Relationships between bait collection, bait type and catch: A comparison of the NSW trailer-boat and gamefish-tournament fisheries

Predominant species harvested for use as live bait in both fisheries were blue mackerel (Scomber australasicus) and yellowtail scad (Trachurus novaezelandiae). Significant differences were found between “baitfish harvesters” and “baitfish non-harvesters” and catch within the trailer-boat fishery. However, there was no corresponding trend for competition gamefish anglers. Ordination of capture information obtained from gamefish tournaments, categorised by bait type (live baitfish, dead bait and lure), identified associations between the use of live baits and striped marlin (Tetrapturus audax) and dead baits and short-finned mako sharks (Isurus oxyrichus).