A total of 71 vessels for a mean of 2.37 vessels per overflight were observed during the winter sampling phase. Only one offshore fishing tournament coincided with the winter sampling phase. The summer and winter sampling phases, although the sample size is small, indicates light user pressure. The average offshore angler utilizes a vessel in the 16-25 foot range. The most intensive fishing pressure occurs in conjunction with offshore fishing tournaments.
Weekends experience more fishing activity than weekdays.
On an annual basis, fishing pressure is patterned around meteorological events and migratory patterns of the target species. Fishing pressure is probably at the lowest in mid-winter. By late winter or early spring, fishing pressure increases as the anglers target black seas bass. In late spring to early summer, fishing pressure peaks as anglers target the pelagic cobia, bluefish, Spanish and King mackerel. Late summer experiences a slump in fishing pressure as the summer doldrums set in and target species are widely scattered and difficult to catch.