Standard Operating Procedures

Generic Clearance for Citizen Science and Crowdsourcing Projects

SOP Document

NMFS - California Collaborative Fisheries Research Program

OMB: 0648-0828

Document [pdf]

Download: pdf | pdf

California Collaborative Fisheries Research Program
Catch-and-Release, Hook-and-Line Surveys of Nearshore Fishes
Inside and Outside of California Marine Protected Areas
SOP Document

Document created: 24 April 2014 by Andrea Launer
Last updated: November 7, 2019 by Jen Chiu

Compilation of works by:
Cheryl Barnes, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories
Jen Chiu, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories
Ryan Fields, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories
Andrea Launer, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories
Corina Marks, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories
Katie Schmidt, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories
Noelle Yochum, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories

Principal Investigators:
Richard Starr
Research Faculty, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories
Fisheries and Conservation Biology Lab
8272 Moss Landing Road
Moss Landing, CA 95039
Phone: 831.771.4442, Fax: 831.632.4403
Email: [email protected]
/
Dean Wendt
Professor, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Dean of Research, College of Science and Mathematics
Executive Director, San Luis Obispo Science and Ecosystem Alliance (SLOSEA)
Cal Poly State University
San Luis Obispo, CA 93407
Phone: 805.756.1508, Fax: 805.756.1725
Email: [email protected]
Tim Mulligan
Professor, Humboldt State University
1 Harpst Street
Arcata, CA 95521
Phone: 707.826.3951
Email: [email protected]
Joe Tyburczy
California Sea Grant Extension Specialist
Adjunct Faculty, Humboldt State University
1 Harpst Street
Arcata, CA 95521
Phone: 707.443.8369
Email: [email protected]
Steven Morgan
Professor, Bodega Marine Laboratory (UC Davis)
PO Box 247
2099 Westshore Road
Bodega Bay, CA 94923
Phone: 707.875.1920
Email: [email protected]

CCFRP master SOP document

Scott Hamilton
Professor, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories
8272 Moss Landing Road
Moss Landing, CA 95039
Phone: 831.771.4497, Fax: 831.632.4403
Email: [email protected]
Benjamin Ruttenberg
Associate Professor, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Director, Center for Coastal Marine Science
Cal Poly State University
San Luis Obispo, CA 93407
Phone: 805.756.2498, Fax: 805.756.1419
Email: [email protected]
Jenn Caselle
Research Biologist, Marine Science Institute (UC Santa Barbara)
UCSB Marine Science Institute Building 520 Rm 4002 Fl 4L
Santa Barbara, CA 93106
Phone: 805.893.5144, Fax: 805.893.6062
Email: [email protected]
Brice Semmens
Associate Professor, Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Director, California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI)
SIO Dept, Scripps Institution of Oceanography
UC San Diego
9500 Gilman Drive #0202
La Jolla, CA 92093
Phone: 858.822.0518
Email: [email protected]
Lyall Bellquist
Fisheries Scientist, The Nature Conservancy
8950 Biological Grade
La Jolla, CA 92037
Phone: 562.508.3459
Email: [email protected]

CCFRP master SOP document

Table of Contents
Follow hyperlinks to sections of the document or use page numbers provided.
Abstract, Project Objectives
Study Area
Database Information, Database Tables
Explanations
Location Terminology
Measurement Units and Descriptions
Codes used in the Database
Glossary of Database Fields
Responsibilities of the Captain, Deckhand, and Science Crew
Administrative Tasks and Timing
Captain Communications
CPFV Information
Bid for CPFV Sampling Trips
Volunteer Coordinator Information
Selecting and Managing Interns
Gear Ordering Information
CCFRP Related Inventory Example
Packing Checklist Example
Gear Maintenance Information Checklist
Statewide CCFRP Science Crew Training
Sampling Trip Set-Up, Briefing, Etc.
Science Crew Protocols and Helpful Hints
Logbook Example
Example Datasheet
Comments About Data Collection
How to Export GPS Waypoints from the GPS
How to Add Lat/Lon to Caught Fishes table in Database
Data Entry and Error Checking
Database Checklist
Combining Records from Another Source (Merging Databases)
How to Map Drifts
Rules for Discarding Drifts, Renaming Drifts
How to Calculate Drift Length
How to Calculate BPUE and CPUE from the Access Database
How to Calculate Tagged Fishes
Volunteer Angler Data Workshop Information
Tag Return Information Log

CCFRP master SOP document

4
5-18
19
20-24
20
20-22
22-24
25-31
32-33
34-35
36-37
38
39-40
41-49
50-52
53-55
56-57
58
59
60
61-65
66-68
69-81
82
83-84
85-87
87-89
90-94
95-97
98-99
100-101
101
102
103-105
106
107-108
109-110

Abstract
Moss Landing Marine Laboratories (MLML) and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (CP) worked
with central California fishing communities to develop monitoring protocols for the collection of
baseline information for California Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) utilizing standardized hookand-line, catch-and-release techniques. The program began in 2007 by surveying the Año
Nuevo, Point Lobos, Piedras Blancas, and Point Buchon MPAs, and in corresponding reference
sites. In addition, surveys were conducted in the proposed Point Reyes and North and
Southeast Farallon Islands MPAs, and near Bolinas/ Duxbury Reef to establish standardized
protocols. Within these areas, we used a stratified random sampling design to determine
sampling locations. At each location, volunteer anglers fished with standardized gear for a
specified amount of time. Caught fishes were identified to species, measured, tagged with
external T-bar anchor tags, and released at the location of capture. From 2007 to 2016, groups
on the central California coast have worked with a total of 15 Commercial Passenger Fishing
Vessel (CPFV) captains and 896 volunteer anglers, and caught a total of 83,110 fishes from 63
different species. Due to the success of CCFRP in monitoring central California MPAs, the
program expanded statewide in 2017. The program now includes partners from Humboldt State
University (HSU), Bodega Marine Laboratory (BML), MLML, CP, UC Santa Barbara (UCSB),
and Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO). In combination with the MLML and CP
databases dating back to 2007, we have now caught and released 136,205 fishes from 86
different species (51,661 of which were tagged prior to release) on 482 sampling trips inside
and outside 16 MPAs. We have partnered with 29 CPFVs and 47 skippers, and welcomed over
1,430 individual anglers in 12 seasons (2007-2018).
Project Objectives
• Develop and utilize rigorous scientific protocols to monitor central California marine
protected areas (MPAs).
• Create a sampling design that can be replicated and applied to collect data for state and
federal stock assessments.
• Engage the fishing community in the monitoring of MPAs.
• Evaluate differences between MPAs and reference sites at the time of closure.
• Generate baseline data for future evaluation of changes in species composition, size, and
relative abundance of fishes associated with shallow (10-50 m) rock habitats inside and
outside MPAs.

CCFRP master SOP document

Study Area
From 2007 to 2016, CA Collaborative Fisheries Research Program scientists and fishers
conducted hook-and-line surveys within four Central California Coast State Marine Reserves
(Año Nuevo, Point Lobos, Piedras Blancas, and Point Buchon; SMRs), along with nearby
reference sites (Figure 1). Reference sites were based on the criteria that they shared similar
size, habitat, and oceanographic conditions with the nearby MPAs.
Within the boundaries of each MPA and reference site, 500 m x 500 m grid cells were
created and used to randomly select sampling locations. The grid cells were positioned in
nearshore rocky habitats, in water less than 40 meters deep (to limit fishing mortality from
barotrauma), in areas that had been identified by fishermen as having suitable habitat for
nearshore fishes. A total of 22 grid cells in Año Nuevo (Figure 2a), 17 cells in Point Lobos
(Figure 2b), 57 cells in Piedras Blancas (Figure 2c), and 22 cells in Point Buchon (Figure 2d)
were generated. On a given survey day, four of these cells are selected at random and
sampled.
In 2008 and 2009, surveys were also completed in proposed North Central Coast SMRs
(Point Reyes, and North and Southeast Farallon Islands) and near Bolinas/ Duxbury Reef
(Figures 1 and 3). These surveys utilized the CCFRP hook-and-line survey protocols with the
exception that sampling was not completed within 500 m x 500 m grid cells. These trips
provided an opportunity to evaluate the areas in order to locate optimal fishing areas and create
grid cells for future surveys. Duxbury Reef, an open area, will serve as a project reference area
because this area has been surveyed since 2005. Data for these trips are included in the
CCFRP Hook-and-Line Database.
In 2017, CCFRP expanded statewide to include the north, north central, central, and south
MPA monitoring regions. As a statewide program, CCFRP partners with 6 institutions that now
survey 16 areas (Table 1, Figures 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8). Grid cells within each MPA and reference
location were selected using the same criteria as above.

CCFRP master SOP document

Table 1. Marine protected areas (MPAs) and reference areas (REF) surveyed by CCFRP
partner institutions, separated by MPA monitoring region
Region

Academic Institution

North

Humboldt State
University

North
Central

Bodega Marine
Laboratory

Central

Moss Landing Marine
Laboratories
Cal Poly, San Luis
Obispo
UC Santa Barbara

South
Scripps Institution of
Oceanography

CCFRP master SOP document

Marine Protected Area (MPA)/
Reference Sites
South Cape Mendocino SMR/REF
Ten Mile SMR/REF
Trinidad REF
Bodega Head SMR/REF
Stewart’s Point SMR/SMCA/REF
SE Farallon Islands SMR/REF
Año Nuevo SMR/REF
Point Lobos SMR/REF
Piedras Blancas SMR/REF
Point Buchon SMR/REF
Point Conception SMR/REF
Carrington Point SMR/REF
Anacapa Island SMR/SMCA/REF
Laguna Beach SMR/REF
Swami’s SMCA/REF
South La Jolla SMR/REF

# of Grid
Cells
77
35
11
27
20
22
22
17
57
22
23
38
17
5
19
20

Figure
4a
4b
4c
5a
5b
6
2a
2b
2c
2d
7a
7b
7c
8a
8b
8c

Figure 1. Map of the Central Coast and North Central Coast State Marine Conservation Area
(SMCA) and State Marine Reserves (SMRs) surveyed by the California Collaborative Fisheries
Research Program hook-and-line project.

CCFRP master SOP document

Figure 2. The 500 m x 500 m survey grid cells, which delineate the marine protected areas and corresponding reference sites, for a) the Año
Nuevo State Marine Reserve/REF, b) the Point Lobos State Marine Reserve/REF, c) the Piedras Blancas State Marine Reserve/REF, and d)
the Point Buchon State Marine Reserve/REF.

CCFRP master SOP document

Figure 3. Map of the California Collaborative Fisheries Research Program hook-and-line project
Bolinas/ Duxbury Reef survey area.

CCFRP master SOP document

Figure 4. The 500 m x 500 m survey grid cells, which delineate the marine protected areas and corresponding reference sites, for a)
the South Cape Mendocino State Marine Reserve/REF, and b) the Ten Mile State Marine Reserve/REF. c) Trinidad contains grid
cells in REF areas only.

CCFRP master SOP document

Figure 5. The 500 m x 500 m survey grid cells, which delineate the marine protected areas and corresponding reference sites, for a) the
Bodega Head State Marine Reserve/REF, and b) the Stewart’s Point State Marine Reserve and State Marine Conservation Area/REF

CCFRP master SOP document

Figure 6. The 500 m x 500 m survey grid cells, which delineate the marine protected areas and
corresponding reference sites, for the SE Farallon Islands State Marine Reserve/REF

CCFRP master SOP document

Figure 7. The 500 m x 500 m survey grid cells, which delineate the marine protected areas and corresponding reference sites, for a) Point
Conception State Marine Reserve/REF, b) the Carrington Point State Marine Reserve/REF, and c) the Anacapa Island State Marine Reserve
and State Marine Conservation Area/REF

CCFRP master SOP document

Figure 8. The 500 m x 500 m survey grid cells, which delineate the marine protected areas and
corresponding reference sites, for a) the Laguna Beach State Marine Reserve/REF, b) the
Swami’s State Marine Conservation Area/REF, and c) the South La Jolla State Marine
Reserve/REF
CCFRP master SOP document

Database Information
Publish Date: 16 May 2019
Data Format: The database was created in Microsoft Office Access 2003 and updated
to v2010 in February 2014.
Time Standard: Pacific Standard Time
Time Period: August 2007 – October 2018
Status: The database and metadata are complete.
Updates: The database and metadata will be updated with each additional year of data
Access Restrictions: Contact Rick Starr and Dean Wendt before these data are used
for publication.
Contact Person: Jen Chiu (e: [email protected],
p: 831.771.4479, m: 8272 Moss Landing Road, Moss Landing, CA 95039)
Key Words: collaborative research, monitoring, marine protected areas, central
California, nearshore fishes, baseline data, fisheries, resource management
Databases are updated annually and can be downloaded from:
http://islandora.mlml.calstate.edu/islandora/object/islandora%3A18032

Database Tables
The Microsoft Office Access database consists of six tables:
• 1-Trip Information: Provides information about each completed sampling trip
• 2-Angler Information: Provides information about all of the volunteer anglers who have
participated in this study
• 3-Drift Information: Provides information about all of the completed survey drifts.
• 4-Caught Fishes: Provides information about each fish that was caught during the study
and associated data.
• Fish Species: Provides the fish species codes used in the database and their
corresponding common and scientific names.
• Grid Cell Locations: Provides GPS coordinates for all of the 500 m x 500 m grid cells that
were created for this study.
• Monitoring Areas: Provides information about the abbreviations used for each MPA, the
MPA designation (SMR, SMCA, etc.), and which institution surveys it

CCFRP master SOP document

Explanations
1. Location Terminology
The sampling was broken down into fourteen “Areas”. In the north coast, there are 3 areas
sampled by HSU: South Cape Mendocino (CM), Ten Mile (TM), and Trinidad (TR). In the north
central coast, there are three areas: Bodega Head (BH) and Stewart’s Point (SP), which are
sampled by BML, and the SE Farallon Islands (FN), which is sampled by MLML. In the central
coast, there are four areas: Año Nuevo (AN) and Point Lobos, which are sampled by MLML,
and Piedras Blancas (BL) and Point Buchon (PB), which are sampled by CP. In the south
coast, there are six areas: Point Conception (PC), Carrington Point (CP) and Anacapa Island
(AI), which are sampled by UCSB, and Laguna Beach (LB), Swami’s (SW), and South La Jolla
(LJ), which are sampled by SIO. Within each area, there are two different “Sites:” within the
marine protected area (MPA) and in the corresponding reference site (REF). Within these sites
are 500m x 500m “Grid Cells,” which delineate the sampling boundaries. In each of the grid
cells, non-overlapping, 15-minute drifts are completed in three discrete “locations” within the grid
cell (Figure 4). If this is not possible (due to uncontrollable factors such as strong current or
high fish abundance), multiple drifts summing to 15 minutes are completed in each location (for
a total of 30-45 minutes per grid cell). There are no grid cell delineations for Point Reyes or for
Bolinas/ Duxbury Reef.
F4

Figure 9. Sampling terminology used in reference to the different levels of location within the
study.
2. Measurement Units and Descriptions
a. Added or Subtracted (+/-) Fishing Time: Added or subtracted fishing time in both the Angler
Information and Drift Information tables is listed in fractions of a day (i.e., the number of
minutes not fishing or fishing for extra time/60/24). A blank in the Angler Off Time for a
specific year in the Angler Information table indicates that no data exist for that angler
CCFRP master SOP document

b.
c.
d.
e.
f.

g.
h.
i.
j.
k.

(angler off time wasn’t tallied by individual) or the angler did not participate on any fishing
trips that year.
Bottom Depth: Reported by the vessel captain at the start and end of a drift and when the
captain announces it as fishes are being caught, are measured in feet (ft).
Drift Length: The straight-line distance between the start and end points of the drift, is
measured in meters (m).
Fish Length: Reported as Total Length which are measured to the nearest centimeter on
boards (MLML uses wooden V-boards, Cal Poly utilizes flat, plastic boards).
Latitude and Longitude: Values are listed in decimal degrees (DD). If data are taken in
degrees and minutes (min), they are converted to DD but not vice versa.
NOAA Wave Height and Mean Wave Direction: Measured in meters (m) and NOAA mean
wave direction is measured in degrees.
• Values were taken from the NOAA National Data Buoy Center website
(www.ndbc.noaa.gov).
o Data for the trips in Point Reyes, North and South East Farallon Islands, and Bolinas/
Duxbury Reef are taken from the San Francisco, 3-meter discus buoy at station
46026. The buoy is located at 37°45'32" N, 122°50'0" W in water that is 52 m deep.
[There were no wave height or direction data in 2008 for the Point Reyes buoy.]
o Data for the Año Nuevo trips are taken from a 3-meter discus buoy at station 46012,
which is 24 nautical miles South Southwest of San Francisco, CA. The buoy is
located at 37°21’39’’N, 122°52’53’’W and is in water that is 213 m deep. This buoy
was offline from May 8 to December 31, 2013 therefore all data for AN 2013 are
absent.
o Data for the Point Lobos trips are taken from a 3-meter discus buoy at station 46042,
which is 27 nautical miles West of Monterey Bay, CA. The buoy is located at
36°45’11’’N, 122°25’21’’W and is in water that is 2115 m deep.
o Data for the trips in Piedras Blancas are taken from a 3-meter discus buoy at station
46028 at Cape San Martin. It is located in water that is 1158 m deep at 35°44'29" N,
121°53'3" W.
o Data for the trips in Point Buchon are taken from a waverider buoy at station 46215,
in Diablo Canyon, CA. The buoy is at 35°12’30’’N, 120°51’36’’W at sea level in water
that is 23 m deep.
• Measurements of both wave height and mean wave direction are recorded once an hour
at each buoy station. If a survey drift occurred anywhere from the top of the hour
(HH:00:00) to the half hour (HH:30:00) values from the hour (HH) were assigned to that
drift (e.g., if a drift occurred at 7:28:24 NOAA buoy values from 7:00:00 were used). If a
drift occurred after the half hour (HH:30:01) to the top of the next hour (HH:59:59) values
from the subsequent hour were assigned to that drift (e.g., if a drift occurred at 7:45:59
NOAA values from 8:00:00 were used).
Observed Swell Height: As observed by the data recorder, measured in feet (ft).
Observed Wind Speed: As observed by the data recorder, measured in knots (kt).
Secchi Depth: Measured in meters (m). Readings are taken once in each grid cell and all
drifts within that grid cell (on that day) are assigned the single Secchi depth reading. Data
vary as to when the measurements are taken (before, during, or after).
Sex of the Fish: Designated as M (male) or F (female) if the sex is evident externally.
Normally done for Lingcod and Kelp Greenling only for the purposes of this study.
Surface Water Temperature (Vessel): Localized surface water temperature (SWT), as
reported by the vessel captain, is measured in degrees Fahrenheit (°F). In 2009, the F/V
Caroline (Point Lobos surveys) SWT readings are likely 4 degrees higher than the true
values.

CCFRP master SOP document

Surface and Depth Temperature (Instrument): Readings are taken at the surface or at depth
from a scientific instrument
• Seabird Temperature Sensor for Point Reyes, Farallon Islands, Duxbury Reef, Año
Nuevo, and Point Lobos through 2009. The sensor was lowered to the seafloor or to the
length of the rope. In order to standardize the measurements between grid cells, the
temperature reading at 2.3 psi was considered the surface temperature for all of the
recordings, and the temperature reading at 10 psi for Año Nuevo and 20 psi for Point
Lobos were considered the temperature at depth. In 2008 and 2009, the Seabird was
lowered to 10 feet above the seafloor. The temperature at this depth was considered the
temperature at depth and the temperature reading at 2.3 psi was used for the surface
temperature reading. In all years, the readings on the descent of the instrument were
used, as opposed to the ascent. In 2008 and 2009, the Seabird CTD was lowered to the
seafloor or to 22.5 m (the length of the rope). The temperature reading at 2.3 psi was
considered the surface temperature in 2008 and at 1 m in 2009. The temperature at
depth was the temperature reading at 17.5 m, a common depth among all readings.
• Seabird CTD for Piedras Blancas and Point Buchon were lowered concurrently with the
Secchi disk.
m. Time: Listed in the form: HH:MM:SS (AM/PM), Pacific Standard Time.
3. Codes used in the Database
a. Gear Type (Figure 5)
• BAR: Anglers on the bow of the vessel using hard tackle (Lingcod bars) with a shrimp fly
“teaser” (a smaller lure used in addition to the main tackle to entice and catch fish) as
terminal tackle (Figure 6). The lingcod bars are a variety of colors and shapes (excluding
long bars) and weigh 4, 6, 7, 8, or 10 ounces. The deckhand determines the weight of the
bar used during a given drift. He/she is instructed to use the lightest bar that would get to
the ocean bottom quickly and would be heavy enough to counteract the localized current
(this protocol was not always maintained by the deckhands). The shrimp fly teaser is
either red or white and all hooks are single and barbless.
• FLY: Anglers on the starboard side of the vessel using shrimp flies (2 hooks per rig)
without bait as terminal tackle. The shrimp flies are either red or white, size 4/0, and
single hooks with the barbs crimped down, or barbless (Figure 6).
• BAT: Anglers on the port side of the vessel using shrimp flies (2 hooks per rig) with bait
as terminal tackle. The shrimp flies are either red or white, size 4/0, and single hooks
with the barbs crimped down, or barbless (Figure 6). The bait was defrosted frozen squid
(mantle strips only) cut into pieces 2-4 inches long.
• SBT: Swim baits (used by HSU, UCSB, and SIO only)
• DPR: Dropper loops with squid bait (used by UCSB and SIO only)
b. Species Codes: Each caught fish species is assigned a unique, 3 letter (capitalized) code
(e.g., “BLU” is the code for Blue Rockfish, Sebastes mystinus).
• “MKL” indicates that the fish was in the family Scombridae, but that it could not be
identified to lower taxonomic levels; “SMT” indicates that it is in the family Atherinopsidae,
but the genus and/or species are unknown; and the code “OYT” is used when the science
crew could not distinguish between an Olive (Sebastes serranoides) and Yellowtail
Rockfish (S. flavidus).

CCFRP master SOP document

c. Drift ID: Unique identifier for each completed drift in a survey.
• It is made up of 5 parts:
o Area: Año Nuevo (AN), Point Lobos (PL), Piedras Blancas (BL), Point Buchon (PB),
etc.
o Site: MPA (M) or Reference (R)
o Date: MMDDYY
o Grid Cell: XX
o Drift: XX
• For example, the first drift in Grid Cell 16 in Point Lobos (which is a reference site) on the
6 August 2007 would be: (PL)(R)(080607)(16)(01) entered as: PLR0806071601.

