Effect of bait types and shapes on catch composition and diversity of fish pot in Bandar Lengeh waters (Persian Gulf)

Multispecies fishing is one of the traditional pots characteristics (Gargoor). The aim of this study was comparison of bait types (sardine, cuttlefish and catfish) and the bait shapes (pieces and minced), and their effects on catch composition, using eighty-four Gargoors (14 treatments and 6 replicates) in 2 stations located near-shore (4 miles) and off-shore (11 miles) of Gasheh beach (Lengeh Port) with soaking time of 24 hours. Results showed that the bait types had significant effect on frequency of Epinephelus coioides, Pinjalo pinjalo, Lutjanus johnii, Pomadasys Kaakan, Otolithes ruber and Argyrops spinifer. Epinephelus coioides had the highest frequency in both stations. The highest catch frequency was observed for cuttlefish and sardine baits and the lowest was observed for catfish bait. Regarding the comparison of biodiversity indices, Margalef index (D) revealed no significant difference among seasons in both stations. Evenness index (J) showed significant difference among seasons only in near-shore station, but for Shannon index (H’) significant difference was observed among seasons in both stations. Consequently, sardine in spring and cuttlefish in winter as bait had the best efficiency. In addition, because of low efficiency, using of catfish as bait is not recommended.