOY <br /><br />halibut. No YOY halibut were collected at the exposed coast site. <br /><br /><br /><br />Newly recruited halibut ranged from 8 to 1 2 mm SL and were approximately <br /><br />20 to 29 days old. Gammarid amphipods, mysids, teleosts, and harpacticoid <br /><br />copepods were the major food items of YOY halibut. Recruitment was signifi- <br /><br />cantly greater in 1983 and 1984 than in 1985 (catch-per-unit-effbrt in 1983 > <br /><br />1984 > 1985).