FLY

BAT

BAR

Figure 5. Central Coast example of the placement of anglers on the vessel by gear type and
their associated station numbers. Angler station numbers, placement, and associated gear
types will vary by region.
F6

Figure 6. Gear types used in this study. Note that not all gear types are used in all locations.
Left to Right: Lingcod bars in various sizes, shrimpflies (unbaited and baited with squid mantle),
swimbaits, and dropper loops (baited with squid mantle)
CCFRP master SOP document

d. ID-Cell per Trip: Groups all drifts that are completed in a given cell on a particular day (e.g.,
the Drift ID without the Drift number).
• It is made up of 4 parts:
o Area: Año Nuevo (AN), Point Lobos (PL), Piedras Blancas (BL), Point Buchon (PB),
etc.
o Site: MPA (M) or Reference (R)
o Date: MMDDYY
o Grid Cell: XX
• For example, all drifts in Cell 16 in Point Lobos (which is a reference site) on 6 August
2007 would be: (PL)(R)(080607)(16) entered as: PLR08060716.
e. Cloud Cover
• 0: Blue sky to <25%, low cloud cover
• 1: 25-75%, moderate cloud cover
• 2: >75%, high cloud cover
• 3: Foggy
f. Relief
• 1: Flat (< 1 m local relief on the echosounder or map)
• 2: Moderate relief (1-3 m local relief on the echosounder or map)
• 3: High relief (> 3 m local relief on the echosounder or map)
g. Fish Conditions
Condition
Description
0
“Good condition”. No visible conditions relating to those defined as 1-8.
1
Crystallized eyes (damage due to barotrauma)
2
Vented (swim bladder) with a hypodermic needle.
3
Signs of recent predation by marine mammal or fish, but was not a mortality.
4
Signs of hook damage (including eye damage) or body cuts/scale loss, but was
not a mortality.
5
Released using a fish descending device.
6
Floating (did not swim down) upon release, but mortality was uncertain.
7
Mortality due to mammal or fish predation.
8
Mortality due to causes other than mammal or fish predation (e.g., mortality due
to barotrauma, handling injuries, consumption by bird).
h. Trip IDs: Unique identifier for each survey trip that is completed.
• Trip IDs are:
o Area: Año Nuevo (AN), Point Lobos (PL), Piedras Blancas (BL), Point Buchon (PB),
etc.
o The letter “T”
o Sequential trip number: XX
o Underscore: _
o Year: XX
• For example, the first trip in Point Lobos in 2018 would have a Trip ID: PLT01_18.
i. Initials: First and last name initials of the science crew, for identification purposes.

CCFRP master SOP document

Glossary of Database Fields (sorted by table, order of fields within database
subject to change)
Table
Angler
Information

Field
Angler ID

Angler
Information

Year Total (+/-)
Fishing Time
(days)

Angler
Information

# Volunteer
Days XXXX

Angler
Information

Dates Fished
XXXX

Description
The unique code given to each volunteer angler. Angler A000
represents an “unknown angler,” which is used when it is
uncertain who caught a particular fish. A020 is used when a
science crew member associated with MLML is fishing at a
given station, and A175 for a science crew member
associated with CalPoly. Starting in 2010, CalPoly anglers
were given the letter “C” as a prefix (e.g. C001).
*Note that personal angler information is excluded from public
databases
The cumulative amount of added or subtracted fishing time for
the volunteer angler. Added time may be the result of fishing
before the drift commenced and subtracted time may be the
result of a gear hang up which precluded the angler from
fishing for a portion of the drift. Added or subtracted fishing
time is in minutes.
The total number of days that a volunteer angler volunteered
for this study. There is a separate column for each year of the
project.
The specific dates that a volunteer angler volunteered. It is
entered as: Month (date(s)) (e.g., August (18,19), September
(24,25,26), October (19,20)). There is a separate column for
each year of the project.
The unique, sequential auto number given to each caught fish
that is entered in the database.

Caught
Fishes

Fish ID

Caught
Fishes

Tag ID

The number printed on the tag attached to the fish. In Piedras
Blancas and Point Buchon, tag numbers are not unique for
each color set of tags. For this reason, Tag IDs in these areas
are listed as the tag number, followed by the first letter of the
color of tag (e.g., 04238O). Color abbreviations are O for
Orange, Y for Yellow, or W for White. Tag numbers are 5
digits, including leading zeros when necessary. Automatic
database check does not allow duplicate tag numbers.

Caught
Fishes

Drift ID

The unique identifier for the drift during which the fish was
caught. The Drift ID is made up of 5 parts: Area (XX), Site (M
or R), Date (MMDDYY); Grid Cell (XX); and Drift (XX). For
example, the first drift in Cell 16 in Point Lobos, reference site
on the 6th of August 2008 would be: (PL)(R)(080608)(16)(01)
entered as: PLR0806081601

CCFRP master SOP document

Table
Caught
Fishes
Caught
Fishes
Caught
Fishes
Caught
Fishes

Field
Species Code

Caught
Fishes
Caught
Fishes
Caught
Fishes

Depth
Released (ft)
Lat Released
(DD)

Description
The unique, 3 letter (capitalized) code that identifies the
species of the fish.
The total length, measured to the nearest centimeter (cm), of
the caught fish.
The type of terminal tackle (BAR, FLY, BAT, SBT, or DPR)
used to catch the fish.
The fishing station (the location where an angler fished) from
which the fish was caught. For Central Coast, stations are
numbered 1-4, 6-9, and 11-14.
Unique code comprising of a capital letter and three numbers
of the angler who caught the fish.
The bottom depth, measured in feet (ft), at the location at
which the fish, was released.
The latitude, in decimal degrees (DD), where the fish was
released.

Caught
Fishes

Lon Released
(DD)

The longitude, in decimal degrees (DD), where the fish was
released.

Caught
Fishes

Lat Released
(Degrees)

The degrees of latitude where the fish was released.

Caught
Fishes

Lat Released
(min)

The decimal minutes of latitude where the fish was released.

Caught
Fishes

Lon Released
(Degrees)

The degrees of longitude where the fish was released.

Caught
Fishes

Lon Released
(min)

The decimal minutes of longitude where the fish was released.

Caught
Fishes

Sex

Caught
Fishes
Caught
Fishes
Caught
Fishes
Caught
Fishes
Caught
Fishes

Condition 0

Caught
Fishes
Caught
Fishes
Caught
Fishes

Condition 5

Length (cm)
Gear Type
Station #
Angler ID

Condition 1
Condition 2
Condition 3
Condition 4

Condition 6
Condition 7

CCFRP master SOP document

Sex is designated as either M (male) or F (female).
Indicates the fish was in “good condition” and was not
experiencing a code laid out in conditions 1-8.
Indicates that the fish had eye damage due to barotrauma
resulting in crystallized eyes.
Indicates that the fish was vented (via swim bladder) with a
hypodermic needle.
Indicates that the fish showed recent signs of marine mammal
or fish predation, but was not a mortality.
Indicates that the fish showed signs of hook damage
(including eye damage) or body cuts/scale loss, but was not a
mortality.
Indicates that the fish was released using a fish descending
device.
Indicates that the fish was floating (did not swim down) upon
release, but mortality was uncertain.
Indicates that the fish was a mortality due to mammal or fish
predation.

Table

Field

Description

Caught
Fishes

Condition 8

Caught
Fishes

All Conditions

Caught
Fishes

Retained

Caught
Fishes

Recapture

Caught
Fishes

Comments

Indicates that the fish was a mortality due to causes other than
mammal or fish predation (e.g., mortality due to barotrauma,
being on the boat too long, handling injuries, being eaten by a
bird).
A list of all the recorded conditions of the fish (e.g., 4,1,5,). If
the fish does not exhibit conditions, the number zero (0) is
entered. If the datasheet is blank, it is left blank in the
database.
Indicates whether or not the fish was retained. A note may
exist in Comments referencing the particular student’s
project/organization for which it was collected.
Indicates whether or not the fish was a recapture (a fish that
was caught and tagged previously during a CCFRP survey).
The Tag ID of the tag already in the fish is recorded in the
Comments section of Caught Fishes table.
Additional information about a fish. Notes are made about the
state of the fish. If the fish was a recapture, its tag number is
entered in this section.
The unique label for each drift completed during this study.
Drift IDs are: Area (XX), MPA or REF (M/R), date (XXXXXX),
grid cell (XX), Drift Number (XX)
The trip during which a drift was completed. Trip IDs are: Area
(XX), T, sequential trip number (XX), underscore (_), and year
(XX). For example, the first trip in Point Lobos in 2007 would
have a Trip ID PLT01_07.
The cell in which a drift is completed using the two-letter area
indicator and two numerical digit Cell ID. Some of the drifts
were completed outside any of the designated grid cells. RR
indicates that the drift took place somewhere in the reference
area. MM indicates that the drift took place in the MPA area,
MN indicates that the drift was in the new portion of the Point
Lobos MPA and MO in the old portion. The Cell ID for Point
Reyes is PRXX, North and South East Farallon Islands is
FNXX, and Duxbury Reef is designated DRXX.
Groups together all drifts that are completed in a given cell
during a specific trip, written as the Drift ID without the drift
number included.
The sequential number of the drift.

Drift
Information

Drift ID

Drift
Information

Trip ID

Drift
Information

Cell ID

Drift
Information

ID-Cell per Trip

Drift
Information
Drift
Information
Drift
Information

Drift

Drift
Information

Start Time
End Time
Drift Time_hrs

CCFRP master SOP document

The time at which the drift commenced. The time is entered in
24 hour format, but displayed as: HH:MM:SS (AM/PM).
The time at which the drift ended. The time is entered in 24
hour format, but displayed as: HH:MM:SS (AM/PM).
A calculated field of the total drift time, in hours.

Table
Drift
Information

Field
BAR/FLY/BAT/
SBT/DPR (+/mins) Fishing
Time

Drift
Information

Total off time
(hrs)

Drift
Information

total adjusted
angler hrs

Drift
Information

# of BAR/FLY/
BAT/SBT/DPR
Fishers
Total # Anglers
Fishing

Numbers of anglers fishing each gear type; if a region does
not fish with a particular gear type, 0 should be entered in the
field.
Total number of anglers fishing for all gear types during a drift.

Drift
Information

Start Lat (DD)

Latitude, in decimal degrees (DD), where the drift began.

Drift
Information

Start Lon (DD)

Longitude, in decimal degrees (DD), where the drift began.

Drift
Information

End Lat (DD)

Latitude, in decimal degrees (DD), where the drift ended.

Drift
Information

End Lon (DD)

Longitude, in decimal degrees (DD), where the drift ended.

Drift
Information

Drift Length (m)

Drift
Information

Recorder

Drift
Information

Tag Crew

Drift
Information

Surface T
(instrument, C)

Drift
Information

Depth T
(instrument, C)

Drift
Information

SWT (Vessel,
F)

Drift
Information

CCFRP master SOP document

Description
The amount of time during a drift that anglers fishing with a
particular gear type (e.g. BAR, FLY, BAT, SBT, DPR) were not
fishing due to various reasons (e.g., hung up gear) or were
fishing for extra time (e.g., started before the drift
commenced). Added or subtracted fishing time is in minutes
(as noted on fieldwork datasheets). If time was subtracted it
was entered with a “-” before the number. Enter 0 if gear type
is not used.
A calculated field of the sum of the BAR, FLY, BAT, SBT, DPR
off times. Multiplied by 24 to convert the angler off time to
hours. Each gear type must have a value for the calculation to
work.
A calculated field with the equation: drift time*# anglers-Total
off time. Used to calculate CPUE by species and for the drift.

The straight-line distance between the start and end location
of the drift, measured in meters (m).
The initials of the person (s) recording information on the data
sheets during a drift. The names associated with all initials are
listed in Codes used in the Database.
The initials of the person(s) tagging and processing fishes
during a drift. The names associated with all initials are listed
in Codes used in the Database.
The surface temperature reading from a Seabird temperature
sensor, a CTD, or hand held meat thermometer taken in the
grid cell in which the drift occurred.
The temperature reading taken at depth from a Seabird
temperature sensor (PR, FN, DR, AN, PL) or a CTD (BL, PB)
taken in the grid cell in which the drift occurred.
The localized surface water temperature, measured in
degrees Fahrenheit (°F), as reported by the vessel captain
during a drift.
28

Table

Field

Description

Drift
Information

Relief (1-3)

Drift
Information

Start Depth (ft)

The bottom depth, measured in feet (ft), as reported by the
vessel captain at the start of a drift.

Drift
Information

End Depth (ft)

The bottom depth, measured in feet (ft), as reported by the
vessel captain at the end of a drift.

Drift
Information

Lingcod Bar
Weight (oz)

Weight (oz) of the Lingcod bars (hard tackle) used during a
drift.

Drift
Information
Drift
Information

Lead Weight
(oz)
SBT Head
Weight (oz)

The weight of the lead sinkers used with the shrimp fly
terminal tackle (bait and no bait) used during a drift.
The weight of swimbait (SBT) heads used with the swimbait
gear type during a drift.

Drift
Information

# Seals

Drift
Information

# Sea Lions

The number of sea lions observed during a drift.

Drift
Information

Total Fishes
Caught

The total number of fishes caught during a drift.

Drift
Information
Drift
Information

Drift
Information

The degree of sea floor relief at the location of a drift as
reported by the vessel captain. The values are coded 1-3
(descriptions of these codes are in Codes used in the
Database.).

The number of harbor seals observed during a drift.

Cloud Cover (0- The amount of cloud cover at the location of a drift. Values
3)
are coded 0-3 and descriptions are in Codes used in the
Database.
Obs Wind
The wind speed, measured in knots (kt), observed by the data
Speed (kt)
recorder during a drift. When entered into the database the
values are averaged (e.g., if the wind speed is listed as being
“0-5 kts” or “>5 kts”, a value of 2.5 is entered.
Obs Wind
The wind direction observed by the data recorder during a drift
Direction
(e.g., N, NW, E).

Drift
Information

Obs Swell
Height (ft)

Drift
Information

NOAA Wave
Height (m)

Drift
Information

NOAA Mean
Wave Direction
(degrees)

CCFRP master SOP document

The swell height, measured in feet (ft), observed by the data
recorder during a drift. When entered into the database the
values are averaged (e.g., if the swell height is listed as being
“6-10 ft”, 8 is entered into the database).
NOAA wave height information, measured in meters (m), at
the buoy nearest the location where and at the time a drift was
completed. Values were taken from the NOAA National Data
Buoy Center (www.ndbc.noaa.gov/).
NOAA mean wave direction information, measured in
degrees, at the buoy nearest the location where and at the
time a drift was completed. Values were taken from the
NOAA National Data Buoy Center (www.ndbc.noaa.gov/).

Table

Field

Description

Drift
Information

Secchi Depth
(m)

Drift
Information

Comments

The Secchi depth reading, measured in meters (m), taken in
the grid cell in which the drift occurred. In each cell on each
day a Secchi disk depth reading is taken. All drifts completed
in a grid cell on a given day share a Secchi Depth value.
Additional information about a drift. Comments were listed
regarding the weather and water condition and events that
took place during the drift.
A reason for excluding the drift from CPUE calculations. Out of
grid cell is a common reason but other reasons exist.
The unique, 3 letter (capitalized) identifying code for each
species of fish that was caught during this study.
Indicates whether or not the fish is a Rockfish (in the genus
Sebastes).
The common name of the fish. Common names are
capitalized (e.g., Brown Rockfish).
The genus of the fish.
The species name of the fish.
The cell in which a drift is completed, consisting of: Area (XX),
Cell (XX). Some of the drifts were completed outside any of
the designated grid cells (RR for reference area, MM for
MPA). MN indicates that the drift was in the new portion of the
Point Lobos MPA and MO in the old portion. The Cell ID for
Point Reyes is PRXX, North and South East Farallon Islands
is FNXX, and Duxbury Reef is designated DRXX.
The area in which the grid cell is located: Año Nuevo (AN),
Point Lobos (PL), Piedras Blancas (BL), Point Buchon (PB),
etc.
The site in which the grid cell is located: Marine Protected
Area (MPA) and Reference (REF).
If the grid cell that is in the Point Lobos Marine Protected Area
it is designated as either “OLD” or “NEW.” “OLD” indicates the
portion of the MPA that overlaps with the 1973 Point Lobos
Ecological Reserve and “NEW” is the portion that does not
overlap.
Latitude, in decimal degrees, of the center point of the grid
cell.
Longitude, in decimal degrees, of the center point of the grid
cell.

Drift
Information
Fish Species

Excluded drift
comment
Species Code

Fish Species

Rockfish

Fish Species

Common Name

Fish Species
Fish Species
Grid Cell
Locations

Genus
Species
Cell ID

Grid Cell
Locations

Area

Grid Cell
Locations
Grid Cell
Locations

Site (MPA/
REF)
PL Old/New

Grid Cell
Locations
Grid Cell
Locations

Lat Center
Point
Lon Center
Point

Grid Cell
Locations
Grid Cell
Locations

Lat 1
Lon 1

Latitude, in decimal degrees, of the northwest corner of the
grid cell.
Longitude, in decimal degrees, of the northwest corner of the
grid cell.

Grid Cell
Locations

Lat 2

Latitude, in decimal degrees, of the northeast corner of the
grid cell.

Grid Cell
Locations

Lon 2

Longitude, in decimal degrees, of the northeast corner of the
grid cell.

CCFRP master SOP document

Table

Field

Description

Grid Cell
Locations

Lat 3

Latitude, in decimal degrees, of the southwest corner of the
grid cell.

Grid Cell
Locations

Lon 3

Longitude, in decimal degrees, of the southwest corner of the
grid cell.

Grid Cell
Locations

Lat 4

Latitude, in decimal degrees, of the southeast corner of the
grid cell.

Grid Cell
Locations
Grid Cell
Locations

Lon 4

Longitude, in decimal degrees, of the southeast corner of the
grid cell.
Indicates whether a grid cell was sampled in a particular year.
There is a separate column for each year of the study.

Cell Sampled
YYYY

Trip
Information

Trip ID

The unique identifier for each trip that was completed during
this study. Trip IDs are: Area, T, sequential trip number_year.
For example, the first trip in Point Lobos in 2007 would have a
Trip ID: PLT01_07.

Trip
Information

Area

Trip
Information

Site (MPA/
REF)

The area in which sampling occurred during a trip. Sampling
occurred in six areas: Año Nuevo (AN), Point Lobos (PL),
Piedras Blancas (BL), Point Buchon (PB), etc.
The site in which sampling occurred during a trip. Within each
area there are two different “sites:” Marine Protected Area
(MPA) and Reference (REF).

Trip
Information

Month

Trip
Information
Trip
Information
Trip
Information
Trip
Information
Trip
Information

Day

The two digit day on which a trip occurred (e.g., 06).

Year

The four digit year in which a trip occurred (e.g., 2014).

The month in which a trip occurred, in text (e.g., September).

Vessel

The vessel on which a trip was taken.

Captain

The person who served as captain of the vessel of the trip.

Deckhand

The person(s) who served as deckhand of the vessel of the
trip.

Trip
Information

#Volunteer
Anglers

Trip
Information

Fishing tackle
used

Trip
Information

Comments

The number of volunteer anglers that participated on a trip.
This number counts only the anglers who fished that day (may
be different from the number of anglers fishing during a given
drift on that trip).
This explains the color of shrimp flies, type of bait, and any
pertinent information related to the terminal tackle used during
a given trip. Some weights are included, but these data are
covered in each drift in the Lead Weight (oz) and Lingcod Bar
Weight (oz) fields in Drift Information.
Information about a trip including people that came out on the
boat that did not fish (e.g., reporters, photographers, and
people that assisted the science crew) and noteworthy events
of the day.

CCFRP master SOP document

Responsibilities of the Captain, Deckhand, and Science Crew
Captain
• Provide weights, bait, and fishing rods for the trip (sometimes this falls to the fishing shop if
different from the captain). These items are not included in the charter rate for all regions.
• Ensure that we are not fishing outside of the grid cell boundaries.
• Within each of the four pre-selected grid cells, choose three discrete locations in which to
fish.
• Before fishing commences, ask the anglers to get ready to fish. Then, announce the start
and end of the drift.
• Inform a member of the science crew what the depth, surface water temperature, and relief
are at the fishing locations.
• Notify a member of the science crew if you spot any seals or sea lions.
• Notify a member of the science crew if any anglers rotate stations.
• Let a member of the science crew know if an angler is not fishing for more than 30 seconds.
Deckhand
• Rig fishing rods with the appropriate terminal tackle (Lingcod bar, shrimp fly with bait,
shrimpfly without bait, swimbaits, and/or dropper loops with bait). Ensure that there are
enough rods for each station plus spares. If an angler prefers to use their own rod, rig their
gear appropriately for the station from which they will fish.
• Make sure that half of the shrimp flies being used are red and the other half are white.
• Tell a member of the science crew what size Lingcod bars are being used, what size weight
is being used for the shrimp fly stations, and/or what size weight is being used for the swim
bait heads. If this changes, inform a member of the science crew.
• If an angler’s gear gets hung up, give them a new rod, and attempt to get the snag out.
• Re-rig fishing rods with near gear if anglers break off.
• Let a member of the science crew know if an angler is not fishing for more than 30 seconds.
• Refill the station tubs and buckets with fresh sea water when they get dirty or have been on
the boat for a long period of time.
• Help anglers get their fish off the hook and place it in their tub or, if the catch rate is slow,
send the fish to the tagging station.
• If a fish is floating after it is released, notify a member of the science crew and, if possible,
retrieve the fish with a net.
• Notify a member of the science crew if you spot any seals or sea lions.
• Notify a member of the science crew if any anglers rotate stations.
• At the end of the trip, remove the terminal tackle from the rods.
Lead Field Scientist
• Check-in with the captain in the morning to introduce protocols (if new captain) and provide
the day’s pre-selected grid cells (and their coordinates) with charts. Remind them to ensure
that we are not fishing outside of the grid cell boundaries or in the incorrect cell.
• Conduct a project briefing and organize volunteer anglers at the start of the trip
• Conduct a briefing with science crew members to go over the plan for the day, train any new
staff, and answer any questions (i.e., explain which cells we’ll be fishing in, which stations
are unfilled, reminders about standardized protocols and descending devices, etc.)
• Conduct project debrief upon return to the dock (thank volunteers, thank captain/deckhand,
remind people about parking validation (if applicable), discuss our various social media
accounts, and pass off to volunteer coordinator for totals and prizes for the day
CCFRP master SOP document

Volunteer Coordinator (if different from the Lead Field Scientist)
• Serve as communications liaison between volunteer anglers and the program
• Schedule volunteer anglers 1-2 months prior to sampling
• Send reminder emails out to volunteers 1 week prior to sampling
• Fill any vacant fishing spots (due to cancellations, etc.) with volunteers off the wait list
• On the day of a sampling trip, sign-in volunteer anglers and provide waivers/surveys.
• Assign volunteer anglers to a station/gear type (based on experience and/or preference, if
possible)
• Inform the deckhand if anglers choose to use their own fishing rod (to rig up gear
appropriately).
• Announce catch totals and distribute prizes to volunteers at the end of the trip
Science Crew Members
• Set up the fishing and tagging stations.
• Take a Secchi disk and temperature reading in each grid cell.
• Help anglers get their fish off the hook and place it in their tub of fresh seawater or send the
fish to the tagging station.
• Measure, selectively tag, and release caught fishes.
• Record data. Inform the captain when it is time to start and stop fishing, and when enough
time has been spent in each location and grid cell.

