To improve the efficiency of hairtail trolling, it is important to gain an accurate understanding of the distribution of fish based on their diurnal vertical migration patterns. This study evaluated the vertical distribution of hairtails through catch efficiency tests using vertical longlines. Five replicate tests of the efficiency were carried out on the eastern coast of Jeju Island from August to September 2016, from 11:00 AM to 03:00 PM in the daytime and 11:00 PM to 03:00 AM in the nighttime. The fishing gear was composed of 20 hooks per line set, numbered in order from the first hook near the surface to the last hook on the seabed. The depth of the first hook was 18 m, and that of the last hook was 86 m. Pacific saury was used as the baits. In total, 10 sets of fishing gear were used per trip. After fishing, we counted the hairtails at each numbered hook, which were summed up both by number and in aggregate. A total of 232 hairtails were caught using 2,000 hooks: 193 individuals at daytime and 39 at nighttime. The hook rate was 11.5% : 9.6% at daytime; 2.0% at nighttime. For both daytime and nighttime catches, there were variations in the hook rates at each numbered hook. In the daytime, a maximum of 28.5% catches occurred at hook number 18, followed by 21.4% at number 20, and 10.7% at number 17, accounting for 60.6% of the daytime hook rates. In the nighttime, a maximum of 23.0% catches occurred at hook number 1, followed by 15.3% at hook number 4 and 9, accounting for 53.6% of the nighttime hook rate. Based on the above results, hairtails are usually distributed in deeper region in daytime, whereas they occur near the surface in nighttime. Therefore, it is necessary to position trolling lines according to diurnal vertical distribution layers of hairtails for fishing efficiency.

This study carried out an experiment to find out the reaction of hairtail, Trichinus lepturus to the colors of LED light as a basic study on the development of the trolling gear and a method to enable the day-night operation. We used hairtails caught around Seongsan-po, Jeju Island by set nets and hairtail angling. The seven hairtails of the average length 68.9 cm (SD 9.2 cm) and the average weight 135.9 g (SD 47.9 g) were adapted themselves in the experimental water tank, 15 m Self-Governing 1.7 m in height and 1.5 m in depth, and then they were studied. We conducted experiment at the Ocean and Fisheries Research Institute in Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, from November to December 2015, and the sea surface temperature was between 16.5 and 19.5℃. The four colors of LED light, blue, white, green and red, were set up to transmit downward from the marginal area of tank. The 1 meter depth light intensity of LED colors is as follows: 0.09 w/m2/s (blue), 0.18 w/m2/s (white), 0.04 w/m2/s (green) and 0.007 w/m2/s(red) To know the optimum LED color light, we selected one with better reaction rate after comparison of two colors simultaneously and the selected color was again compared to the other color in a tournament style two times a day (day and night) and ten times totally. The reaction rates were shown as the frequencies of hairtail appearance for 5 minutes in the lighting zone after turning on the LED lights. The reaction rate of the blue was at 97% unlike the red 3% (p < 0.001). The blue was at 75% unlike the green at 25% (p < 0.001). The blue was at 67% unlike the white at 33% (p < 0.001). Therefore, the color of light source showing the highest reaction rate was the blue.