Catch trends fitted for selected groups of demersal fishes and' all fish' in the zone from 15°40´N to 10⁰40' N revealed that an increasing trend could be expected for all the groups. Estimations of MSY and optimum fishing intensities also indicated that the stocks of these groups could stand 3.5-5.0'times increase in fishing pressure and yield 22-59% more catch. However, available information on commercial fishing suggests that the scope for increasing the yield is marginal. The reason for this difference in the results is discussed with a view to understand the exact status of the fishery potential off Madras.