CCFRP master SOP document

Administrative Tasks and Timing
January and February:
• Merge individual databases from each region into a single statewide database (statewide
coordinator)
• Begin data analyses (in preparation for angler workshops, presentations, etc.)
• Post volunteer stats (e.g., number fish caught per angler) and tag return information to
website
• Distribute volunteer angler newsletter (ideally with announcement of volunteer angler
workshop date)
March:
• Conclude data analyses
• Plan/administer data workshop for volunteer anglers, agency contacts, community
members, etc.
April:
• Email bid forms to all participating CPFV captains (allow two weeks to return requested
materials). The timing of this will depend on when each group plans to begin their season.
• Add additional personnel to collection permits, if necessary.
• Disseminate tag return flyers in preparation for the opening of rockfish season
• Upload previous year’s data summaries and resources on website (pdf version of
newsletters, volunteer angler data workshop presentations, etc.).
May:
• Select and schedule charters for sampling season (based on bid price, documentation, past
experience, ease to work with, availability, and CDFW background check); Timing will vary
by group
• Post generic volunteer opportunities using Recruiting Volunteers (if applicable)
• Ensure all permits are up to date (CDFW, CA State Parks, etc.); renew as necessary
• Inventory all CCFRP supplies, noting quality of gear; order gear and supplies as necessary
• Procure volunteer angler prizes for the season.
June:
• Finalize all CPFV paperwork
• Hold annual staff training workshop to review scientific protocols, tasks, etc.
• Coordinate schedules with other groups to try and arrange trip exchanges throughout the
season
July:
• Schedule volunteer anglers to participate on sampling trips; timing will vary by region
• Organize and stage gear for sampling season. Order last minute items as needed.
August/September/October:
• Sample!
• Send in appropriate notifications prior to sampling (CDFW, CA State Parks, etc.)
• Contact wardens and parks staff to notify about dates inside MPA boundaries.
• Send reminder emails to scheduled volunteer anglers ~1 week prior to sampling (with info
on port, vessel, what to bring, etc.)
CCFRP master SOP document

•
•
•
•
•
•

Email science crew with schedule reminder and trip logistics prior to each sampling week
(e.g., meeting times, packing schedule, etc.); coordinate carpools.
Initiate captain payment within 3 days of invoice receipt.
Scan data sheets after each sampling week.
Download waypoints from GPS as a backup every day.
Post daily updates to social media
Enter totals from each trip into the shared Google doc for the CDFW Groundfish Team
Catch Report (submitted monthly)

October/November:
• Follow instructions on Gear Maintenance Information.
• Compile ‘best-of’ photos from all locations for Facebook/web update.
• Begin entering and checking data.
• Create season summary for website.
• Send thank you letters to boat owners, captains, and deckhands.
• Update SOP, training, and outreach materials.
December:
• Conclude data entry/checking. Perform range checks, map drifts, etc. prior to sending
QA/QC’d version to the statewide coordinator
• Submit annual reports of fishes caught to CDFW (depending on timing of permit cycle);
check permit expiration dates and submit renewal/amendment requests as needed.
• Develop monthly Facebook posts to keep volunteers interested (e.g., thesis updates, fish
facts).
• Begin thinking about deliverables for early next year (volunteer angler newsletter, angler
workshop, etc.)
Year-round:
• Maintain website, Facebook page, Instagram account, and YouTube channel.
• Seek out various media communications opportunities.
• Maintain constant communication with lead field scientists, statewide coordinator, and PIs to
ensure cohesiveness and forward momentum for the program.

CCFRP master SOP document

Captain Communications – Email examples
Call for Bids (April; forms due two weeks after announcement):
Dear CPFV Captain/Owner,
The California Collaborative Fisheries Research Program (CCFRP), a scientific program
designed to collect information for fisheries management as well as the evaluation of MPA
performance, is currently soliciting charter bids for the 2013 sampling season. Please
review, complete, and return the attached bid form, if you are interested in participating. All
bids and supplemental documentation (see ‘Additional Required Documents’) are due by the
end of business on Monday, April 22nd. Selections will be made based on a combination of
charter rates, availability, previous CCFRP experience, and knowledge of nearshore
recreational fisheries in central California. Note: Multiple vessels are expected to be
chartered this season, as CCFRP is a collaborative in nature. Please see the attached
‘CCFRP Captain Information’ document for additional programmatic information, and let us
know if you have any questions or concerns.
Additional Required Documents
Current U.S. Coast Guard Certificate of Inspection
Valid Certificate of Liability Insurance (Occurrence Limit: $1,000,000)
Thanks and we look forward to hearing from you soon!
Attached: 2019 CPFV Bid Form (CCFRP).pdf, CCFRP Captain Information.pdf,
Trip Reminders (send 1-2 weeks before first sampling trip):
New Captains (discuss trip activities over the phone after receipt of email):
Hi Peter [Owner, Randy’s Fishing],
Since we are preparing to conduct CCFRP sampling trips aboard F/V Chubasco on
Tuesday, September 18th and Wednesday, September 19th, I wanted to get in touch with
you to make sure that all of our bases are covered. As such, I have attached a document
with some basic information for our CCFRP captains, including project objectives and
individual responsibilities. Would you please forward this information to your captain? I will
also call in a few days so that we may discuss some of these points, questions, and/or
concerns over the phone. If you can provide me with a direct number to reach Captain
Brian, that would also be greatly appreciated.
Additionally, I have attached the GPS coordinates that designate our Point Lobos sampling
cells. Ideally, these would be entered into F/V Chubasco’s navigation system before our
first trip, but I can help get them entered on our steam out, if that is preferred. I would like to
note that it is important that these coordinates be both entered and commonly referenced to
ensure that all fishing takes place within our designated sampling cells. Doing so permits as
much of the collected data to be used as possible. Also, I wanted to remind you that, as
part of our agreement, the boat will be supplying enough rods for 12 anglers (plus spares),
lead weights, and squid bait (we use mantle strips only).
Lastly, my mobile number is (XXX) XXX-XXXX. You can use this number to get in touch
with me if there are any last-minute mechanical issues or changes in weather that may
affect our sampling trip.
Thanks and I look forward to speaking with you tomorrow (and taking my first ever trip on
your boat)!
Returning Captains (call if no response within 2 to 3 days of first trip):
CCFRP master SOP document

Hi Tom,
Hope all is well with you. We’re really looking forward to working with you again this season!
Anyway, I have attached a document with some basic information for CCFRP captains,
including project objectives and individual responsibilities. It hasn’t changed much since last
year, but if you could take a look at it, share it with any new deckhands (if applicable), and
let me know if you have any questions, that would be great. Additionally, I have attached the
GPS coordinates that designate our Año Nuevo sampling cells, in case you don't
still/already have them entered into your system.
Also, I wanted to reconfirm that we are scheduled to charter your boat on Thursday,
September 6th and Friday, September 7th. Just to remind you, as part of our agreement,
the boat will be supplying enough rods for 12 anglers (plus a few spares), lead weights, and
squid bait (mantle strips only).
Lastly, is (XXX) XXX-XXXX still the best number to reach you at on the morning of the trip
(just in case)? My mobile number is (XXX) XXX-XXXX, in the event that you need to get in
touch with me regarding last-minute mechanical issues or changes in weather that may
affect our sampling trip.
Attached: CCFRP Captain Information (year).pdf; CCFRP Grid Cell Location Information
(area).pdf
Points to Discuss Over the Phone (at least 2 to 3 days prior to first trip):
• Sampling protocols
o Captain (fish in grid cells only, three 15-min drifts per; four cells; distinct locations
selected by captain; keep <120 ft; announce start/stop times; report
environmental/fishing data)
o Deckhand (rig gear, remove snags, crimp barbs, careful fish handling – no holding by
gills)
• Trip logistics
o Meet at 5:30AM to load; anglers arrive 6AM; depart by 6:30AM
o Return by 3PM; leave gear on boat for next day if possible
• Remind to enter GPS coordinates (provide first day’s cell numbers)
• Boat provides rods, sinkers, and squid bait (mantle strips); nets (no gaffs)
• Verify contact information
• Captain discusses potential weather conditions with lead science crew, but must make the
final call (based on experience)
• Ask for questions/concerns

CCFRP master SOP document

CPFV Information
MLML:
• F/V Huli Cat; 2019 bid: $1,700 per day
o Pillar Point Harbor, Half Moon Bay
o Tom Mattusch, Owner and Captain ([email protected]; cell: 650-619-0459)
o Mike Cabanas or Donovan Ash, Deckhand
o CF#582804
•

F/V Tigerfish: 2019 bid: $1,700 per day
o Pillar Point Harbor, Half Moon Bay (his main slip is in Emeryville, but steams down for
these trips)
o Allen Chin, Owner and Captain ([email protected]; cell: 415-860-1688)
o Tom Corso, Deckhand
o CF#585944

•

F/V Kahuna: 2019 bid: $1,300 per day
o Moss Landing Harbor, Moss Landing
o Carol Jones, Owner ([email protected]; shop: 831-633-2564)
o Brian Cutting, Captain
o Josh Abbey or Matt Cutting, Deckhand
o CF#545332

•

F/V Sur Randy: 2019 bid: $1,400 per day
o Fisherman’s Wharf, Monterey
o J&M Sportfishing, Owner
o Front desk contact: Katlyn Taylor ([email protected],
[email protected]; shop: 831-372-7064)
o Danny Frank or Rod Stoltz, Captain (changes constantly)
o Kevin Klein, Andrew Zazeski, or Alfredo Chiappini, Deckhand (changes constantly)
o CF#604145

CCFRP master SOP document

2019 Bid for California Collaborative Fisheries
Research Program (CCFRP) Charters
CCFRP combines the expertise and ideas of fishing community members and academic
scientists to gather information for fisheries management and the evaluation of marine protected
areas (MPAs). Through standardized hook-and-line surveys, we work together to catch,
identify, measure, tag, and release nearshore fishes, which enables the collection of species
composition, length, and catch rate data of economically valuable species found along the
central California coast. Data collected during this project are and will continue to be used by
resource managers to assess stock health and MPA performance.
***edit for each season*** Since 2007, CCFRP has successfully completed over 244 days of
hook-and-line surveys. Utilizing over 6,800 volunteer angler hours (from more than 700
individuals), we have processed more than 46,000 fish from 48 different species. Of those
caught, over 33,000 have been tagged in order to gain information about movement patterns
and growth.
Please refer to the CCFRP Participant Handbook for additional procedural information.
Vessel Information
Name: __________________________ Length: ________ Gross Tonnage: _______
Value: $ ___________ Year: ________ Material: ____________ No. Pax: _____
Owner: _________________________

Home Port: ____________________________

Captain (if different): _____________________________ License #: ______________
Navigational Limits: ___________________ Crew Experience: ________________
Safety Equipment Onboard: _______________________________________________
Contact Information
Company: ___________________________ Owner: ___________________________
Phone: (____)_______________ Address: ___________________________________
City: _____________________________ State: __________ Zip: ________________
Fax: (____)_______________ Email: _________________________________________
For consideration, a valid Certificate of Liability Insurance (with $1,000,000 protection per
occurrence) and current California Marine Survey or USCG Certificate of Inspection are
required.

CCFRP master SOP document

Scheduling
Please circle any/all dates that ______________________ (vessel name) is available for 2014
CCFRP charters (as of _____ / _____ / _____ ). Please note that sampling trips typically run
from 6AM to approximately 3PM (Monterey) or 5PM (Half Moon Bay). Charters are weatherdependent and can be canceled based upon the discretion of the vessel captain and/or CCFRP
lead scientist. Canceled trips will be rescheduled based on availability, which may result in a
different vessel used for subsequent charters. Trips that are cut short for any reason will be
paid based upon the amount of sampling conducted.
August 2014
Monday
4
11
18
25

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

5
12
19
26

6
13
20
27
Wednesday
3
10
17
24

September 2014
Monday
Tuesday
1
2
8
9
15
16
22
23
29
30

7
14
21
28

Friday
1
8
15
22
29

Saturday
2
9
16
23
30

Sunday
3
10
17
24
31

Thursday
4
11
18
25

Friday
5
12
19
26

Saturday
6
13
20
27

Sunday
7
14
21
28

Rates
Single Day Charter: $ _______ / day

Multi-Day Charter: $ _______ / 3 days*

* The above pricing includes the cost of a deckhand, rod and reel rentals (with ≥ 30 lb test line),
weights, squid bait, and fuel. CCFRP staff will provide terminal tackle. Selection of charters will
be based on a combination of charter rates, availability, previous CCFRP experience,
knowledge of nearshore recreational fisheries, and a California Department of Fish and Wildlife
background check.
Please return this form along with the required documents listed above to:
Moss Landing Marine Laboratories
c/o Fisheries and Conservation Biology Lab
8272 Moss Landing Rd
Moss Landing, CA 95039
p: 831-771-4479
e: [email protected]

CCFRP master SOP document

Volunteer Coordinator Information
The volunteer coordinator is responsible for being the primary liaison between the volunteer
anglers and the program. For some institutions, this is a separate role and in others, it is part of
the lead field scientist’s responsibilities. Below are duties for this role, utilizing MLML as an
example. Note that not all details are applicable for each institution, and there are multiple ways
to successfully accomplish the tasks of the volunteer coordinator.
Managing the [email protected] email (or other shared email account dedicated to
volunteer communications)
The [email protected] email address should be set to forward to the CCFRP Volunteer
Coordinator’s MLML student account to avoid having to check two separate accounts on a
regular basis (the ccfrp email account should be checked as frequently as one’s student
account). It is important to communicate with anglers using the ccfrp account, so that if there is
discontinuity from year to year regarding who handles trips and volunteer communications, all
emails will still be answered in a timely fashion.
• To forward emails from [email protected] to your individual account, log into the
ccfrp account (password in “CCFRP Logins and Passwords in Google Drive). Under
settings, find the tab ‘Forwarding and POP/IMAP’ (next to ‘Forwarding’), click ‘Add a
forwarding address’. After the email address is added, make sure to ‘keep Moss Landing
Marine Lab Mail’s copy in the Inbox’ (in the dropdown menu).
• Under the ‘Accounts’ tab in your individual email account, click ‘Add another email address
you own’ under the ‘Send Mail’ section. This way, you can respond to emails from the Sea
Grant account while logging into your individual account. However, Gmail defaults to your
primary (first initial last [email protected]) email address when responding (even to
emails sent to the ccfrp group forwarded to your individual email), so be sure to drop down
to ‘[email protected]’ when responding to emails from anglers.
• Under the ‘General’ tab, you can create identical (or different, depending on your
preferences) signatures, so you don’t have to be copy and paste every time. Simply select
the email address from the drop down in the ‘Signature’ section and customize it. A
signature from CCFRP should look like the following:
Name
Volunteer Coordinator, CA Collaborative Fisheries Research Program
Graduate Student, Fisheries & Conservation Biology Lab

•

Moss Landing Marine Laboratories
8272 Moss Landing Road | Moss Landing, CA 95039
p: (831) 771-4479 f: (831) 632-4403
e: [email protected]
Note: There is a ‘Canned responses’ lab in Gmail. You can use this to quickly send
responses to anglers that are commonly used (e.g., info for interested volunteers,
scheduling confirmation, waiting list additions when trips are full, out-of-season replies). Be
sure that names, dates, and/or locations are changed accordingly when being used. Also,
the ‘Undo send’ lab is very useful to avoid occasional mistakes.

Recruiting Volunteers
There are several volunteer websites and job boards at universities that we can post CCFRP
volunteer opportunities. To this end, you can also post a position for a CCFRP Intern who
spends the summer assisting in preparing for the sampling season, classifying photos,
compiling outreach materials, and serving as science crew on sampling trips. Posting sites
CCFRP master SOP document

have different user names, passwords, requirements for posts, and contact information which
have been compiled and placed into an Excel. It is best to keep the contact information in the
posting to the ccfrp email account and the FCB Lab phone (831-771-4479). This way, if an
interested volunteer sees a post, but doesn’t respond until the following year, they can still get
into contact with the correct person, even if the position has been passed on to someone else.
Typically, we take on two unpaid interns per year. There are files for this position, including a
description, application, interviewing questions, time sheets, performance reviews, and an exit
survey. Please review “Managing Volunteers and Interns” before initiating contact.
General Volunteer Posting
Experienced anglers needed for hook-and-line fishing project used to monitor marine
protected areas (MPAs) along the central California coast!
California Collaborative Fisheries Research Program (CCFRP) volunteers aide local
scientists in the collection of valuable data on economically important marine fish species by
fishing onboard party boats out of Monterey and Half Moon Bay. Once caught, each fish is
identified, measured, tagged, and released at their respective MPA or reference site. Data
recorded from these fishing expeditions will be used by state regulators to evaluate the
effectiveness of MPAs in the region.
CCFRP is a partnership of people and communities interested in fisheries sustainability. By
combining the expertise and ideas of fishermen and scientists, we have successfully
established protocols that can be used state-wide to gather biological information and
monitor changes in local fish populations for management purposes.
Join us for a day on the water and some awesome fishing while contributing to our
understanding of important marine populations!
Note: Volunteer anglers should have a fair amount of experience fishing in the marine
environment. Volunteer anglers must be at least 16 years of age in order to participate. All
participants must be able to spend extended periods of time (e.g., up to 10 hours per day)
on a recreational fishing boat, in potentially rough waters. Please also note that there will be
no individual take on these cruises, in accordance with our CA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife
scientific collecting permits.
For more information, please contact:
California Collaborative Fisheries Research Program
Moss Landing Marine Labs/Fisheries and Conservation Biology Lab
8272 Moss Landing Road
Moss Landing, CA 95039
p: 831-771-4479
e: [email protected]
w: www.mlml.calstate.edu/ccfrp

CCFRP master SOP document

Craigslist.org Posts
Experienced anglers needed for hook-and-line fishing project used to monitor California
marine protected areas (MPAs) along the central California coast!
In the months of August and September, California Collaborative Fisheries
Research Program (CCFRP) volunteers aide local scientists in the collection of
valuable data on economically important marine species by fishing onboard party boats out
of Monterey and Half Moon Bay. Once caught, each fish is identified, measured, tagged,
and released at their respective MPA or reference site. Data recorded from these fishing
expeditions will eventually be used by state regulators to evaluate the effectiveness of MPAs
in the region.

About the Program
CCFRP is a partnership of people and communities interested in fisheries sustainability. By
combining the expertise and ideas of fishermen and scientists, we have successfully
established protocols that can be used state-wide to gather biological information and
monitor changes in local fish populations for management purposes.

Join us for a day on the water and some awesome fishing while contributing to our
understanding of important marine populations!

Note: Volunteer anglers should have a fair amount of experience fishing in the
marine environment. Volunteer anglers must be at least 16 years of age in order to
participate. All participants must be able to spend extended periods of time (8-10 hours per
day) on a recreational fishing boat, in potentially rough waters. Please also note that there
will be no individual take on these cruises, in accordance with CDFG
scientific collecting permits.

For more information or to be added to our list of interested volunteers, contact:
California Collaborative Fisheries Research Program
Moss Landing Marine Laboratories
8272 Moss Landing Road | Moss Landing, CA 95039
p: (831) 771-4479 f: (831) 632-4403
e: [email protected]
*add CCFRP logo and tagging/fishing photos

CCFRP master SOP document

Maintaining the Volunteer Angler Contact List
Through various events and emails received from our website or online postings, we acquire
contact information of people interested in volunteering with collaborative research projects. It
is best to keep these contacts in a Google Doc so that email lists can quickly be created from
the spreadsheet. It is simplest (and much more time efficient) to contact volunteers through
email (keep this in mind when taking down contact information). Make sure to add this list of
interested volunteers to your pre-season correspondences. After an email is sent to the
members of our database, there will be bounce-backs from incorrect or invalid addresses.
Update and label these in the Excel file and Access database as you go to prevent the same
errors in the future. If the database you have is not the most current version, contact the
statewide coordinator to make these changes official.
Announcing the CCFRP Sampling Schedule
• Once sampling trips have been confirmed, it is time to schedule volunteer anglers. You can
easily transfer email addresses from Excel (exported from Access) into a text file that can be
inserted into your email ‘BCC’ field. Simply create a workbook with only the email address
field. Then, ‘Save as’ a .csv or .txt file. Open this file using TextEdit or Notepad. Then,
select all, copy, and paste into the ‘BCC’ field. Gmail will magically register these as
individual email addresses, placing commas between them.
• Be sure to query out the volunteer anglers who have requested to no longer be contacted by
CCFRP (check box in database)
• It is important to remember that there are anglers who do not have email addresses. There
are only a few of them, so it would be best to call these volunteers before sending out an
email to the remaining members of our database. If there is no answer, leave a message
with trip dates and the lab’s contact information.
• Be sure to include volunteer anglers that already exist in your database and any interested
volunteers (from Google Doc you've been managing). Additionally, there should always be
an option for people to remove themselves from our mailing list.
• MLML has announced the trip schedule to volunteers via email, but then required individuals
to sign up for trips using a Google Form. Depending on your level of need and organization
style, you can decide if a Google Form or email (or another option) is most appropriate.
• If you announce trips via email, below is one example of the type of information to include:
SUBJECT: 2019 CA Collaborative Fisheries Research Program (CCFRP) Sampling
Schedule
Greetings Dedicated Volunteer Anglers,
It's that time again...time to help collect data for fisheries management and the
monitoring of California MPAs through hook-and-line surveys!
First, let us take a moment to thank you for your continued support and participation in
the California Collaborative Fisheries Research Program (CCFRP). With your help, we
have successfully completed twelve years of data collection regarding species
compositions, sizes, and catch rates of fishes in and around local marine protected
areas (MPAs)...and, it is only with your help that we are able to enter into a seventh
sampling season! If you are still interested in the participating, please take a look at the
sampling dates below and let us know when you can make it. We'd love to get you out
with us again in 2019!

CCFRP master SOP document

CCFRP Sampling Dates (subject to change)
Half Moon Bay (Pillar Point Harbor)
August 6, 7, 8
September 10, 11, 12
Monterey (Fisherman's Wharf)
August 13, 14, 15
September 17, 18, 19
Each individual trip date assumes a 6AM boarding time and returns to the dock around 3
PM (Monterey) or 4 PM (Half Moon Bay). However, return times are slightly variable
and dependent upon conditions.
Please include your most up-to-date contact information and preferred volunteer
date(s). If you plan to bring a friend along, please provide their name and contact
information as well. We would be honored for you to join us and help make for another
great year of data collection!
Reminder: Volunteer anglers should have a fair amount of experience fishing in the
marine environment and be at least 16 years of age. All participants must be able to
spend extended periods of time (e.g., 8 to 10 hours per day) on a recreational fishing
boat, in potentially rough waters. Please note that there will be no individual take on
these cruises, in accordance with our CA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife scientific collecting
permits. Check out of CCFRP Participant Handbook for more information on protocols
and responsibilities.
Name
Volunteer Coordinator, CA Collaborative Fisheries Research Program
Graduate Student, Fisheries & Conservation Biology Lab
Moss Landing Marine Laboratories
8272 Moss Landing Road | Moss Landing, CA 95039
p: (831) 771-4479 f: (831) 632-4403
e: [email protected]
If you are no longer interested in receiving CCFRP-related emails, please let us know
and you will be removed from our list.
'Like' the California Collaborative Fisheries Research Program (CCFRP) on Facebook!
•

The above email should be sent when you have a few hours available afterwards to be near
a computer. There are several emails that are immediately returned undeliverable due to
email changes or email addresses that have been entered incorrectly. In your volunteer
contact information Excel file, update the returned email addresses by highlighting them in
RED so that you know they are not valid. Within a day, all of the invalid emails should have
returned. At this time, you should call each of the ‘bounced’ volunteers in an attempt to
update their contact information or remove them from our list. If the existing angler has a
new email address or you are able to make the appropriate corrections, highlight the
angler’s name in yellow, as well as the changed information. This color coding makes it
easy for someone entering data into Access to make the necessary changes. If an angler

CCFRP master SOP document

•

no longer wants to be contacted or we cannot get ahold of them by phone after their email
has been rejected, check Do Not Contact in the Access database Angler Information table.
After all of this has been completed, it is nice to send an email to your institution’s
community (e.g., students, allfaculty, and staff). In this email, it is important to emphasize
that no experience is necessary and that we can train them on the actual trip (something
that is not really offered to non-affiliated volunteers).

