Evaluation of {In Situ} Sampling Techniques for Long Term Monitoring of Hard Bottom Reef Fish Assemblages in the South Atlantic Bight ABSTRACT: A permanent study site was established on a representative ledge feature in the Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary to implement a long term study of the ichthyofaunal assemblage. Three different visual sampling techniques (point counts, transect swims, video transects) were employed to determine the most efficient and precise method for use in the duration of the study. Three trained observers conducted preliminary sampling through 22 SCUBA dives with a total sampling time of 9.3 hours. Repeated sampling on successive days was performed to test precision and replicate counts between and among observers were collected to determine observer effects on the data. Point counts identified the greatest number of species and individuals by effort. Video transects identified significantly fewer species and individuals of all methods. Similarity values were calculated for observations between and among observers. Between observer similarity was generally highest with the transect method when considering all species. Point counts had the greatest similarity when the species list was separated into groups based on behavior. Shannon diversity indices were generated for each method. Three additional sampling periods in different seasons will be conducted to assess each methods ability to reflect temporal variation in the assemblage. KEYWORDS: South Atlantic Bight, Gray's Reef, visual fish censusing, point counts, transects, video transects AUTHORS: Score, David. AFFILIATIONS: (DS) Department of Biology, GSU, Statesboro, GA 30406 USA; Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary, 10 Ocean Science Circle, Savannah, GA 31411 USA Conference:76th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, New Orleans, LA (USA), 13-19 Jun 1996. (World Meeting Number 962 0279)