Scheduling Volunteer Anglers
• For MLML: schedule twelve anglers per day (only 9 or 10 anglers on Point Lobos MPA
days)
• Once a given trip is full, begin a waiting list with individuals to be called upon cancellations
others.
• Note: Assign fishing stations as you go to avoid scheduling ten fly fishers and two
experienced bar fishers (should be eight and four). Utilize the angler key as well as more
experienced science crew for suggestions on who to (or not to) put on the bow. Long-time
volunteers can also help in this and recommend people that they know.
• Keeping this schedule in a Google Doc is useful for staying organized and can be shared if
multiple people are working to fill it in. MLML uses a color-coded system and different tabs
for each sampling week.
• Make sure you record an angler’s name, email, and phone number when scheduling them
for a trip. Email is useful for trip reminders, and phone numbers are useful for contacting the
angler last minute (i.e., no show at the dock, trip cancellation within 24 hours, etc.)
Confirmation Email to Volunteer Anglers
• After you’ve scheduled a volunteer angler for one or more trips, it’s courteous to send them
an email confirming their participation, typically within one week of finalizing your schedule
• Information to include: dates they are on the schedule, dates they are on the waitlist,
location/vessel for those trips, message stating that additional trip logistics will be sent out 1
week prior to sampling, and a reminder that if they need to cancel, to let you know as soon
as possible.
Reminder Email to Volunteer Anglers
To be sent out one week prior to sampling
SUBJECT: CCFRP Trip Reminder - September 22nd out of Monterey
This is a friendly reminder that you have signed up to fish with the California
Collaborative Fisheries Research Program (CCFRP) on September 22nd out of
Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey. Please let us know if you can no longer make any of
your confirmed dates so that we may plan ahead and fill your slot with someone from our
waiting list.
TRIP INFORMATION
Next week, we will be fishing on:
F/V New Horizon
This boat is located at:
Fisherman's Wharf (#1 Old Fisherman's Wharf | Monterey, CA 93940)
* F/V New Horizon is located 2/3 of the way down Fisherman's Wharf, on the
right. See attached maps for additional information.
CCFRP master SOP document

DIRECTIONS
FROM NORTH OF MONTEREY:
Take Hwy-101 South to the Hwy-156 West exit, which runs into Hwy-1 South. Take the
Del Monte/Pacific Grove exit off Hwy-1. Fisherman's Wharf is 1 1/2 miles on the right
hand side of Del Monte Blvd.
FROM SOUTH OF MONTEREY:
Take Hwy-101 North to Hwy-68 West-Monterey Peninsula. Hwy-68 West will lead you
into Monterey. Follow the signs to Fisherman's Wharf.
There is a paid parking lot entrance from Washington Street, off of Del Monte
Blvd/Lighthouse Ave.
If you park in the paid lot, please go to the shop after your trip to get parking validation
(discounted your fee from $15 to $7/day).
WHAT TO BRING
Please wear layers (everything from a hefty jacket down to a light t-shirt) for
unpredictable weather. Closed-toed shoes are required and rubber boots are highly
recommended as the decks will be covered with water…and tennis shoes tend to make
for soggy feet. Weather can be unpredictable, so please prepare for both hot and cold
temperatures. A hat, sunglasses and sun block will most likely prove to be
useful. Snacks and water will be provided, but a sack lunch and sports bottle/cup are
necessary. Note that you may choose to bring your own rod (spinning rods
discouraged), but all tackle must be provided by the project in order to comply with
standardized protocols and ensure scientifically-sound data collection. Please also plan
to bring a bit of cash with you, in case you would like to show your gratitude to the
deckhand(s) for a job well done.
Please take seasickness medication prior to boarding if there is even a slight
chance that you may start to feel queasy! We need happy, healthy anglers fishing for
us. :)
Finally, if you haven't done so already (in 2019), please fill out and bring the following
forms with you (see attached):
1. SJSU Volunteer Appointment Form
2. MLML Volunteer Liability Release
A FEW FRIENDLY REMINDERS
Please note that there will be no individual take on these cruises, in accordance with CA
Dept. of Fish and Wildlife scientific collecting permits. Also, this is a research cruise...so
we must ask that alcoholic beverages not be consumed before or during fishing. Review
the attached 'CCFRP Volunteer Handbook' for more detailed information on trip logistics,
volunteer responsibilities, etc.
Finally, please meet at the boat at 6 AM sharp. If you are having trouble locating F/V
New Horizon, just look for boats with lights on or call (831) 204-8493 for further
assistance. If you are running late or are suddenly unable to make a planned trip,
please call the number previously listed. While we will do our best to accommodate
special needs, we will not be able to wait long at the dock before heading out.

CCFRP master SOP document

Also, please note that if weather prevents us from fishing, you will be notified as far in
advance as possible. If you are questioning whether or not a trip will proceed before its
designated departure, please feel free to call (831) 771-4479 after 5 pm and listen to the
recorded message for the latest update.
Thanks again and we look forward to seeing you on the boat!
Managing CCFRP Facebook page
• In 2011, we developed a CCFRP Facebook page. Our Facebook page serves many
purposes: outreach to people who haven’t heard about our project, an avenue for us to keep
dialogue going with our existing volunteers, and a place for people to see what great work
we’re doing in the form of photos and videos. It is VERY IMPORTANT to remember that we
need to represent ourselves well in this format, as it is available to the general public and
has the ability to be widely distributed. Above all, we want to demonstrate sound scientific
research. Typically, we post links to news articles, blog posts, and videos related to CCFRP,
fishing, and MPA news. During the fishing season, we post a photo with the number of
species and fishes caught on a given trip as well as the angler who won that day’s contest
(Figure 7).
• There is no login for the CCFRP page, it is linked through a personal Facebook account. To
edit the CCFRP Facebook page, you must be set as an Editor by the Administrator. Have
the previous Volunteer Coordinator (or whoever was handling the Facebook page) add you
as an editor.
• All institutions have at least 1 person who has access to edit the Facebook page. However,
some groups have their own lab Facebook pages that they prefer to post to. If this is the
case, please share those other labs’ posts to the CCFRP page so followers can see both.
• Proof, proof, proof! It is important that all spelling, grammar, and facts posted to this page
are accurate and that posts are generally well-written. These can be little things such as the
capitalization of common names (e.g., Vermilion Rockfish) or correcting spelling errors. It is
great to put a species scientific name after using the common name: Vermilion Rockfish
(Sebastes miniatus). Remember that Facebook, unfortunately, will not allow italics though.
Occasionally, post other things such as information about barotrauma, descenders, other
research that the labs from each institutions conducts, thesis research, etc. Take everything
that you post seriously but also make it fun!

CCFRP master SOP document

Figure 7. Example of Facebook post and photo.

CCFRP master SOP document

Selecting and Managing Interns
2-3 months before intern start date
• Post the listing
o Good places to post include: Craigslist, Idealist, VolunteerMatch, Facebook, job boards
at your local community colleges and universities
• Review the applications
o Once you have a decent number of applications, begin to sort through them and see
which ones stand out. Discuss qualifications and prior experience requirements with the
project lead to ensure choosing of correct intern(s) for the project.
o Compile a list of those applicants you wish to speak with over the phone. For those
applicants you are not interested in interviewing, hold off on sending them a “no” right
away. You never know how the phone interviews will go and you may have to go back
to your original pool and select someone else
• Schedule phone interviews with each applicant of interest.
• How to conduct the phone interviews
o Important things to ask are:
§ What about this internship excites you?
§ How did you become interested in marine science?
§ What do you hope to gain from this unpaid internship?
§ How do you think your prior experiences have prepared you for this internship?
§ What is your availability (do you have to go back to school, etc.)?
§ Can you handle seasickness?
o It is also important to give them an overview of the project and explain what the day in
the life of a CCFRP intern looks like. Explain that it is a mix of both office and fieldwork
and go into some detail about both. Be up front about the amount of work that is
requested of them, but also stress the value of the experience and how fun field days
can be. Also mention that there is the possibility to assist with other graduate student
thesis projects in the lab as part of the internship, giving a background on some of the
ongoing thesis projects in the FCB Lab. Address questions as necessary.
One month before intern start date
• Bring candidates in for in-house interviews (if the phone interview went well, if necessary,
etc). For some candidates, you may elect to skip straight to the in-person interview, or
simply do phone/video interviews if the candidate is out of the area.
o It is a good idea to have someone else on the project (the project lead, another science
crew member, etc.) present during the interview to get a second opinion on the
candidate. We want to ensure that this new intern will work well with the rest of the
team, especially under stressful conditions.
o Clarify any confusion with the potential intern and address any questions. If it’s helpful,
recap the conversation during the phone interview. Ask any follow-up questions at this
time.
o Take them on a brief tour of the lab (if you see fit) and let them know that you will be in
contact shortly with the final verdict. Introduce the candidate to lab members if present
during this time.
o De-brief with the project lead/other science crew members and select interns for the field
season (2 has proven to be a good number in the past).
• Sit down with the project lead and develop intern tasks.
o It is easiest to compile a Google doc that can be shared with the interns, the volunteer
coordinator, and the project lead. Continue to add to this list as new projects or tasks
arise.
o Prioritize tasks and create a timeline for completion. Assign tasks to specific interns.
CCFRP master SOP document

•

Discuss weekly schedule with interns
o Be flexible with everyone’s schedule but do set-up a strict day of the week/time for them
to come in each week.
o For example, Tuesdays and Thursdays for 8 hours each day. It is much easier for you if
you coordinate the interns to come in on the same day(s) of the week. Even if they are
working on separate projects, it’s much more convenient to manage them together.
o Be explicit that this schedule is for the “office work” portion of the internship and will
change once the field season begins. Reiterate the structure of a field day and explain
that it could be 2-4 days in a row.
o Determine intern start date (prior to the annual statewide training, typically at MLML in
June/July).

First Day of Internship
• Give the interns a tour of the lab and the facilities.
• Introduce them to key people (for MLML: Rick Starr, Starr Lab students and techs, shop
guys, Jocelyn Douglas, anyone else they might need to be in touch with for CCFRP related
tasks).
• Introduction to the Google Doc
o This will be their “go-to” when they are unsure of the tasks that need to be completed.
o Go over the various tabs (e.g. items to complete, independent project ideas).
o One of the most important things to show them is the “Intern Hours” tab. Since we have
to report all of our volunteer hours at the end of the year, it is important to keep track of
the hours they are working. When doing so, have them record the date, the task(s) they
were working on and the number of hours they worked that day.
• Interns start on in-office tasks
o Refer to the Google doc that you created.
o Make sure they have the necessary materials and directions to complete their tasks.
• Mandatory statewide training session
o Should be shortly after their first day.
o Have interns help prepare for and attend this day-long training session.
o Give them any necessary outreach materials that they should read beforehand to
become familiar with the project and its goals.
o Delegate them tasks to make the training session flow smoothly.
A Few Weeks Before First Sampling Day (End of July/Beginning of August)
• Check the gear
o Have interns conduct gear inventory and gear maintenance with the volunteer
coordinator
o Order and repair any necessary items in preparation for the sampling season
• Teach the interns how to compile the gear before a sampling trip. Show them the Packing
Checklist, where the items on the checklist live and whatever else is necessary to a
sampling day.
Get them out on the boat!
• Recommend that they get a pair of waterproof boots and find a pair of foulies in the lab that
will fit them (make sure they don’t belong to someone else on the project, first!).
• Be sure to discuss meeting times and the necessary items to bring (e.g. sunglasses, lunch,
water, layers of clothing).

CCFRP master SOP document

Clean-up After the First Day
• After first day, teach them how to wash the gear properly and store it for the next sampling
day (showing them the hose, where the soap is, how to wash the bins, tag boxes, foulies,
gloves, tag guns, etc.).
• Put interns (or another science crew member) in charge of picking up the gear after its dry
and storing it properly.
During the Field Season
• The majority of intern time is now spent out on the boat/cleaning and maintaining gear.
• However, on off days, interns should continue tasks on the Google Doc to-do list.
o As the season goes on, there will be lots of photos to catalogue and it is nice to take
care of those before they pile up.
o It’s also convenient to make copies/scans of the data sheets and volunteer waivers as
the season goes on (as opposed to at the very end). Keeping them separated in folders
or binders is a good way to stay organized.
• Check in often with the interns
o How is the work load? Is the experience productive for them? Are there any issues that
need to be addressed? Do they have any concerns? Are there things that can/should
be changed?
o Do your best to maintain an open line of communication and try to make sure that both
parties are benefitting from the internship.
At the End of the Season/Their Internship
• At the end of the sampling season, if school or other priorities are not present, reevaluate
the status of the intern and decide if they should and want to continue with the program.
• If they choose to stay with the program as an intern, have them continue to work on the
intern task list or devise new tasks for them.
• It is also an option to shift them from a CCFRP intern to a Starr Lab intern where they are
doing less CCFRP-related things (as the season winds down) and assisting more with other
student thesis projects. It is important to discuss what the new position will entail and it is
still beneficial to them.
• Upon completion of their internship, have each intern fill out an exit survey. Ensure that any
academic credit procedures are properly taken care of and any loose ends are tied up.
• Make sure you know exactly where all the files the interns have been working on are saved
and the best way to contact each individual (email and phone number) if those files cannot
be found.

CCFRP master SOP document

Gear Ordering Information
Shrimp flies
• ½ white; ½ red; hook size = 5/0; unit price = $0.98
• VIP account set-up with P-Line: FARALLON FEATHER 2 HK 5/0 WHITE/WHITE and
FARALLON FEATHER 2 HK 5/0 RED/YELLOW
• P-Line prefers if groups order flies in multiples of 12 (12 come in a box, and it’s easier for
their packaging team); for reference, MLML typically has about 200 of each color on hand at
the beginning of the season (this is more than enough, but prevents you from having to
reorder in the middle of the season)
• To order, contact Thomas Kanemoto ([email protected]), and remind him that
you’re part of CCFRP to get the VIP price.
• Fill out the VIP order form (lead field scientists have copies in their email)
• Pay via credit card (note that tax and shipping are not included in the above unit price)
• Each group is responsible for ordering their own flies
Lingcod bars / lead jigs
• Variety of sizes and colors; rings attached
o To try and minimize gear loss, MLML gives bar fishermen an “allotment” (4 per angler)
for the day. If they lose all 4, the lead scientist can provide more, or make a decision to
switch them out with a fly fisherman
o For each trip, pack a variety of sizes (weather can change rapidly);
o MLML approximate use per season:
§ 4 oz: 80-115
§ 6 oz: 80-100
§ 8 oz: 45-65 (used mostly in faster currents)
§ 10 oz: 15-30 (reserved for stormy days, shouldn’t need)
• Ordering
o Up until 2018, MLML purchased bars from Joe Denman, formerly King Tackle,
([email protected] or 805-438-4455); however, in 2018, he could not fufill our
order due to health complications. He has been with the program from the beginning so
in future seasons, you can try and order through him or you can order through Brian
Cutting (see below)
§ With Joe, he typically sends extra ‘lead-heads’ as give-aways; note: sizes are
off (e.g., 7.2 oz = ‘7 oz’ and 8.8 oz = ‘8 oz’); upon receipt of goods, mail
checks to:
Joe Denman
PO Box 553
Creston, CA 93432
§ Prices:
• 4 oz: $3.75 each
• 6 oz: $4.00 each
• 8 oz: $4.00 each
• 10 oz: $?.?? Each
§ Be sure to specify color schemes desired (e.g., fried egg, purple with
countershading) otherwise we’ll receive solid colored jigs which is not what
we have used in the past.
o In 2019, a number of groups ordered lingcod bars through Brian Cutting (captain of
the Kahuna out of Moss Landing Harbor). He pours and paints jigs as a side hobby
CCFRP master SOP document

•
•

(using recycled or donated lead), and gives our program a very fair price. Note that
he does not prime or seal his jigs during the painting process, so it is recommended
that you seal them upon receipt to prevent the paint from chipping
§ Prices:
• $2 per jig for both 4oz and 6oz
• He can make additional weights as well (price may vary)
§ Be sure to specify color schemes desired
o He can ship to you (additional fee may apply) or you can pick up from the Kahuna
shop in Moss Landing Harbor
Hooks – 5/0 bronze jig/plain shank (Mustad O’Shaughnessy 9174-BR, 100 pack from
BassPro)
Split rings - 50 lb ISO line (minimum), size 7, silver (we recommend: Offshore Angler, 100lb
test, 100 pack, from BassPro)

Swimbaits and Dropper Loops
• Swimbaits are used by HSU, UCSB, and SIO, and dropper loops are used by UCSB and
SIO
• Contact the leads of these groups for ordering information for these gear types
Fish processing
• Gloves - Showa Atlas (blue grip) or thinner gardening gloves work well depending on
preference (can be purchased at any supply store or on Amazon in bulk)
• Rite in the Rain All-Weather Paper; item #: 8511; Copier Paper, white, 8.5 x 11; 200 sheets
per pack unit price = $29.95
J. L. Darling Corporation, 2614 Pacific Hwy E. Tacoma, WA 98424
p: 253 922 5000; f: 253 922 5300
www.riteintherain.com
Descending devices
• Hypodermic needles – item # 096 0068; Monojet hypodermic needle,18GX1”, green,
100/box, AllegroMedical (800-861-3211); unit price = $11.87 (shipping and handling =
$8.95)
• SeaQualizer – Seaqualizer.com, unit price = $59.95 (plus S&H)
Tagging supplies
• Avery Dennison Mark III tagging guns #10651 (green); can buy in a 10 pack on Amazon for
~$12 each; for a single tag gun, price is ~$17
• Avery Dennison standard tagging gun replacement needles #08941 (packs of 4; $14 per
pack on Amazon)
• Tags
o Hallprint tag specifications (for MLML tags, change info as appropriate)
§ TBA plastic t-bar standard anchor tag, in lots of 25
§ Color: yellow, numbered sequentially XXXXX to XXXXX
§ Exposed monofilament length: 15mm
§ Marker length: 50mm
§ ID number on proximal end (nearest to anchor)
§ Printing Line 1: INFO REWARD (GET LAT/LON)
§ Printing Line 2: MOSS LANDING MARINE LABS: 831-771-4479
§ Cost = $0.77 per tag; MLML typically orders 2,000 at a time; price reduces to
$0.72 per tag for orders over 5,000 units (prices as of 2019)
CCFRP master SOP document

§ Shipping from Australia: $80
Order via email: Darren Evans, General Manager
Hallprint Pty Ltd: 27 Commerce Crescent, Hindmarsh Valley SA 5211
p: +61 8 8552 3149; f: +61 8 8552 2874
e: [email protected]
Pay via credit card or purchase order to: Hallprint Pty Ltd (Acct: 002 606 44)
Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CTBAAU2S)
Corner Reservoir Road & Modbury Avenue (Branch: 065 150)
Modbury, South Australia 5092

CCFRP T-Bar Anchor (TBA) Tag Order History - MLML
David Hall, Managing Director | HallPrint Pty Ltd
Darren Evans, General Manager | Hallprint Pty Ltd
Julie Langmead, Production Manager | Hall Print Pty Ltd
27 Commerce Crescent, Hindmarsh Valley, SA 5211
p: +61 8 8552 3149 f: +61 8 8552 2874 e: [email protected]
Name
Reference No.
Color
Tag No. Range
Jen Chiu
T9575
yellow
42000 - 43999
Jen Chiu
5556
yellow
38000 - 41999
Corina Marks
Starr052413
yellow
34500 - 37999
Cheryl Barnes
T7541
yellow
30500 - 34499
Kristen Green
T6894
yellow
27500 - 30499
Noelle Yochum
T6365
blue
21500 - 27499
Kristen Green
T6120
blue
18500 - 21499
Kristen Green
T6120
yellow
15500 - 18499
Rick Starr
T6088
blue
13100 - 15499
Rick Starr
T6088
yellow
12500 - 13099
Ashley Greenley
T5272
yellow
10100 - 12499
Ashley Greenley
T5272
white
0001 - 0100
Kristen Green
T5081
yellow
09000 - 09999
Kristen Green
T4209
white
08900 - 08999
Kristen Green
T4209
yellow
07000 - 08899
Rick Starr
T3895
white
05000 - 05999
Rick Starr
T3895
green
04000 - 04999
Rick Starr
T3895
orange
03000 - 03999
Rick Starr
T3895
purple
02000 - 02999 *
Rick Starr
T3895
blue
01000 - 01999 *
previous orders
TBA tags
???
01000 - 27499
* tags not in database

CCFRP master SOP document

CCFRP-Related Inventory (This is a general template for the types of gear required for executing a CCFRP field season. Items and
quantities will vary for each region. For more items and current quantities, see FCB Inventory Google Doc or refer to your group’s internal
inventory document)
Typical
Final
Initial
Final
# Used
Final
# Used
Initial
Gear/Supplies
Season Inventory # Ordered Inventory Inventory (2012) # Ordered Inventory (2013)
Inventory
Needs
(2011)
(2012)
(2012)
(2012)
(2013)
(2013)
(2014)
shrimp flies
white
400
235
400
635
200
435
500
350
350
855
red
400
400
400
215
185
500
400
315
727
loose teasers
?
0
47
0
50
tackle buddy
2
0
2
0
0
4
2
30 lb ISO line (spool)
1
0
2
0
0
2
2 (p)
Lingcod bars (jigs)
4 oz
80 - 115
43
76
119
37
82
59
10
86
10
6 oz
80 - 100
25
92
117
38
79
58
52
44
52
8 oz
485 - 65
0
98
98
33
65
15
12
36
12
10 oz
0-5
40
0
40
38
2
0
86
77
bronze hooks, 5/0
300
36
300
336
129
171
40 (r)
58 (192r)
split rings (50 lb test)
100
16
200
216
40
160
?
39 (151a)
tagging supplies**
tag guns (G = green; B =
2
1G
5G; 2B
1, 5 (b)
11G, 4B
black)
tag gun needles
?
12G; 4B
28
5L, 16M
43
V-board
3
0
4
0
0
4
4
meter sticks (wooden,
5
5
0
5
metric)
tags
2000
2006
4000
2329
1671
3500
2725
3104
2389
fish processing**
gloves
?
5-7
9
9
29
isopropyl alcohol (16 oz)
0
2
2
0
1.5
2
isopropyl alcohol (32 oz)
6
8
4
4
1.5
3

CCFRP master SOP document

Rite-in-the-Rain Paper
Gear/Supplies

500
Typical
Season
Needs

1600
-

Final
Inventory
(2011)

# Ordered
(2012)

100
0
0
0
7
1
-

Initial
Inventory
(2012)

800
Final
Inventory
(2012)

800
# Used
(2012)

325
120
1
13
3
0
-

0
0
4
1
-

800
# Ordered
(2013)

scientific research banners
descending devices
venting needles (18 gauge)
venting needles (14 gauge)
weighted milk crate
Ace Calloway
SeaQualizer
100 lb Spectra (300 yd)
venting needles (20 gauge)
*
**

?
?
1
2
3
-

0
0
0
3
2
-

200
Initial
Inventory
(2013)
4

1400
# Used
(2013)

32
85
2
4
4
?
?

350
Initial
Inventory
(2014)
3
74
180
2
8
4
6
2

Includes use by RCA project.
Refer to CCFRP checklist for additional needs.

Inventory codes:
a=attached
B=black
b=broken
G=green
L=large
M=medium
p=partial unit
r=rusted

CCFRP master SOP document

Packing Checklist (one example, available to print from an Excel Spreadsheet in shared Dropbox)
2019 CCFRP HOOK-AND-LINE CHECKLIST
1 2

TAG BOX (2)
safety glasses
tagging guns (2)
tag gun needles (4 extra)
venting needles (5 small; 5 large)
plunger (to clear venting needles)
knife (tag box #1 only)
file
needlenose pliers (short and long)
measuring tape
numbered binder clips (1-4, 6-9, 11-14)
zipties
screwdriver (Phillips and flathead)
bungee cords (3)
scissors
dikes
TACKLE BIN
box of tags
camera
shrimp flies (100 red, 100 white)
jigs / Lingcod bars (20 per size)
spare flies, hooks, split ring, ring splitter
> 25 lb test ISO line
tackle buddy (2)
sunscreen
euthanasia club
extra isopropyl alcohol (32 oz)
fin clip blotter paper and envelopes
extra SeaQualizer (1-2)
SMALL GRAY BIN
Miller and Lea 1972 (Fish Bull. 157)
Eschmeyer et al. 1983 (P. Coast Fishes)
CDFW rockfish ID pamphlet
participant guest book
Bring that Rockfish Down' pamphlets
CDFW regulations
volunteer informational binder

CCFRP master SOP document

DRY BOX
data collection clipboard
25 data sheets
3-5 mechanical pencils (loaded)
GPS unit (#8)
logbook
thermometer
extra disposable AA batteries
tags (1 box)
pencil case
pens and sharpies
regular pencils/sharpener
mechanical pencils
name tags
scissors, calculator
white out, tape, erasers, pencil lead
lighter
clip boards (3)
gloves
camera + extra battery
battery charger (HMB only)
GPS guide and cords (HMB only)
first aid kit (fully supplied)
anti-sea sickness bands
hand sanitizer
extra batteries (disposable, rechargable)
rags, steel wool and oil (HMB only)
zipties
ziplock bags (various sizes)
tape (masking, duct, electrical)
flashlight (waterproof)
extra datasheets
rubberbands
extra venting needles
bags and labels (for retained fishes)
extra tag guns
back-up GPS (Yellow)

ACCORDIAN BINDER (DRY BOX)
volunteer schedule w/ contact info
volunteer sign in sheet (5)
volunteer waiver forms (50 each)
data sheets (150; Rite-in-the Rain paper)
copy of scientific collecting permits
copy of DFG notification forms
scratch paper
grid cell maps (logbook; captain copies)
laminated tag return flyers (3)
OTHER
5-gallon buckets (6)
tubs (1-4, 6-9, 11-14; one extra; in order)
bag of dissecting supplies (if applicable)
rope and twine
tagging boards
Ace Calloway descending device
SeaQualizer rod (2+)
extended hand net
weighted milk crate
foulies and extra pairs of boots
scientific research banners (2)
water bucket (with line attached)
staff snacks*
reusable bags for groceries (HMB only)
VOLUNTEER SUPPLIES
5-gal water jug (w/ filtered water and ice)
reusable, plastic cups (12-15; clean)
pastries (cooler bag)*
cookies (one package per day)*
gingerale (for sea sickness)
Prizes and giveaways
CDFW gear (hats, stress balls, patches)
CCFRP t-shirts and hats
lead-head jigs/swim baits
stickers
gift certificates (if applicable)
*Will be purchased in Half Moon Bay

Gear Maintenance Information Checklist
1. Field Equipment (to be completed before start of each sampling season, after each week of
sampling, and at the end of each sampling season)
• Thoroughly rinse SeaQualizer units, nets, tackle buddies (plus open shrimp flies), & binder clips.
• Clean all gear (e.g., foulies, boots, bins, tag boards, descending devices, lines, inside of tag
boxes) with environmentally-friendly dish soap and OxiClean (located along with scrubbing
brushes in the warehouse). It is important that everything is entirely dry before it is stacked and
put away to avoid mold or plastic buckets and bins that stick together.
o Note: DO NOT leave materials drying in the corp yard for more than 24 to 36 hours. This
will keep items clean and reduce risk of loss.
• Remove all gear from boxes (bars, flies, etc.), rinse with fresh water, and dry well. Organize by
weight and put back in correctly labeled boxes. Rinse and dry loose shrimp flies (in bin and on
tackle buddy).
• Rinse temperature sensor (careful not to wet the digital portion) and cameras with fresh water.
Note: cameras should be soaked in fresh water during the steam back from the last grid cell of
any given day.
• Machine wash all gloves. Make sure that they are entirely dry before packing up again. Replace
any old/gross gloves.
• Use steel wool to remove rust from all tools and metal parts of tag boxes; apply lubricant (e.g.,
Ace Household Oil or WD-40) using an old rag.
• Remove needles from tagging guns (by simply flipping the external switch). Clean all parts of
the guns and needles thoroughly. Use steel wool to get rust off. Sharpen only the tips of the
needles using a wet stone (be careful not to sharpen the groove itself). Throw away any guns
that are no longer working (after saving any parts that we may still be able to use). Replace tag
gun needles as needed.
• Sand measuring boards and apply a coat of vegetable oil. Replace meter sticks, if necessary.
Re-seal entire tag board as needed.
• Check descending device set ups to ensure proper working order. Replace/retie as needed.
• Take extra batteries out of the dry box, charge, and replace in the lab for people to use.
Recycle batteries that no longer hold a charge.
• Take GPS units out of their cases and clean them off using a standard cleaning spray and rag
(spray onto the rag, not directly onto the GPS unit), clean the cases, and replace onto GPS
units. Relabel GPS units, if necessary. Remove batteries, if last trip of the week or season (to
avoid draining).
• Replace any rusty binder clips and unusable venting needles.
• Refill/replenish supplies according to packing checklist.
2. Inventory
• Order all necessary gear/tags and enter values into the pre-existing Excel file accordingly.
• Conduct a pre- and post- season inventory. Add a column to the same Excel spreadsheet and
label it as pre- or post- season inventory for the year in question.
3. Logbook and Datasheets
• Copy/scan data sheets and logbook pages (double-sided) after each week. Ensure that holepunch location does not overlap with data (i.e. punch the bottom of the datasheet that explains
condition codes).
• Organize original data sheets into a binder, by area and date. Ensure back-up copies are easily
accessible (shared folders, emailed, etc.

CCFRP master SOP document

Statewide CCFRP Science Crew Training
This event is held annually and science crew members from all groups are encouraged to attend. This
is particularly important for new science crew members, and it’s vital that lead field scientists rally their
groups’ participation. In past years, this has been an all-day event held at Moss Landing Marine Labs
prior to the beginning of the sampling season (~June). Previous versions of training PowerPoints can
be found on the shared Dropbox.
Timeline
• 9AM-9:30AM: Introductions
• 9:30AM-11:30AM: Background Information (MPAs and CCFRP), sampling design, summary totals
from previous seasons, standardized protocols, walk through logistics of a typical sampling trip
• 11:30AM-11:35AM: 5-Minute Break
• 11:35AM-12:30PM: Species Identification section (go over basic fish/rockfish anatomy, describe
commonly caught species and ways to visually identify them/tell them apart); the species id section
should just be an introduction and each lead is responsible to conduct more in-depth species id
training with their crews (because common species vary so widely throughout the state)
• 12:30PM-1:30PM: Lunch on the MLML Deck
• 1:30PM-2:30PM: Wrap up any unfinished sections from the morning session (this may include data
taking, database management, outreach, etc.)
• 2:30PM-5:00PM: Practical Session (split into groups and rotate through stations)
o Fish tagging / data recording / GPS uses /simulating a drift / running fish
o Descending / netting techniques
o Knot tying
• 5PM: Wrap Up and Adjourn (happy hour at Ray’s if people are interested)
Practical Supplies to have on hand
• Rigged fishing rod, extra monofilament line, and tackle (shrimp flies, jigs)
• SeaQuallizer, Ace Calloway and weighted milk crate descending devices
• Tagging V-board, tagging gun (with tags)
• Buckets and bins to simulate boat set-up
• Defrosted rockfishes (qty. 6-10)
• Venting needles
• Gloves
• Isopropyl alcohol
• Data sheets (plus clipboard and pencils)
• GPS unit

CCFRP master SOP document

Sampling Trip Set Up, Briefing, Etc.
Week prior to first trip:
• Review and complete all applicable tasks in Gear Maintenance Information
• If you have a field cell number (Google Voice number), ensure that it is set-up and being forwarded
to your cell phone
• Lead field scientist notifies CDFW of sampling activities through online portal (lead field
scientists/entity administrators of the permit have access) and emails Notification of Intent to Collect
form to CDFW (do both while the system in still new so ensure the Department receives the
notification); CDFW requests notification 36 hours - 14 days in advance of sampling.
• If you have contact information, notify wardens and parks staff if collecting inside MPA boundaries.
• Ensure all science crew have filled out all forms and waivers (extra copies will come on board the
vessel):
o SJSU University Foundation Volunteer Appointment Form
o MLML Volunteer Agreement/Informed Consent & Release Agreement
One to three day(s) prior to first trip:
• Science crew members and/or program interns gather and organize all items on Packing Checklist;
a different person should check that gear was prepped correctly; load into state vehicle
• If staying in HMB, purchase staff lunch supplies and snacks for the week.
• Volunteer coordinator checks the weather forecast and confirms the status of the trip with
captain/shop
• Volunteer coordinator records outgoing voicemail message (831-771-4479) appropriate for the
following CCFRP trip with updated weather information:
o Dial: 408 – 924-6800 [Preceded by 7-1 if dialing within MLML]
o Press '*'; enter 14479
o Enter passcode (in Google Doc) and then #; press '4' for User Options; press '1' to Change
Greeting; Press 1 to record message; press '#'; if satisfied, press '9' to exit.
o Example: You’ve reached the Fisheries and Conservation Lab at Moss Landing Marine
Laboratories. We are unable to reach the phone at this time, but please leave a detailed
message and we will get back to you as soon as possible. If you are calling to inquire about our
California Collaborative Fisheries Research Program trip scheduled for Monday, August 12th
aboard F/V New Horizon, we are still confirmed to go, with winds of 5 to 10 knots in the
morning and 10 to 15 knots in the afternoon. If you have already been confirmed to
participate, please meet at J&M Sportfishing on Monterey Fisherman’s Wharf at 6 AM sharp.
Please also remember to bring a lunch, layers of clothing, sunscreen, sunglasses, and
waterproof footwear. If there is any possibility that you may become seasick, please take the
appropriate medications prior to boarding. If, for some reason, you are no longer able to make
this trip, please call our field cell phone at (831) 204-8493 as soon as possible so that we may
find a replacement. If you have not been confirmed to participate in this trip, please email
[email protected] and we will do our best to accommodate you either on this trip or on
another one sometime this season. Thank you and have a nice day!
• Volunteer coordinator purchases breakfast snacks (e.g., bagels and cream cheese, pastries),
cookies (one package per day), and staff snacks (e.g., crackers and hummus, chips, grapes) for
next week’s trips.
Arrival [5:30 AM (first day) or 5:45 AM (additional days)]:
• Lead field scientist checks in with shop, captain, and/or deckhand.
• Science crew unloads van; loads boat (must obtain permission to board first).

CCFRP master SOP document

Pre-departure (5:45 AM to 6:15 AM):
• Science crew sets up information table (e.g., volunteer binder, ID books, CDFW rockfish ID chart,
‘Bring that Rockfish Down’ pamphlet, guestbook w/ pens), snacks, water/cups, angler bins, and
research banners (prior to CCFRP briefing).
• Volunteer coordinator greets volunteers, makes sure sign in sheets are completed [anglers only on
CCFRP sign-in sheet; boat manifest - goes to captain/shop].
• Volunteer coordinator collects necessary paperwork (volunteers must fill out waivers once per
calendar year; check for completion; paperclip and put in accordion binder), informs deckhand of
anglers using personal rods, and lets lead scientist know when everyone is present.
• Lead field scientist finds out if the captain would like to give his/her safety briefing before or after
CCFRP briefing and which side of the boat (s)he would like descending devices set up.
• Science crew should place descending device on the specified side, leaving the walkway clear;
lines should be unraveled and recoiled on the deck before each trip, and tied down. If possible,
avoid tying off on the stern (we have had instances of the rope or devices getting caught in the
prop). Be sure to tie the correct end of the ropes to a railing or cleat.
• Lead field scientist discusses protocols with deckhand, confirms that there are at least 16 to 20 rods
onboard, and ensures that the boat has supplied weights (at least 8 and 10 oz) and squid bait (to be
cut into mantle strips); lead field scientist informs deckhand that all weights need to be the same on
the stern and that shrimp fly colors should be roughly half white and half red; deckhand should
notify lead science crew of changes to sinker weights, etc.
• Science crew sets up numbered bins near fishing stations. Wait to fill the bins until near the
sampling site.
• Science crew zip-ties the “Scientific Research” signs to the railings before the boat starts moving
(the wind makes it extremely difficult).
CCFRP briefing - lead field sci. (6:15AM to 6:30AM):
• thank both new and returning volunteers for getting up early and participating
• introductions and responsibilities
o lead field sci. - scientific administration (e.g., protocols, staff, data collection)
o captain - personnel safety (must confer with lead field sci. when inclement weather
conditions prompt potential cancellations); announces start/stop fishing times, selects
locations; ensures that drifts stay within cell and that fish are present
o deckhand - rigging gear; crimping barbs; releasing snags; general assistance
o science crew - ensuring program protocols are adhered to; processing fish; recording data;
answering questions (when appropriate)
• brief CCFRP overview
o Rick Starr developed project in 2007 with co-P.I. Dean Wendt (CalPoly); 12th season
o together, we have been conducting standardized hook-and-line surveys in and around
central coast MPAs (since their inception)
o data collected (e.g., species compositions, lengths, catch rates, growth and movement);
provide information of fisheries management and an evaluation of MPA performance
o Last year, we have officially expanded statewide and have 6 institutions conducting
surveys along the coast from Humboldt to San Diego
• to ensure scientifically sound data, protocols must be strictly adhered to
• overview of CCFRP protocols
o setup [e.g., fishing stations (TBD by vol. coordinator), tagging station, descenders]
o four grid cells (500 x 500 m), three 15-minute drifts per cell (anglers can take breaks in
between or ask for replacement at any time)
o what anglers can do to help:

CCFRP master SOP document

for catch rate calculations, anglers should stand near their stations when captain
says ‘get ready’, drop in the water right after (s)he announces the start of fishing,
and reel up as soon as drift is complete; let science crew know when snagged (for
immediate rod replacement) and when you have not fished the entire drift or have
surpassed the allotted fishing time
§ if using personal rod and a replacement is not immediately available, use a boat
rod; do not personally rig up gear during any drift (continuous fishing)
§ let line drop to the bottom and immediately reel up a 5 to 10 cranks to reduce gear
loss
§ let us know when you have a fish on the line so that we can be ready to remove it
from the hook (or if we are busy, place the fish in your designated bin) and when a
fish has been in your bucket for more than two minutes (to reduce handling time
and increase survivorship)
§ reel up slowly and don’t set the hook too vigorously
§ hold your sinker when science crew is removing fish from hook (reduces mouth
damage); check your barbs and crimp or let us know if not flush
§ call for a net with large fish/Lingcod to reduce loss/further hook damage
§ ensure that fish are going into correct bin and that science crew are 100% sure of
proper angler number (they should be confirming upon removal)
§ ask questions (to science crew, captain and/or deckhand); have fun!
captain’s safety briefing (if not first)
notify volunteers of snacks, water, informational binder (with species info, protocol details,
reports), and encourage guestbook entries
announce plan for the day (e.g., area and site visited)
announce time to destination; tell everyone to find a seat and relax
-NMFS Collections: Collaborating with NMFS to collect otoliths and fin clips from a subset of
specific species (Gopher, Black and Yellow, Brown, Quillback) in REF only. Very little age and
growth data for stock assessments from these species, in conjunction with a fisheriesindependent project like ours.
§

•
•
•
•
•

Travel to sampling site:
• Lead field scientist informs captain of the day’s sampling grid cells and coordinates (assist in
entering coordinates into computer)
• Volunteer coordinator assigns angler stations (write on sign-in sheet; describe locations).
o Use tentative stations assigned (but not announced) when scheduling as guide; anglers may
make requests - try to accommodate as much as possible; place couples/groups at adjacent
stations; rotate anglers with multiple days between bait and no bait; only experienced bar fishers
on bow; science crew/MLML students at no bait.
o Ask anglers if they brought their own rod(s), ensure compliance with specifications, and inform
deckhand of which gear is to be rigged up.
• Lead field scientist distributes Lingcod bars (4 per bow angler; they get to choose color), partially
fills out logbook, and assigns duties/station rotations, if science crew is fishing.
• Science crew sets up tagging station (after bait is cut) and fills buckets during last 15-20 minutes of
transport.
• Lead field scientist checks SeaQualizer setting (never to be set deeper than 50 ft).
• Science crew conducts volunteer outreach (e.g., talk with anglers, ask/answer questions).
• Lead field scientist briefs science crew on the day (reviews protocols, plan for the day, etc.)
Throughout sampling trip:
• All science crew should ensure that they can positively identify all fish brought onboard.

CCFRP master SOP document

If there are any questions, they should seek more experienced personnel to avoid
misidentifications.
Any fish being sacrificed should be euthanized according to IACUC protocols.
o Any retained fishes that have been tagged should be noted on the data sheet as such.
o All retained fishes should be kept in clearly labeled bags or coolers and placed on ice.
Any science crew member that is fishing must circle the boat to complete any necessary tasks upon
reeling up
Take notice of anglers who are snagged or who take breaks to get sick, use the bathroom, etc. and
anglers who are fishing before or after time is called. We need to make sure we are logging the
correct amount of fishing time by angler.
Data recorder:
o Have reference GPS (displaying grid cell boundaries and the boat’s location) in hand to ensure
that drifts take place only within the pre-determined grid cells and that captain is selecting three
discrete locations.
o Take waypoints at least every five fishes (boxes that are grayed out on the data sheet denote
the minimum required waypoints). Note GPS number on every datasheet (if lab has multiple
GPS units).
o Make sure that all datasheet header information and comments (except for angler over/under
times) are transferred to the following page, when multiple sheets are required on a single drift;
record station switches on every sheet.
o Double check every data sheet before handing over clipboard to the next recorder.
Fish runners:
o Regularly check angler bins for water clarity and temperature, changing water as necessary
(never during a drift); fill at least 2/3, but not so much that bins bulge/break
o Continuously circle the boat to check for fish in bins, even when slow; runners are responsible
for determining whether or not the number of fish on the boat requires more than 5 minutes of
processing time; if so, inform data recorder to call time (once processing is caught up, the drift
can proceed).
o Continue to check for anglers over/under fishing; circle the boat at beginning and end of each
drift to ensure that everyone is fishing only between start/stop times; look for snags and replace
rod as soon as possible; attempt to remove snag or call for deckhand.
o Check for uncrimped barbs and crimp so that they are flush with shank.
Tagger:
o Fish under 24 cm, in bad condition (e.g., crystallized eyes, stomach out of mouth, bleeding,
having undergone predation), or dropped on the deck should not be tagged. Fishes
experiencing these conditions should be descended
o Venting will only take place on drifts with high catch rates, to reduce deck time (otherwise, fish
experiencing barotrauma shall be descended only).
o

•
•
•
•

•

Travel back to harbor:
• Science crew gathers all used tag guns (caps on), hypodermic needles (caps on), measuring tapes,
knives, sharpeners, bungee cords, scissors, binder clips, and gloves; place in bucket or bag to be
rinsed upon return to lab/hotel. Reorganize items in dry box.
• Volunteer coordinator places digital camera(s) in fresh water bucket for trip back. Make sure the
camera is in the “locked” position before doing so.
• Science crew stacks and organizes all angler bins, buckets, tag boards, etc.; collect gear from
anglers
• Volunteer coordinator offers cookies to captain, deckhand, anglers, and science crew.
• Lead field scientist verifies completion of all data sheets and logbook entries.
• Science crew member obtains daily fish count guesses from all participants (no duplicates).

CCFRP master SOP document

•
•

Volunteer coordinator tallies number of species and total fishes caught in logbook (following CDFW
Groundfish Team catch report template).
Volunteer coordinator records winner(s) of volunteer angler contest (no science crew) in logbook.
o Contests should vary each day (e.g. closest guess, smallest fish, largest fish, largest rockfish,
unusual catch, most _____ fish, etc.).
o Prizes include any combination of items: hat, t-shirt, lead head jig, shrimpflies, reusable bags,
stickers, etc.
If last day on boat, science crew removes scientific research banner; cuts all shrimp flies off of rods
(at line, not loop) and neatly wraps around tackle buddy (only one per slot; hooks embedded into
plastic).
Science crew conducts volunteer outreach (e.g., talk with anglers, ask/answer questions) and
encourages guestbook entries.

Upon return to dock:
• Lead field scientist thanks everyone for participating and encourages people to like us on
Facebook, follow us on Instagram and YouTube, and look out for tag returns.
• Volunteer coordinator provides total number of fishes and species caught, announces angler
contest winners, and awards prizes.
• Lead field scientist reminds anglers about parking validation (if applicable).
• Lead field scientist recommends showing appreciation to deckhand in the way of gratuity (if
appropriate).
• Science crew brings used gear back to lab/hotel for thorough fresh water rinse.
• Volunteer coordinator brings digital camera(s) and logbook back to write Facebook post.
• Lead field scientist checks in with shore contact, inventories consumable supplies (e.g., data
sheets, Lingcod bars, tags, alcohol), and makes a list of items to replenish for following trip.
Post-trip:
• Science crew packs up gear, if last day on particular boat (secure in cabin, if not).
o Remember nets, research banners, SeaQualizer rods.
o Follow protocols outlined in Gear Maintenance Information for cleanup.
• Volunteer coordinator writes post (and proofreads!) for Facebook page including:
o Fishing location, number of fishes/species caught, contest winners (and why).
o First name and last initial of volunteers mentioned or in photos. Tag all science crew and
volunteers in photos (if Facebook friends).
o Mention somewhere that this project is catch and release!
o Include both common (capitalized - e.g., Black-and-Yellow Rockfish) and scientific names of
fishes listed and/or photographed.
• Volunteer coordinator re-records FCB Lab voicemail message, reviews next day’s trip schedule,
and calls waiting list volunteers as needed.

CCFRP master SOP document

Science Crew Protocols and Helpful Hints
1. CCFRP Handbook: Please read through the CCFRP Volunteer Handbook.
2. Species Identification: Make sure you are familiar with and able identify the various fish species you
will most likely come into contact with while sampling with CCFRP. You may wish to refer to the
CCFRP Species Fact Sheet for visuals as well as some more in-depth information.
3. Trip Information:
a. What to Wear: If you do not own a pair of rubber boots or foul weather gear, CCFRP may have
items for you to borrow (check with your program coordinator). Most science crewmembers
choose to store their boots and foulies in a bin onboard the boat for the duration of the sampling
week.
i. Weather can be unpredictable, so please prepare for both hot and cold temperatures. Dress
in layers (everything from a hefty jacket down to a light t-shirt) for unpredictable weather.
ii. Closed-toed shoes are required and rubber boots are highly recommended.
iii. A hat, sunglasses, and sun block will most likely prove to be useful. Eye protection is key to
avoid disaster by spines, hooks, etc.
iv. Gloves. These help protect the fish (from scale loss, etc.) and protect you (rockfish have
venomous spines, so be careful!). You may also want to put a little duct tape on the tips of
your thumb, pointer, and middle fingers to protect from rockfish spines.
b. When to Arrive: Volunteer anglers are asked to arrive at the dock at 6am. Science crew
members should arrive even earlier in order to help load, unload, set up and/or welcome
volunteers. Check with the CCFRP group coordinator, but 5:30-5:45am is usually a good arrival
time to aim for.
c. Seasickness: If you are not familiar with marine boating and/or if there is even the slightest
chance you will get sick, PLEASE take seasickness medication. If this is your fist time aboard a
marine vessel, we recommend you take a dose of seasickness medication the night before as
well as the morning of a trip.
i. Popular oral anti-nausea drugs are Dramamine, Bonine, or Marezine. There are also
seasickness patches and wristbands that some find useful (available over-the-counter at
most pharmacies). Often, different remedies work better for different people.
ii. Ginger is a popular homeopathic solution. Sipping ginger ale, for example, is often helpful.
Pharmacies also sell ginger gum alongside other motion sickness medications.
iii. There are also prescription medications, patches, etc. for extreme cases (ask your doctor).
These are usually recommended for trips lasting greater than three days, however.
4. Sampling Protocols: There are many protocols and helpful hints regarding sampling and being on
the boat that you simply won’t learn until you are onboard the boat. There is, however, some
important information that you may want to keep in mind before you’re out on the water.
a. Processing and/or Running Fish: Generally, the rule is to process the fish that has been on the
boat the longest. Priority should be given to fishes with barotrauma/other injuries. PLEASE,
take care not to drop fishes. This traumatizes them even further and has the potential to cause
external and/or internal damage.
i. ROCKFISH:
1. Barotrauma: Rockfish have an organ used for buoyancy, called the swim or gas bladder.
This organ may drastically expand or rupture with the expansion of gases within the
organ. The gases expand with the decrease of water pressure on the gases when the
fish is brought to the surface. Injuries that occur to the fish because of this change in
water pressure are referred to as barotrauma, and rockfish are particularly susceptible
to barotrauma injuries during capture. Signs of barotrauma include anal protrusions,
stomach protruding into or out of the mouth, and eyes bulging and/or crystalized. With
proper handling, procedures that release the expanded gases from the swim bladder

CCFRP master SOP document

Science Crew Protocols and Helpful Hints
(venting or descending, recompress the fish to depth) increase survivorship for fishes
caught in shallower depths.
2. Handling: Rockfish are spiny and scaled. In order to protect yourself and the fish, proper
handling is very important. Make sure you are wearing gloves. The best way to carry
rockfish is (a) by the lower lip, or (b) with the palm of your hand cupping the head and
your fingers pinching the opercula. If you notice a lot of scale loss, you are most likely
handling the fish too roughly. Be firm, yet gentle.
3. Venting: Do NOT attempt to vent a fish until a more seasoned member of the science
crew has shown you the proper method (body morphologies of each species varies and
inexperienced science crew could risk puncturing a vital organ instead of the swim
bladder). Venting is the process of using a hollow needle to pierce the swim bladder and
relieve air pressure. Remember that if you have time, it’s always better to descend the
fish as opposed to venting.
4. Descending: A great way to relieve the pressure on the swim bladder is to bring the fish
back down to depth using a descending device. Use your best judgment to determine
which fishes need to be descended, but as a rule, descend all fish showing signs of
barotrauma. When setting up in the morning, it is your job to untangle the line, place
them on one side of the boat, and tie off securely to a railing or cleat.
a. Ace Calloway: This device is used to descend one (or two) fish at a time. There is a
small clamp that attaches to the fishes lower lip (Figure 8). When the weight on the
bottom of the Ace hits the seafloor, the clamp opens and the fish swims away at
depth. The line is generally not long enough to reach the seafloor, so you need to
wrench the line a few times to ensure that the clamp gives way when you run out of
rope. A good method is forcefully pulling the line up like you would to start a
lawnmower: repeat a few times before pulling up the rest of the line.
b. Milk Crate: The crate can be used to descend multiple fishes at once, the downside
is it’s really heavy to pull out of the water. The fish(es) are placed on the bed of the
crate, which is then quickly flipped over and thrown, open-faced, toward the water
(Figure 8). The weights take the crate down to the seafloor (or as close to it as the
length of the rope allows), allowing the fish or fishes to swim away at depth. Please
use the descender on smaller fish (think 25 cm or less) and fish with hook damage
near the mouth.
c. SeaQualizer: This device is a similar setup to the Ace Calloway whereby a clamp is
attached to the lower lip, but it is rigged to a fishing rod. Once clamped shut, it will
not open until it has reached the depth of the setting where a hydrostatic release
opens the clamp (Figure 8). Make sure the setting on the device is properly set
(typically keeping it at 50ft) and that we are fishing in water deeper than that
otherwise it will not release.
ii. LINGCOD: Lingcod do not have scales and do not suffer barotrauma. They do, however,
have a mouthful of nasty teeth, so handling Lingcod can be tricky. If they’re small enough,
you can simply grip Lingcod with both hands around the mouth, however, more often than
not you will need to hold them under the gill cover. Please be careful to only grip the gill
cover and not touch the bright red, feather like gills.
iii. GREENLINGS & CABEZON: Greenlings & Cabezon do not suffer barotrauma. They are
also scaleless, toothless and spineless, so you can carry them either around their core or by
the lower lip, whichever you are more comfortable with. They can, however, be a bit more
slippery so be sure to hold on tight!

CCFRP master SOP document

Science Crew Protocols and Helpful Hints
F8a)

Figure 8. Devices used to descend, or force a fish back down to depth to relieve the expanded air in
the swim bladder. Methods include: (a) Ace Calloway or Blacktip fish release, (b) weighted milk crate,
(c) SeaQualizer.

CCFRP master SOP document

Note: These pages are printed on waterproof paper and bound into a notebook. This
is an example of MLML’s logbook…edit information as appropriate (grid cells, charts,
science crew schedule, etc.)

2019 MLML CCFRP Hook-and-Line Logbook
Año Nuevo SMR/REF & Point Lobos SMR/REF
Lead Field Scientist/Statewide Coordinator: Jen Chiu
Co-Volunteer Coordinator: Ryan Fields
Co-Volunteer Coordinator: Jackie Mohay
Science Crew Member: Bonnie Brown
Science Crew Member: Katie Cieri
Science Crew Member: Rachel Brooks
Science Crew Member: Kinsey Matthews
Science Crew Member: Jake Todd
Science Crew Member: Sara Worden
Science Crew Member: Chenchen Shen
Science Crew Member: Nina Kogut
Principal Investigator: Rick Starr
Principal Investigator: Scott Hamilton

CCFRP master SOP document

2019 CCFRP Randomly Selected Grid Cells
Week 1 - Año Nuevo SMR/REF - Huli Cat
Tuesday, Aug. 6
Wednesday, Aug. 7
Thursday, Aug. 8
MPA
REF
REF/MPA
primary
alternate
primary
alternate
primary
alternate
21
19
10
7
21
17
17
16
8
6
18
12
14
15
5
3
10
8
12
13
2
1
5
2

Week 2 - Point Lobos SMR/REF - Kahuna
Monday, Aug. 12
Tuesday, Aug. 13
Wednesday, Aug. 14
REF
MPA
REF/MPA
primary
alternate
primary
alternate
primary
alternate
15
17
11
13
10
9
14
5
9
12
7
8
4
2
8
10
5
15
3
1
6
7
4
2

Week 3 - Año Nuevo SMR/REF - Tigerfish
Tuesday, Sept. 10
Wednesday, Sept. 11
Thursday, Sept. 12
REF/MPA
MPA
REF
primary
alternate
primary
alternate
primary
alternate
19
18
20
22
10
9
13
14
19
17
6
8
3
5
18
15
4
7
2
1
12
13
1
3

Week 4 - Point Lobos SMR/REF - New Horizon
Tuesday, Sept. 17
Wednesday, Sept. 18
Thursday, Sept. 19
REF
MPA
REF/MPA
primary
alternate
primary
alternate
primary
alternate
17
16
12
13
2
15
15
3
11
10
13
8
14
2
8
9
6
7
5
1
7
6
1
17

California Collaborative Fisheries Research Program (CCFRP)
Central California Sampling Areas

Año Nuevo SMR/REF Grid Cell Coordinates
Decimal Degrees
Cell ID

Site

Lat Center

Long Center

Lat 1

Long 1

Lat 2

Long 2

Lat 3

Long 3

Lat 4

Long 4

AN01

REF

37.243

-122.427

37.245

-122.430

37.245

-122.424

37.240

-122.430

37.240

-122.424

AN02

REF

37.237

-122.427

37.240

-122.429

37.240

-122.424

37.235

-122.429

37.235

-122.424

AN03

REF

37.232

-122.425

37.234

-122.428

37.234

-122.423

37.230

-122.428

37.230

-122.423

AN04

REF

37.225

-122.422

37.227

-122.425

37.227

-122.420

37.223

-122.425

37.223

-122.420

AN05

REF

37.216

-122.418

37.218

-122.420

37.218

-122.415

37.214

-122.420

37.214

-122.415

AN06

REF

37.197

-122.413

37.199

-122.416

37.199

-122.410

37.195

-122.416

37.195

-122.410

AN07

REF

37.192

-122.411

37.194

-122.413

37.194

-122.408

37.189

-122.413

37.189

-122.408

AN08

REF

37.185

-122.405

37.187

-122.408

37.187

-122.402

37.183

-122.408

37.183

-122.402

AN09

REF

37.170

-122.382

37.172

-122.384

37.172

-122.379

37.168

-122.384

37.168

-122.379

AN10

REF

37.165

-122.381

37.167

-122.384

37.167

-122.378

37.163

-122.384

37.163

-122.378

AN11

REF

37.167

-122.375

37.169

-122.377

37.169

-122.372

37.165

-122.377

37.165

-122.372

AN12

MPA

37.117

-122.347

37.119

-122.350

37.119

-122.344

37.115

-122.350

37.115

-122.344

AN13

MPA

37.112

-122.346

37.114

-122.349

37.114

-122.344

37.109

-122.349

37.109

-122.344

AN14

MPA

37.107

-122.346

37.109

-122.349

37.109

-122.344

37.105

-122.349

37.105

-122.344

AN15

MPA

37.101

-122.346

37.103

-122.349

37.103

-122.344

37.099

-122.349

37.099

-122.344

AN16

MPA

37.099

-122.340

37.101

-122.343

37.101

-122.338

37.097

-122.343

37.097

-122.338

AN17

MPA

37.098

-122.335

37.100

-122.337

37.100

-122.332

37.096

-122.337

37.096

-122.332

AN18

MPA

37.098

-122.328

37.100

-122.331

37.100

-122.326

37.096

-122.331

37.096

-122.326

AN19

MPA

37.092

-122.329

37.095

-122.331

37.095

-122.326

37.090

-122.331

37.090

-122.326

AN20

MPA

37.088

-122.329

37.090

-122.331

37.090

-122.326

37.085

-122.331

37.085

-122.326

AN21

MPA

37.091

-122.322

37.093

-122.325

37.093

-122.319

37.089

-122.325

37.089

-122.319

AN22

MPA

37.096

-122.317

37.098

-122.319

37.098

-122.314

37.093

-122.319

37.093

-122.314

Long 3

Decimal Minutes (Lat: 37 degrees, Long: -122 degrees)
Cell ID

Site

Lat Center

Long Center

Lat 1

Long 1

Lat 2

Long 2

Lat 3

Lat 4

Long 4

AN01

REF

14.550

-25.635

14.685

-25.801

14.685

-25.469

14.415

-25.801

14.415

-25.469

AN02

REF

14.240

-25.590

14.375

-25.756

14.375

-25.424

14.105

-25.756

14.105

-25.424

AN03

REF

13.905

-25.520

14.040

-25.686

14.040

-25.354

13.770

-25.686

13.770

-25.354

AN04

REF

13.515

-25.345

13.650

-25.511

13.650

-25.179

13.380

-25.511

13.380

-25.179

AN05

REF

12.975

-25.060

13.110

-25.226

13.110

-24.894

12.840

-25.226

12.840

-24.894

AN06

REF

11.815

-24.780

11.950

-24.946

11.950

-24.614

11.680

-24.946

11.680

-24.614

AN07

REF

11.500

-24.630

11.635

-24.796

11.635

-24.464

11.365

-24.796

11.365

-24.464

AN08

REF

11.100

-24.285

11.235

-24.451

11.235

-24.119

10.965

-24.451

10.965

-24.119

AN09

REF

10.195

-22.900

10.330

-23.066

10.330

-22.734

10.060

-23.066

10.060

-22.734

AN10

REF

9.885

-22.870

10.020

-23.036

10.020

-22.704

9.750

-23.036

9.750

-22.704

AN11

REF

10.015

-22.470

10.150

-22.636

10.150

-22.304

9.880

-22.636

9.880

-22.304

AN12

MPA

7.005

-20.835

7.140

-21.001

7.140

-20.669

6.870

-21.001

6.870

-20.669

AN13

MPA

6.700

-20.780

6.835

-20.946

6.835

-20.614

6.565

-20.946

6.565

-20.614

AN14

MPA

6.415

-20.780

6.550

-20.946

6.550

-20.614

6.280

-20.946

6.280

-20.614

AN15

MPA

6.057

-20.780

6.192

-20.946

6.192

-20.614

5.922

-20.946

5.922

-20.614

AN16

MPA

5.945

-20.425

6.080

-20.591

6.080

-20.259

5.810

-20.591

5.810

-20.259

AN17

MPA

5.875

-20.075

6.010

-20.241

6.010

-19.909

5.740

-20.241

5.740

-19.909

AN18

MPA

5.880

-19.700

6.015

-19.866

6.015

-19.534

5.745

-19.866

5.745

-19.534

AN19

MPA

5.540

-19.715

5.675

-19.881

5.675

-19.549

5.405

-19.881

5.405

-19.549

AN20

MPA

5.250

-19.715

5.385

-19.881

5.385

-19.549

5.115

-19.881

5.115

-19.549

AN21

MPA

5.445

-19.320

5.580

-19.486

5.580

-19.154

5.310

-19.486

5.310

-19.154

AN22

MPA

5.742

-19.000

5.877

-19.166

5.877

-18.834

5.607

-19.166

5.607

-18.834

Año Nuevo SMR/REF Grid Cell Locations

Pescadero Point

Pigeon Point
Lighthouse

Point Año Nuevo

Point Lobos SMR/REF Grid Cell Coordinates
Decimal Degrees
Cell ID

Site

Lat Center

Long Center

Lat 1

Long 1

Lat 2

Long 2

Lat 3

Long 3

Lat 4

Long 4

PL01

REF

36.585

-121.983

36.587

-121.986

36.587

-121.980

36.582

-121.986

36.582

-121.980

PL02

REF

36.580

-121.983

36.582

-121.986

36.582

-121.980

36.577

-121.986

36.577

-121.980

PL03

REF

36.574

-121.982

36.576

-121.984

36.576

-121.979

36.572

-121.984

36.572

-121.979

PL04

REF

36.569

-121.978

36.571

-121.981

36.571

-121.976

36.567

-121.981

36.567

-121.976

PL05

REF

36.568

-121.972

36.570

-121.975

36.570

-121.970

36.565

-121.975

36.565

-121.970

PL06

MPA-OLD

36.525

-121.943

36.527

-121.945

36.527

-121.940

36.523

-121.945

36.523

-121.940

PL07

MPA-OLD

36.526

-121.952

36.528

-121.955

36.528

-121.949

36.524

-121.955

36.524

-121.949

PL08

MPA-OLD

36.522

-121.958

36.524

-121.961

36.524

-121.955

36.520

-121.961

36.520

-121.955

PL09

MPA-OLD

36.514

-121.955

36.516

-121.957

36.516

-121.952

36.512

-121.957

36.512

-121.952

PL10

MPA-OLD

36.510

-121.948

36.512

-121.950

36.512

-121.945

36.507

-121.950

36.507

-121.945

PL11

MPA-NEW

36.491

-121.950

36.493

-121.953

36.493

-121.947

36.488

-121.953

36.488

-121.947

PL12

MPA-NEW

36.489

-121.956

36.491

-121.959

36.491

-121.953

36.487

-121.959

36.487

-121.953

PL13

MPA-NEW

36.486

-121.950

36.488

-121.953

36.488

-121.948

36.484

-121.953

36.484

-121.948

PL14

REF

36.476

-121.945

36.478

-121.948

36.478

-121.942

36.474

-121.948

36.474

-121.942

PL15

REF

36.471

-121.942

36.474

-121.945

36.474

-121.939

36.469

-121.945

36.469

-121.939

PL16

REF

36.467

-121.937

36.469

-121.940

36.469

-121.934

36.465

-121.940

36.465

-121.934

PL17

REF

36.462

-121.934

36.464

-121.937

36.464

-121.932

36.460

-121.937

36.460

-121.932

Decimal Minutes (Lat: 36 degrees, Long: -121 degrees)
Cell ID

Site

Lat Center

PL01

REF

35.070

PL02

REF

34.777

PL03

REF

34.450

PL04

REF

PL05

Long Center

Lat 1

Long 1

Lat 2

Long 2

Lat 3

Long 3

Lat 4

Long 4

35.205

-59.151

35.205

-58.819

34.936

-59.151

34.936

-58.819

-58.990

34.911

-59.156

34.911

-58.824

34.642

-59.156

34.642

-58.824

-58.893

34.585

-59.059

34.585

-58.727

34.316

-59.059

34.316

-58.727

34.144

-58.707

34.279

-58.873

34.279

-58.542

34.009

-58.873

34.009

-58.542

REF

34.055

-58.344

34.190

-58.510

34.190

-58.178

33.921

-58.510

33.921

-58.178

PL06

MPA-OLD

31.504

-56.554

31.639

-56.720

31.639

-56.388

31.369

-56.720

31.369

-56.388

PL07

MPA-OLD

31.559

-57.129

31.694

-57.295

31.694

-56.963

31.424

-57.295

31.424

-56.963

PL08

MPA-OLD

31.332

-57.495

31.467

-57.661

31.467

-57.329

31.197

-57.661

31.197

-57.329

PL09

MPA-OLD

30.828

-57.274

30.963

-57.440

30.963

-57.108

30.693

-57.440

30.693

-57.108

PL10

MPA-OLD

30.576

-56.850

30.711

-57.016

30.711

-56.684

30.441

-57.016

30.441

-56.684

PL11

MPA-NEW

29.443

-57.014

29.578

-57.180

29.578

-56.848

29.308

-57.180

29.308

-56.848

PL12

MPA-NEW

29.333

-57.373

29.468

-57.539

29.468

-57.207

29.198

-57.539

29.198

-57.207

PL13

MPA-NEW

29.152

-57.025

29.287

-57.191

29.287

-56.859

29.017

-57.191

29.017

-56.859

PL14

REF

28.564

-56.695

28.699

-56.861

28.699

-56.529

28.429

-56.861

28.429

-56.529

PL15

REF

28.288

-56.506

28.423

-56.672

28.423

-56.340

28.153

-56.672

28.153

-56.340

PL16

REF

28.013

-56.205

28.148

-56.371

28.148

-56.039

27.878

-56.371

27.878

-56.039

PL17

REF

27.718

-56.064

27.853

-56.230

27.853

-55.898

27.583

-56.230

27.583

-55.898

-58.985

CCFRP master SOP document

Point Lobos SMR/REF Grid Cell Locations

Cypress Point

Point Lobos

Yankee Point

Garrapata State Park

CCFRP master SOP document

Entry 1
Date:
Area:
Site:

Fishing Vessel:
Captain:
Deckhand:

Science Crew (First and Last Names):
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)

No. Volunteers (No. Anglers):
(
)
Angler Contest Winner(s):
1. ____________________________________
Why? _____________________________
2. ____________________________________
Why? _____________________________
3. ____________________________________
Why? _____________________________

Start of Fishing Day:
End of Fishing Day:
Bait/Gear Used:

2nd
3rd
4th
Grid Cells Sampled: 1st
No. Grid Cells ; No. Drifts:
;
No. Data Sheets:
No. Fishes Retained: __________________
Species: ____________________________
Student: ____________________________

1) LCD bar + shrimpfly teaser
2) red/white shrimpfly, no bait
3) red/white shrimpfly + squid bait
(mantle strips only)

4 oz

6 oz

8 oz

10 oz

Beginning No. Bars:
End No. Bars:
Total No. Lost:
Station Rotations (Angler Name, Grid Cell No):
Trip Comments (e.g., weather, interesting catches, angler issues, tag returns):

Total No. Species Caught: _______
Total No. Fishes Caught: _______
Total No. Fishes Tagged: _______

CCFRP master SOP document

Entry 1 (cont’d): Fish Summary Information

Tally
Species

<20 Fathoms

>20 Fathoms

Total
Tag

Sac

Caught

Tag

Sac

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.

Total

CCFRP master SOP document

Entry 1 (cont’d)
First Grid Cell:

Drift No.
Total Time

No. Drifts Completed:

1
:

Total Fishing Time:

2
:

3
:

min

sec

4
:

5
:

Station Rotations:
Cell Comments:

#BAR Anglers ___ #Fly Anglers___ #BAT Anglers___

Second Grid Cell:

Drift No.
Total Time

No. Drifts Completed:

1
:

Total Fishing Time:

2
:

3
:

min

sec

4
:

5
:

Station Rotations:
Cell Comments:

#BAR Anglers ___ #Fly Anglers___ #BAT Anglers___

CCFRP master SOP document

Entry 1 (cont’d)
Third Grid Cell:

Drift No.
Total Time

No. Drifts Completed:

1
:

Total Fishing Time:

2
:

3
:

min

sec

4
:

5
:

Station Rotations:
Cell Comments:

#BAR Anglers ___ #Fly Anglers___ #BAT Anglers___

Fourth Grid Cell:

Drift No.
Total Time

No. Drifts Completed:

1
:

Total Fishing Time:

2
:

3
:

min

sec

4
:

5
:

Station Rotations:
Cell Comments:

#BAR Anglers ___ #Fly Anglers___ #BAT Anglers___

CCFRP master SOP document

Example Datasheet (available for printing from Excel in the shared CCFRP Dropbox…edit as appropriate for your region)
5.

California Collaborative Fisheries Research Program (Hook-and-Line)

Year: _______________

Page: _________ of ___________

Location: ____________________ Vessel: _______________________ Date: _______________ Area: ________________ Site (circle one): MPA / REF Grid #: ________ Drift #: _________
Start Time: ______:_______:______ End Time: _______:________:______ Start/End Depth: _______ / _______ ft Start Lat/Long: ________°________________ / ________°_______________
No. of Anglers: __________
Cloud Cover: ________
Species

Recorder: __________ Tag Crew: __________

Relief: ________
Stn #

No. Seals/Sea Lions: ____ /_____

Tag ID

TL (cm)

Sex

Sur. Water Temp (°F): ____________
Wind Speed/Direction: ____________
Cond.

Depth (ft)

Lat:

End Lat/Long: ______°________________ / _______°________________
Swell Height/Direction: _________ Weights/Bars: ________ /_______ oz
°

Long:

WP #

Comments

1
2
3
4
5
6
…
20
Comments (e.g., anglers under/over time; station rotations; GPS unit #; jelly presence (species and number); kelp; red tide; rewrite each page, except angler over/under times):

Stations: 1-4 (bow) = Lingcod bars (with shrimp fly teaser); 6-9 (starboard) = shrimp flies without bait; 11-14 (port) = shrimp flies with squid mantle strips only
Cloud Cover: 0 = blue skies (< 25% cloud cover); 1 = moderate cloud cover (25-75%); 2 = high cloud cover (> 75%); 3 = foggy Relief Codes: 1 = flat (< 1 m); 2 = moderate (1-3 m); 3 = high (> 3 m)
Condition Codes: 1 = crystallized eyes; 2 = vented; 3 = marine mammal or fish predation (no mortality); 4 = hook damage or body cuts/scale loss; 5 = released with a descending device; 6 = floater
(mortality uncertain); 7 = mortality from mammal or fish predation; 8 = mortality caused by bird predation, capture/handling stress, or any cause other than mammal/fish predation; 0 = good condition
(no other code applies)
Record way point (WP) and GPS coordinates for every fish possible (minimum req'd = once every five fish).
DO NOT TAG if: < 24 cm; crystallized eyes; hook damage; dropped on deck; severe barotrauma; tag gun misfires

CCFRP master SOP document

Comments About Data Collection
•
•

•
•
•
•
•
•

•
•
•

•
•
•
•
•
•

•

Fully cross out incorrect numbers or comments and rewrite. Do not attempt to write over the
mistake. Use the comments section of the datasheet if needed, just specify what the value
is (e.g. length=26).
If you are unsure of species identification (and other science crew are not able to come to a
consensus), take a photo(s), record the time, and indicate that you are unsure on the
datasheet. Verify the photo when you get back to the lab and correct the datasheet. Don’t
guess or simply describe the fish in the “species” field (e.g., calling a fish “red” instead of its
appropriate common name or fish description).
Make sure all of the heading info (GPS points, weather condition, start/end times, etc.) on
each datasheet is completely filled out.
Write angler +/- times on one datasheet only (if the drift runs for multiple pages, only write
the angler +/- times on the page that it occurs to avoid confusion).
Any other comments should be copied on all pages of a drift (e.g., Angler #6=Jen C., or
jellies).
Take GPS points as often as possible (at a minimum, every 5 fish) and record the waypoint
number.
Avoid using species codes (GPR, CPR, etc.) in the species field on the datasheet…it’s too
confusing when codes are similar and handwriting is not great.
Ideally, anglers will be assigned to one fishing station/gear type for the entire day. However,
if anglers want to switch gear types throughout the day, ensure that it is documented on
your datasheets and/or in the logbook. If two or more people are splitting a station, be sure
to write that information in the logbook/datasheets. It is usually easiest (from a data entry
perspective) to switch after a cell is complete, but each lead will have a system that works
for them.
Code 0 should be reserved for fishes that don’t exhibit conditions pertaining to other codes.
Make sure to write down all condition codes (in the order that they occur). Writing the codes
in order is important to reference back the sequence of events (e.g., vented, floated,
descended).
If a tag is cut or misfired, clearly cross out the number and/or make a note in the comments
section. If you make a mistake, cross out the number and write it again instead of trying to
correct the existing one. Tag numbers can be written in the comments section if there is
little room in the crossed out box in the datasheet.
At the end of the drift, glance through the tag numbers. Do they make sense? Did you use
a consecutive string of tags? If so, are all of the tag numbers in order? Be aware of when
you use singles (it may also help to write a comment that it’s a single tag).
At the end of your cell, go through all of the data sheets and double check everything. Is
everything filled out? Values make sense? Writing legible? Mistakes properly crossed out?
For recording sex, write M (Male) or F (Female) clearly for appropriate species.
Specify “scale loss” or “hook damage” when using code 4. If it is “hook damage”, specify
where it is located. You can use “SL” or “HD” for shorthand.
If the angler is unknown, note it in the comments of that fish instead of guessing which
station it came from. You can write down the gear type if you know what side of the boat it
came from, but only do this if you’re certain.
If there are 21 or more fish per drift, you must start a new page and fill in the heading
completely. Even if there is only one fish on the subsequent page, do not try to fit it onto the
first page. Data in the header and comments section can be copied after the drift is over but
it is important to add a page number so the sequence of pages is noted in case a third (or
more) sheets are used in a single drift.
Condition code 6 refers to a fish that is floating but we lose track of it or floats away. Mark
code 6 until we update the status or are no longer able to locate the fish. If we observe the

CCFRP master SOP document

•

mortality, condition code 6 is replaced with code 7 or 8. If the fish is floating and we retrieve
it and descend it, code 6 is crossed out, floater goes into the comments box, and condition
code 5 is entered into the condition codes box.
Code 8 is for any mortality that occurs for reasons other than natural causes (e.g.,
barotrauma, birds).

CCFRP master SOP document

How to Export GPS Waypoints from the Garmin GPS Map 78
1. Convert the .gpx file to a text file:
Go to http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/convert?convert_format=gpx&force_type=w
2. Choose your .gpx file and convert it to Plain text

3. Click Convert
Note: We typically wait till the end of the season and convert all .gpx files at once. This
provides us with a single .TXT file to use in the following steps
4. Save .txt file from link at the top of the page

CCFRP master SOP document

5. Open the text file in Microsoft Excel and add a column for :
a. The ‘GPS_unit’ so you know which unit the waypoints came from.
b. “Waypoint ID” and populate with this formula, replacing the time area with the cell
number, the year with the last two digits of the pertinent year, and the:
=CONCATENATE("0",MONTH([time]),"0",DAY([time]),"[Year]_",[name],".”,[GPS
unit])
Which is: for the sheet below
=CONCATENATE("0",MONTH(B2),"0",DAY(B2),"15_",H2,".",G2)
Note: The formula should result in a date that is 6 characters long. You will need to
remove/include the “0” for both day and month as needed to end up with 6 characters
total.
Note: Check that the Access database includes the GPS unit number as part of the
Waypoint ID. If not, remove it from the above formula. The important point is to have the
GPX data waypoint_ID perfectly match the Waypoint ID in the database.
CCFRP master SOP document

6. Save as an .xlsx or .xls for importing into the CCFRP database and in a .xls format if
mapping the point in ArcMap. If you are mapping in ArcMap be sure to format the lat and
long as numbers.

How to add lat and lon to caught fishes table in database
1. Use the existing (or create a new
field) in the Caught Fishes table for
the waypoint link. Define the data
type as “calculated” in the design
view of the table and this
expression: Mid([Drift ID],4,6) & "_"
& [GPS Waypoint] to replicate the
data in the waypoint ID field of the
GPS Excel document.

CCFRP master SOP document

2. Import the Excel document with the waypoints in it.
3. Create a query to link the waypoint ID and the waypoint link

CCFRP master SOP document

While creating the query, click the property Sheet and make sure that Recordset Type is set
to ‘Dynaset (Inconsistent Update)’. This is necessary to be able to copy and paste into
columns as described in step 4

4. Run the query and copy and paste the latitude and longitude columns into the Caught
Fishes Lat and Lon released fields.
5. Check the Caught Fishes table for empty lat and lon fields. If there are fishes that were
caught in the year you are updating check the waypoint ID field and your Excel
document to make sure there were no typos.
6. Delete the query and waypoint table from the database.

CCFRP master SOP document

Data Entry and Error Checking
Getting familiar with database and terms
• Before any data entry (or data checking) occurs, make sure to read the sections regarding
the database: Database Information, Database Tables, Explanations, Codes used in the
Database, Glossary of Database Fields. This may seem like something that is
overwhelming or wouldn’t make that much of a difference if someone else is showing you
how to do these types of tasks. There are SO many rules; it is hard to keep track of all of
them even if someone has recently been working in the database. It is best to have this
read before someone goes over data entry/data checking with you so that you may ask
questions about those specific rules.
• Additionally, it is important to update these sections with any information that may be
relevant. If there are items that have changed or new procedures arise, these need to be
documented and should have the date or season entered with them (e.g., In 2012, we
implemented…).
Data Entry: Getting started
• When it is time to start data entry, it is important to make documentation during the process
and note questions that arise. It is easy to forget things when working on the database
intermittently.
• Make a list of all of the data that need to be entered (e.g., angler information, trip
information, individual days of sampling; Figure 9). These data will go into a word document
that will be placed in front of the datasheets to be entered. Print document and keep at the
beginning of the data binder. This sheet documents who is entering each day, when data
entry started, commenced, and notes on quality control/data checking.
• When correcting data, note all errors on this sheet so that the person entering those data is
aware of mistakes and can alter the way they enter and spot check their own data.
F9

Figure 9. Example of data entry/data checking records sheet.

CCFRP master SOP document

Angler Information
• Before entering any data, compile all of the angler waivers for the year to double check that
existing information in the database is correct, and to add any new anglers to the database.
• Make sure all contact information for the anglers are up to date to avoid communication
mishaps in the future (especially email addresses).
• Adding all new anglers to the database at the same time in the beginning allows for a more
streamlined data entry process. To add a new angler, assign them an unused Angler ID
(letter, then 3 digit number, e.g., A001). Use numbers that are within the current range that
are not currently assigned first (check with the person in charge of the database for these).
Make certain that they are a new angler and aren’t found anywhere else in the system.
Proceed to add all of their contact information and primary monitoring region.
Trip Information
• Prior to entering any drift data, it’s a good idea to enter in all of the trip information initially.
This gives a framework for the data you will be entering and keeps things orderly with
respect to trip numbers (since the format is PLT01_19 as opposed to the actual date, it’s
much easier to get confused on which day you’re working on).
• Proceed to enter in the corresponding trip information using the log book (date, vessel,
captain, number of anglers, etc.). Now your database is set up as an outline for you to
begin entering drift data.
• When beginning data entry, it is good to look through the database and the datasheet
together to get a feeling for where items go in the database as it isn’t necessarily written the
same way in the database.
• If someone is entering data for the first time, only enter one complete day of data and stop.
It is important that these data are checked before going on to make sure that all of the rules
are understood and being practiced.
• Review comments on your checked data each time before returning to entry to eliminate
repetitive errors.
Notes Sheet
• When starting a day with Hook and Line anglers, make a crib sheet with the gear type,
angler name, and angler number (Figure 10). This helps both the person entering and
person checking the data.
• When checking data, ensure the angler numbers match the angler names before checking
the other data for that day.
• Tallies of adjusted fishing time can also be easily added here to calculate angler off time for
the day. Adjusted angler fishing times should be entered by day into an Excel spreadsheet
with all of the trip dates in columns and anglers in rows (Figure 11). At the end of entering a
day, enter the adjusted angler fishing time in the Excel file (including zeros for anglers that
did not have plus or minus time).
• At the end of data entry, these angler adjusted fishing time data can be summarized to
calculate annual adjusted fishing time by angler and use a “count” feature to determine the
number of days an angler fished with us in a season (these data all go on the Angler
Information table in Access). These data are for checking and for summary statistics for
the individual anglers. REMEMBER that angler off time is now recorded in minutes, no
need to convert to hours or portions of a day.

CCFRP master SOP document

F10

Figure 10. Crib sheet for angler gear types, numbers, names, and angler numbers.
F11

Figure 11. Data entry spreadsheet with records of adjusted angler fishing time and number of
days fishing.
CCFRP master SOP document

Comments about data entry
• If two anglers rotated a station and it was uncertain who was fishing during a given drift, the
person listed first on the sign-in sheet was given credit for the fishes caught.
• If the station number is listed incorrectly (e.g., Station #4 was listed, but there was no one
fishing at that station that day) then no station number or gear type information is listed in
the database and the fish is assigned to Angler ID A000 (unknown angler).
• If no release latitude or longitude values are written down for a caught fish on the data
sheet, the release latitude and longitude values of the previously caught fish in that drift are
assigned to it. If none of the previously caught fishes had a release latitude and longitude,
the first half of the caught fishes are assigned to the start coordinates, and the second half
to the end coordinates. If there is an odd number of fishes caught, the “middle” fish can be
assigned either the start or end coordinates.
• If no release depth is specified for a caught fish on the data sheet, the depth of the
previously caught fish in that drift is assigned to it. If none of the previously caught fishes
have a release depth, the start depth is used. However, if no depths are recorded for the
fishes during a particular drift, the first half of the caught fishes are assigned to the start
depth, and the second half to the end depth. If there is an odd number of fishes caught, the
“middle” fish can be assigned either the start or end depth (2007-2011: if there was less
than a 10 foot difference between the start and end depth, all of the fishes were assigned
the start depth).
• If the comments section of the data sheet it says, “harbor seals (or sea lions) present,” but
no number expressing the quantity of seals (or sea lions) is listed, the number “2” is entered
into the database under the Number of Seals (or Number of Sea Lions) field in the Drift
Information table because this is generally what it meant as it is the minimum number we
would have seen to prompt writing this.
• Both the observed swell height and wind speed are averaged (e.g., if the wind speed is
listed as being between 0-5 knots or less than 5 knots, “2.5” was entered into the database).
• If errors are found in data sheets, make a note on a sticky and place on data sheet next to
the error. Verify with other members of your team to understand the error, and make
changes accordingly to the datasheets/database.
• Ensure that each fish has an Angler ID, even if the angler is not known (use code A000). It
was discovered that if fishes were not assigned an angler number they would not appear in
queries no matter the category.
• People that come out on the boat and do not fish (e.g., reporters, photographers, and
people that assisted the science crew) are not given Angler IDs (no fish need to be
associated with them). These non-fishers are identified in the Trip Information table in the
comments field.
• If a grid cell is within a Marine Protected Area, “MPA” is listed in the “Site” field. If it is within
a Reference site, “REF” is listed.
• The latitude and longitude (in decimal degrees) of the center point and the four corners of
the polygon that bounds each grid cell are listed in the Grid Cell Location table. Lat/Lon1 is
the northwest corner of grid cell, Lat/Lon 2 is the northeast corner, Lat/Lon 3 the southwest
corner and Lat/Lon 4 is the southeast corner.
• For the MPA grid cells in Point Lobos, an extra column was added to designate whether the
grid cell is located in the “OLD” section of the Point Lobos MPA (the portion of the MPA that
overlaps with the 1973 Point Lobos Ecological Reserve) or in the “NEW” section (no
overlap).
• Lingcod bar, lead sinker weight, and end depth were not recorded during the 2007 field
season.

CCFRP master SOP document

•
•

•

If a CCFRP tagged fish is caught and reported by a fisherman or a diver at a time other than
during a CCFRP survey, the information for this fish at the time of recapture is entered into
the “Tag Returns” database.
Note: In Piedras Blancas and Point Buchon, tag numbers are not unique for each color set
of tags. For this reason, Tag IDs in these areas are listed as the five digit tag number,
followed by the first letter of the color of tag (e.g., O for Orange tags, Y for Yellow tags, or W
for White tags). In Año Nuevo and Point Lobos, only the number is listed because all
numbers were discrete regardless of color. For groups added post-statewide expansion, a
letter precedes the 4 or 5 digit tag number (B: BML, D: SIO, H: HSU, S: UCSB)
Make sure to check/compare angler off times with drift off times. We found it easiest to
create an Excel spreadsheet (Figure 11) with our anglers and dates so we could calculate
their angler off time and used in combination with the crib sheet (Figure 10), it was more
accurate than other methods.
In 2013, Cal Poly utilized a few different abbreviations in the comment section for caught
fishes: SIM (stomach in mouth) and BE (bulging eyes). Going forward, these abbreviations
can be used on the datasheets but should be spelled out in the database.

Checking Data Entry
• Data should be checked soon after it is entered. It is advised that a separate person checks
data than the person who entered it to eliminate any biases that may exist with respect to
data entered (one might be more vigilant in finding errors in other’s data entry than they
would their own).
• Upon finding errors, they should be entered into the data checking log (Figure 9). A short
description is sufficient (e.g., incorrect depth splitting, error in start lat).
• For a new data enterer, it is a good idea to thoroughly check their work (go through line by
line to ensure all fields are entered correctly, at least for their first day of entry). This method
is time consuming, however, so after the data enterer is comfortable, the remaining data can
be spot checked. Spot checking includes (but is not limited to) range checks on total
lengths, +/- times, total fishes caught, start/end lat/lons, etc. See Database Checklist for
more details.
• It is important that the data checker also reads the SOP document sections referencing the
database. Ideally, this person would also have experience entering data so they are very
familiar with datasheets, data rules, and how to enter data.

CCFRP master SOP document

Database Checklist
1-Trip Information
• Trip IDs match logbook records.
• Trip IDs match area, site, month, day, year, vessel, captain, deckhand fields.
• Number of anglers matches logbook record.
2-Angler Information
• Check for skipped numbers in Angler ID using Excel (copy the Angler IDs, then create a
column next to it with sequential numbers next to it, check to see if the number matches at
the end of the A### sequence). Keep track of these to fill in later for new anglers.
• Check for duplicate anglers by exporting to Excel and sorting by Angler Name or Last
Name. Use the contact information to decide whether some anglers are different people or
duplicates. If there are duplicates, reassign fishes to one of the Angler IDs.
3-Drift Information
• Drift IDs match up with Trip ID, Cell ID, ID-Cell per Trip, and Drift.
• Sort by Start Time. Make sure the times make sense (~7 am to 3 pm). Some of the
afternoon times may not have been entered as PM (e.g., 02:00 vs 14:00).
• Sort by End Time. Make sure the times make sense (~7 am to 3 pm). Some of the
afternoon times may not have been entered as PM (e.g., 02:00 vs 14:00).
• Check the range of angler off times. Anything above 10 minutes should be verified in
datasheets.
• Make sure there are no blanks in the BAR, FLY, BAT, SBT, or DPR (+/-) Fishing Time
columns. If there is no adjustment, the value in the column should be 0.
• Sort the Start/End Latitude and Longitude. Check for accuracy (also useful to plot these
coordinates in ArcGIS with a layer of your grid cells)
• #Anglers Fishing should be between 6 and 12 anglers. If there are blanks or values outside
of this range, check the datasheet(s). THIS SHOULD NOT BE LEFT BLANK!
• Surface T field should be in Celsius. Values should range between about 6-18. If values fall
outside this range, double check them. If the values are in Fahrenheit, convert them.
• Depth T field should be in Celsius. Values should range between about 6-18. If values fall
outside this range, double check them. If the values are in Fahrenheit, convert them.
• SWT Vessel field should be in Fahrenheit. Values should range between about 48-70. If
values fall outside this range, double check them. If the values are in Celsius, convert them.
• Relief should be 1, 2, or 3. No zeroes! Values may be blank in this field.
• Cloud Cover should be 0-3. Values may be blank in this field.
• Check the range of Start and End Depths. Sites aren’t likely much deeper than 150 feet.
Deeper than 150 or shallower than 20 feet deserve a double check on the datasheet. All
values are positive.
4-Caught Fishes
• All fish have a Species Code. If species identification is unsure, use UKR (unknown
rockfish) or UNK (unknown species).
• Tag IDs are 4 or 5 digits long, make sure to add leading zero(s). Check that your group’s
letter precedes the tag number (B: BML, D: SIO, H: HSU, S: UCSB)
• Length is in centimeters and an integer (no decimals).
• Gear types are BAR, BAT, FLY, SBT, or DPR. Blanks are okay if the station # is blank and
the Angler ID is A000.

CCFRP master SOP document

•
•
•
•
•
•

•

Station #s range typically from 1-14 (may vary by region; MLML used to use stations 5 and
10 when the program started so they’re in the database even though we don’t use them
today).
Blanks in Station # and Gear Type are verified on datasheets.
Angler ID should have NO BLANKS! If an angler is unknown use A000, regardless of area.
Depth released values should be between 15-200 ft (blanks are not okay if there is a start or
end depth recorded for that drift).
Sex should be M, F, did not record, or blank (for Lingcod, Kelp Greenling, and Sheephead).
Compare sizes of Caught Fishes to maximum sizes. A spreadsheet with all of the
published maximum sizes for fishes that we catch in our CCFRP projects. Compare these
to the data we have collected.
o This can be done in Access by filtering by species and sorting by Length, or doing the
same in Excel.
o Fishes that are greater than the published maximum size need to be revisited on the
datasheet to ensure the species was entered properly.
o If the species is entered properly and the size on the datasheet is over the max size,
delete the size of the fish in the Length field and write in the Comments the size of the
fish and that its likely incorrect.
Look at minimum sizes of caught fishes. For previous analyses, fishes smaller than 15 cm
were revisited on the datasheets to double check that the Length was entered correctly.
Catching small fish (less than 15 cm) does not happen that frequently so it’s a good idea to
confirm the sizes of these fish. Sometimes the person entering data will mistakenly put “5”
instead of “25” for total length and a quick look back at the original datasheet will clear it up.

Fish Species
• Make sure there are no duplicates. Sort by Species Name. If there are duplicates, keep the
abbreviation that is more intuitive or has more fish assigned to it (fewer that you have to
change).
Database Checking
• Compare off time by gear type with angler off time for the year.
o This is easily done by exporting the Angler Information page and the Drift Information
page.
o Sum the time off columns (should be a combination of the following 5: BAR, BAT, FLY,
SBT, DPR) to get a total time off per drift. Calculate the TOTAL angler off time by gear
and from the Angler Info table for this year and compare.
o If this doesn’t match up, individual data sheets may need to be checked. These data
can also be calculated by day (creating a field that has the six digit date from the Drift ID)
and compared with the Excel spreadsheet of adjusted angler time. These data won’t be
able to give you a specific drift that is incorrect, but will at least lead you to a day where
the adjusted fishing time doesn’t match up and narrow the number of datasheets that
need to be checked.
• Compare Total Fishes Caught per Drift ID (from Drift Info table) with Caught Fishes
(summarized by Drift ID).
o Export the Drift and Caught Fishes tables from Access into Excel.
o Use Excel to calculate number of fishes caught per drift (can use Subtotal function or
Pivot tables) from the Caught Fishes table.
o Sort the Drift table by the Total Fishes Caught column and delete records that have a
zero (these won’t have entries in the Caught Fishes table which makes comparing them
difficult).
o Resort data (for both tables) by Drift ID.
o Copy and paste them into the same worksheet.
CCFRP master SOP document

Create a column that is titled “Difference” and subtract one of the caught fishes values
from the other (order doesn’t matter) and carry down for all of the records and use
highlight cell rules for values not equal to zero, then sort by cell (or text) color. You can
also create a new column where you select one cell value and set it equal to the other
(e.g. B2=C2). This will cause the value of the cell to report TRUE or FALSE, sort the
column by the FALSE values.
If these do not equal zero in the “difference” column (or FALSE using the other method),
further investigation is needed. The first thing to check is if the Drift IDs match for rows
where values don’t equal zero of are FALSE and move up or down rows accordingly if
they don’t line up.

CCFRP master SOP document

Combining Records from Another Source (Merging Databases)
For most of our databases, each group enters and checks their data separately before
combining them into a final database. These are the procedures to combine them. It is
relatively simple but the important things to remember are (1) order of operations is important as
there is a hierarchy of the data (e.g. a Trip ID has to be entered before a Drift containing that
Trip ID can be entered) and (2) to keep track of the records in each of the databases (e.g.
MLML, Cal Poly, HSU, BML, UCSB, SIO, and final). Be sure that both databases have been
checked by the respective institutions using the Database Checklist prior to combining the
databases.
1. Save a copy of each of the databases so that if anything goes wrong (or gets changed) we
can go back to the original data easily.
2. Go through the column titles and orders for each of the tables to make sure they match and
rearrange them if they don’t. This is the most common cause of paste errors.
• 1-Trip Information
• 2- Angler Information
• 3- Drift Information
• 4- Caught Fishes
• Fish Species
3. Some may find it useful to record the number of entries for each of the tables in both of the
databases (Table 1). You’ll refer to this table when you’re finished to compare the numbers.
Table 1. Table used to ensure all records make it to the final version of the database when
combining data from two sources.
Table Name
MLML
Cal Poly
Sum
Final
Match
version

version

database

Trip Info

Angler Info
New (

)

New (

)

Drift Info

Caught Fishes

Fish Species

CCFRP master SOP document

4. Note that the number of records in the Angler Info and Fish Species tables won’t be a sum
from the two databases. There will be duplicates in both the MLML and Cal Poly versions
so you’ll have to determine which entries are new to the CalPoly version. Follow the
instructions separately for each of the two tables.
• To do this, you can copy the same table from each of the databases into Excel.
• Paste them in the same worksheet with the MLML entries on top and the CalPoly entries
underneath. Be sure to color code the entries somehow so you know which database
the entry came from.
• For Angler IDs, make sure the angler isn’t a duplicate. Sort all of the records by Angler
ID. Use the Conditional Formatting feature > Highlight Cell Rules > Duplicate values.
Custom sort by the formatting you set up in the Duplicate values section to compare the
duplicates. If all the fields match, its fine, you can remove the duplicate (either by
deleting them as you go through or at the end by Data tab > Duplicate Value and select
the Unique ID). Make sure to search for the person’s first and last name in the existing
database. Use common sense and the additional information provided by the angler in
the sign in sheet or survey to assess whether it is the same person. We do have some
volunteers with the same name.
• Once these are sorted, you also want to make sure that new entries are not duplicates.
Sometimes, we have an angler start with us in one year at two different sites, which
would cause both databases to add an Angler ID when only one is needed. Do this by
sorting by name or highlight cell rules.
• If there are duplicates for a specific angler:
o Two Angler IDs for one angler > choose the Angler ID with the greatest number of
fishes assigned to that Angler ID and reassign the fishes from the other Angler ID.
o One angler ID for two anglers > the angler with more fishes assigned to that Angler
ID in its respective database keeps the Angler ID. A new Angler ID needs to be
created for the other angler.
• Verify that the new Species Codes are not duplicates (using two different codes for the
same species). Additionally, check in the Master Species list to see if there is already a
code for that species (and what the code is) or if that three letter code is used by another
species in another database (we don’t want overlaps). If new Species Codes are
created, please notify the person who is responsible for editing the Master Species code
list so it can be updated.
5. Calculate the sum for all columns in Table 1. For Fish Species and Anglers, add the
MLML total with the CalPoly value in parentheses.
6. Start copying entries into the tables. FOLLOW the order listed below. If you have a
problem with that level, DO NOT move on. There is a hierarchy of tables in the database so
you won’t be successful by moving on. After each paste, record the new number of records.
Make sure the new total matches the sum from the table. Move on if the number matches;
troubleshoot the problem if it does not. Another hint on checking, Access asks if you want to
paste X number of records… make sure that matches the number of records from the
CalPoly section of the checking table.
• Fish Species: Copy only the records that are new from the individual databases to the
final merged database (this list in maintained year to year and simply added to). A list
should exist from procedure 4.
• Angler Information: Copy all records from individual databases to the final merged
database. If you only copy the “new anglers”, you will miss any edits that have been
made to existing anglers (i.e. updated email addresses). Check for duplicates again! A
list should exist from procedure 4.
• Trip Information
• Drift Information
• Caught Fishes
CCFRP master SOP document

How to Map Drifts
1. Create a query for fields from the Drift Information and the Trip Information tables in the
CCFRP Access database. Select fields in query:
a. Drift ID - Drift Information
b. Start Lat, Start Lon, End Lat, End Lon - Drift Information
c. Start Depth, End Depth* - Drift Information
d. Obs. wind speed* - Drift Information
e. Cell_ID* - Drift Information
f. Year - Trip Information
*these fields are helpful to identify position entry errors
2. Define the year of data you would like to map by typing the year in quotes in the criteria for
the year field (e.g. “2019”)
3. Export the query as an .xls file
4. Open the file and remove all spaces, apostrophes and parentheses in the column headers
a. Check for blank entries for start or end lat and lon – NO BLANKS or ZEROS ALLOWED!
b. Make sure the lat, lon columns are formatted as numbers.
5. Open ArcCatalog.
6. Use the XY to Line tool and browse to the table you just created. Define the fields as
follows:

7. Use the Project tool to create a projected drift shapefile. Project the geographic coordinate
system to: WGS_1984_UTM_Zone_10N
8. Open ArcMap.
9. Add the sampling grid cell shapefile and turn on the labels of the grid cells. Confirm the
coordinate system is: WGS_1984_UTM_Zone_10N

CCFRP master SOP document

100

10. Add the projected drift shapefile you created and turn on Drift ID labels to identify mislabeled
drifts.

11. Identify any drifts that are too long or in the wrong location and correct the lat-lon using the
field datasheets.
12. Re-export drifts with corrected lat-lons and remap them with the same methods as above.
13. Zoom in and scroll through the grid cells and drifts one by one. Note any drifts which need to
be excluded from CPUE calculations and change Drift IDs in the database accordingly. Use
the drift exclusion rules below.
Rules for Discarding Drifts
• Drifts that start or end in another grid cell are considered out.
• If a drift is completely out of a grid cell but the start and end are within 25 m of the grid cell
boundary, consider it in.
• If >50% of the drift is outside of the grid cell and it ends >80 m from the cell, consider it out.
Rules for Renaming Drifts
• If a drift is to be thrown out, the Cell ID is changed to the two letter area code followed by
MM for MPA (MO or MN for Point Lobos) or RR for reference (e.g. ANMM or ANRR).
• For the Drift ID, the cell number is changed to two letters (e.g. RR, MM, MO, MN). The drift
number is also changed (within the Drift ID and also in the Drift column). Thrown out drifts
should be renumbered so that the drift that occurred first (use the start time to assess this) is
the first (e.g. MM01) and subsequent drifts follow. The sequence of the drifts that are kept
in that cell are not renumbered (e.g. if 1001 was changed to RR, do not change 1002). We
want the datasheets to match the Drift IDs in the database as much as possible.
• In the Excluded Drift Comment column, write a basic reasoning why the drift was discarded
(e.g. drifted into another cell, no start lat/lon, out of cell). Additionally, the cells former Drift
ID can be copied here for future reference and ease of location in datasheets.

CCFRP master SOP document

101

How to Calculate Drift Length
1. After Drifts have been checked and a final line-shapefile has been created as
described in the above steps, open the attribute table for the drift lines shapefile.
2. Add a new field and name it “Length_m” and set to type ‘Short Integer’. This will
round values in this field to the nearest whole number.

3. Right click the header for “Length_m and select “Calculate Geometry”. Choose
Length with ‘meters’ as the unit. Select OK. The field will now be populated with drift
length estimates.

4. Export this table as a text file, but change the extension to ‘.csv’. This will allow you
to open in Excel and save as an Excel File.
5. Follow same steps in Access that you used to amend the GPS waypoints to
individual fishes
o Import the newly created Drift length CSV/Excel file into Access
o Create a query with the Drift table and the new Drift Length table making sure
to connect the Drift ID fields
o Check that table properties has Recordset Type = ‘Dynaset Inconsistent
Update’ [This is necessary to copy and paste the drift length information]
o Run query and copy and paste the drift length information into the empty drift
length column from the Drifts Table
o Save and delete the temporary Drift lengths table you just imported.
CCFRP master SOP document

102

How to Calculate BPUE (biomass per angler-hour) and CPUE (catch per anglerhour) from the CCFRP Hook and Line Access Database
Extracting Fish Data
1. Run a query in the database to export all fish caught. Select these fields for the query:
a. ID-Cell per Trip (this is our sample unit)
b. Fish ID – in case you find an error and need to go back to a specific fish record in
the database.
c. Species Code
d. Length (cm)
e. Cell ID
f. Excluded Drift Comment. Criteria = “is null”
2. In the query criteria for the Cell ID paste:
<>"AIMM" And <>"AIRR" And <>"ANMM" And <>"ANRR" And <>"BHMM" And
<>"BHRR" And <>"BLMM" And <>"BLRR" And <>"CMMM" And <>"CMRR" And
<>"CPMM" And <>"CPRR" And <>"FNMM" And <>"FNRR" And <>"LBMM" And
<>"LBRR" And <>"LJMM" And <>"LJRR" And <>"PCMM" And <>"PCRR" And
<>"PLMN" And <>"PLMO" And <>"PLRR" And <>"PBMM" And <>"PBRR" And
<>"DRXX" And <>"PRXX" And <>"FNXX" <>"SPMM" And <>"SPRR" And
<>"SWMM" And <>"SWRR" And <>"TMMM" And <>"TMRR"
This excludes all entries of fish that were caught on drifts outside of the CCFRP sampling
grid cells as well as at the Farallon Islands, Duxbury Reef, and Point Reyes.

Run the query and export the caught fishes data to an Excel document: Right click the
query > Export > Excel. Specify name, destination, and formatting preferences.

Open the caught fishes Excel document. Duplicate the sheet; one tab for CPUE and one
tab for BPUE.

Extracting Effort Data
1. Create a new query in the H&L Access database for the drift data. Include these fields:
a. Cell ID, criteria: <>"AIMM" And <>"AIRR" And <>"ANMM" And <>"ANRR" And
<>"BHMM" And <>"BHRR" And <>"BLMM" And <>"BLRR" And <>"CMMM" And
<>"CMRR" And <>"CPMM" And <>"CPRR" And <>"FNMM" And <>"FNRR" And
<>"LBMM" And <>"LBRR" And <>"LJMM" And <>"LJRR" And <>"PCMM" And
<>"PCRR" And <>"PLMN" And <>"PLMO" And <>"PLRR" And <>"PBMM" And
<>"PBRR" And <>"DRXX" And <>"PRXX" And <>"FNXX" <>"SPMM" And
<>"SPRR" And <>"SWMM" And <>"SWRR" And <>"TMMM" And <>"TMRR"
b. Site
c. Year
d. IDCell per trip
e. Total adjusted angler hrs
Before running the query in the Design tab click on the large summation sign button.

CCFRP master SOP document

103

Change the Total row input
under the total adjusted
angler hrs field to “Sum”
rather than “Group by”. This
will sum all the angler-hours
by the IDCell per Trip when
the query is run. (Remember,
IDCell per Trip is our sample
unit.

2. Run the query and export
the drift data to an Excel
document.
Effort queryà

How to Calculate CPUE
1. Return to the fish spreadsheet and use a pivot table or other stats program to sum the
number of each species by IDcell perTrip.
Example of pivot table:

2. Copy and paste the values of the pivot table of fishes to the effort spreadsheet making sure
that each IDCell perTrip matches up. This can be automated in R with the merge function or
in JMP with the join function but you can also sort, paste, and check your work in Excel.
Important: There are some ID cells where no fish are caught and you will need to add those
IDcellper Trip rows in the fish spreadsheet to account for this if you use a pivot table rather
than JMP or R.
CCFRP master SOP document

104

3. Divide the fish caught by the summed angler hours for each IDCell per Trip to calculate
CPUE.
4. For analyses calculate the mean CPUE by Area, Site, and Year and calculate standard error
to create graphs of change in catch rates over time.
How to calculate BPUE
1. Open the caught fishes spreadsheet with lengths.
2. Create a biomass (g) and biomass (kg) column and use the formulas in the “Weight from
Length Equations” Word document for each species to populate the column with biomass
estimates for each fish with a length.

3. Sum the biomass (kg) for each species as well as total biomass for each IDCell per Trip
4. Merge the datasheets of the effort data (adjusted angler hours) with the summed biomass
for each IDcellper Trip and divide each species biomass by the effort.
5. For analyses calculate the mean BPUE by Area, Site, and Year and calculate standard error
to create graphs of change in biomass over time.

Data Analysis Reminders
•
•
•
•

CPUE / BPUE Calculations: Do not include ‘MM’ or ‘RR’ drifts (e.g., those out of the grid
cell). They can use in species compositions and length analyses, however.
Use a page header containing first initial, last name, analysis topic, program used, and date.
o e.g.,C. Barnes Length Whiskerplots by Species (2007-2012) – SPSS 19.0
12 Dec 12
OYT, UKR, UNK, and SMT species codes don’t count toward the total number of species
sampled, since they do not necessarily represent a new species, but one that we’ve already
sampled.
The following species codes are lumped for analyses, due to the lack of confidence in
previous species designations:
o SDB and SSD (Pacific and Speckled Sanddab) – list as “Sanddab – Citharichthys spp.”
o JSM, TSM, and SMT (Jacksmelt, Topsmelt, and Unidentified Silverside) – listed as
“Silversides – Atherinopsidae spp.”

CCFRP master SOP document

105

How to Calculate Tagged Fishes
Often we need to calculate the number of tagged fishes for reporting purposes (e.g., newsletter,
presentations, tag return rate). To do this, the easiest method is:
1. Start a query in the database using 1-Trip Information, 3-Drift Information, and 4-Caught
Fishes tables (make sure the relationships are intact otherwise this won’t work properly).
Include:
a. Trip ID – Trip Information
b. Area – Trip Information
c. Drift ID – Drift Information
d. Fish ID– Caught Fishes
e. Species Code – Caught Fishes
f. Tag ID – Caught Fishes
g. Retained – Caught Fishes
h. Recapture – Caught Fishes
i. Comments – Caught Fishes
2. Before running the query, specify the following conditions:
a. Area: “AN”, “BL”, “PB”, “PL”
b. Tag ID: Is Not Null
c. Retained: False
d. Recapture: False

3. Reasoning for filtering out retained and recaptured fish:
a. Sometimes we tag fishes so that the person keeping the fish for their thesis or project
can identify the data that goes along with them. These fishes are not released so they
should not be contributing to this number.
b. When we recapture a fish, sometimes the fish is given a new tag. When they’re given a
new tag the Tag ID isn’t null but it’s not a new fish to our project, so we don’t want to
double count these fishes.
4. This is the final number of tagged fishes. Most of the databases won’t let you filter by tag
number (because there are far too many tags to do so) so sorting by Tag ID (A to Z) works
well. The records with tags can be copied or sometimes it’s easier to export the whole
Tagged Fishes table and then erase the records that:
a. Tag ID: blank
b. Retained: (True)
c. Recaptures: (True)
CCFRP master SOP document

106

Volunteer Angler Workshop Information
-Each institution is responsible for conducting their own angler appreciation event and data
workshop. Below are some general guidelines that MLML uses to plan their annual event.
6 to 8+ weeks prior to workshop:
• Establish date for workshop
• Reserve meeting space
• Coordinate with science crew and PIs to staff event
• Announce workshop date to volunteers, community, agency staff, etc. MLML likes to
announce the workshop date when sending out the annual volunteer angler newsletter
(January), but the sooner the better so people can plan accordingly. Make sure to request
an RSVP from the guests so that you can plan accordingly for food, prizes, etc.
4 weeks prior to workshop:
• Edit existing volunteer angler workshop powerpoint presentation. Add new
sections/information as you see fit.
• Compile summary statistics for each angler in the following categories:
o Total number of caught fishes (by Angler ID from Caught Fishes table)
o Number of trips (from Angler Information)
o Average number of fish caught per trip (using the above two pieces of information)
o These stats can be organized in a ‘Top 10, 50, 100, etc.’ ranking system. Also, create a
document that has all anglers listed (with the all of the previous statistics) in alphabetical
order so that someone who is not in the Top percentile can still look up their statistics.
When doing this, consider that people may not want their full names on these
documents so use first name and last initial. Be sure to go through and make sure that
there are not duplicates (Bob S. is the same as Robert S. too) and add additional letters
to the last name to be able to distinguish without full names.
• Compile recapture data. Look through the most recent tag return database and the CCFRP
H&L database to cross-reference and be sure that all recaptured fishes are included.
Highlight key tag recaptures in powerpoint presentation.
• Put together a slideshow of angler photos to be displayed as people are coming into the
workshop. It can be of all years, but try to include as many anglers in the photos as possible
(not as many of tagging, descending, science crew, etc.). Once a guest list has been
confirmed, do your best to include photos of people you know will be in attendance. Open
House photos, CCFRP newsletter photos, and website/Facebook photos are good places to
start when searching for photos to use. The photos can be stored in a folder on a flash drive
and put into slideshow mode for viewing (make sure that all photos are properly rotated).
Day before/day of the workshop:
• Purchase ingredients for lunch for workshop attendees (in the past, MLML has done a large
buffet lunch with taco spread); be sure to purchase drinks as well. Enlist other staff to help
prepare/set-up food
• List of items to have on hand (especially if you’re presenting away from campus):
o Powerpoint Presentation
o Projector
o Screen
o Extension cord
o Power strip
o Laser pointer for presentations
o Refreshments
o Thumb drive with slideshow photos
o Angler statistic spreadsheets
CCFRP master SOP document

107

o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o

Tag return spreadsheet
Door prizes (e.g., stickers, etc.)
Raffle prizes (e.g., tshirts, hats, jigs, mugs, bags, etc.)
Raffle tickets
Cup to put raffle tickets in
Drink cooler with ice
Sign-in sheets and clipboard
Outreach info (e.g., info binder, handouts, reference books, Department handbooks)
Student posters (about CCFRP, if applicable)
Name tags
Pens and markers
Push pins
Masking tape
Plates, serving platters, and serving utensils (can borrow from student lounge to reduce
waste)
Clear packaging tape

At the event:
• Arrive 30 to 120 minutes before to set-up (depends on how much food prep, etc. needs to
be done).
• If possible, arrange tables and chairs so that guests are facing each other instead of sitting
in rows facing the screen. This hopefully facilitates conversation and encourages
participation in the workshop.
• Set-up a buffet-style table for the snacks/lunch and drinks with plates, cups, utensils, etc.
• Set-up the outreach information table. Arrange reference books, handouts, CCFRP binder,
and angler guestbook in a way that is inviting for anglers to view. Also display the raffle
prizes here to entice people to wander to this table.
• Ensure that speakers are hooked up and turned on if audio is necessary in any part of the
presentation.
• Set-up a sign in table where you can greet anglers, have them sign in, create a name tag,
give them a raffle ticket, and hand them a door prize. Direct people to the food table,
outreach table, and restrooms while they wait for the workshop to begin (slideshow is
streaming).

CCFRP master SOP document

108

Tag Return Information Log. Please fill out completely as possible.
Initial Call In (At least get this information if you cannot record the rest of log, so that a followup call can be made.) Double check the spelling of their first and last names, phone
numbers, mailing address, and email address before getting off the phone if you are in
doubt.
Caller/ Angler’s Full Name:
Angler’s Phone Number:
Date Called In:
TAG NUMBER:
Photo of fish:
Additional notes:

Fill in this information based on the continued/ follow-up conversation.
Location Caught (Lat/Long)
Use Nautical Landmarks if no
other data are available
Date Caught (also write down
day of the week):
Species of Fish:
Length of Fish:
Overall Apparent Health of Fish:
Health of Tag Insertion Site:
Tag Color, Biofouling?:
Water Depth Caught In:
Additional Trip/ Fish Comments
(caught on a CPFV, which?
Marks on fish anywhere?)
Fish Retained by Angler?:
Angler Interested in a Tag
Return Information Sheet?:
(Get mailing or email address)
Angler Wants $20 Reward?:
(Get mailing address & SSN)
Mailing Address:
Social Security # (if needed
by accounts payable):
Working Email Address:
Photo of fish (send them an
email so they can reply)
Over to see tips on talking with the tag return reporter.
CCFRP master SOP document

109

Conversation Notes
Be sure to:
• Identify yourself and the project- the California Collaborative Fisheries Research Program
(CCFRP).
• Thank them for reporting their tagged fish, and assure them that each call-in is an important
data point for our work.
• If they are requesting an informational flyer, assure them that they should get it in about a
week or two. (Be sure to give the preparer enough time to make the sheet and send it out!)
• If they are requesting the $20 reward (if applicable, will vary by group), ask them to contact
us again if they do not receive the check within three weeks. Be sure to submit the payment
request.
• If they want to know about the project, share what you do know about it. If they have more
questions, ask them to check out our website.
• Double check the spelling of their first and last names, phone numbers, mailing
address, and especially the email address before you get off the phone, if there are
any doubts!

CCFRP master SOP document

110

File Type	application/pdf
File Modified	0000-00-00
File Created	2022-12-13