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Effects of Ingestion of Soft Plastic Fishing Lures on Largemouth Bass
Author(s) -
Sanft Eric J.,
Porreca Anthony P.,
Parkos Joseph J.,
Detmer Thomas M.,
Wahl David H.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
north american journal of fisheries management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.587
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1548-8675
pISSN - 0275-5947
DOI - 10.1002/nafm.10067
Subject(s) - micropterus , ingestion , bass (fish) , predation , biology , fishery , catch and release , fishing , toxicology , zoology , ecology , recreational fishing , biochemistry
Soft plastic lures ( SPL s) may comprise a significant amount of fishing gear pollution, yet little is known about their environmental impacts in aquatic systems or their ingestion by fish. We tested whether shape and material composition of ingested SPL s influenced subsequent prey consumption by Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides after SPL ingestion. We also quantified the occurrence of SPL ingestion by Largemouth Bass in reservoirs. Biodegradable and nonbiodegradable versions of shad, ribbon‐tail worm, and finesse worm SPL s were fed to Largemouth Bass, and consumption of natural prey was quantified 1 d and 1 week postingestion. Shape and material composition altered prey consumption by Largemouth Bass. Fish that ingested the shad SPL , the largest lure by volume, consumed the fewest number of prey 1 d postingestion. Ingestion of biodegradable SPL s resulted in lower prey consumption rates than ingestion of nonbiodegradable SPL s. Largemouth Bass typically expelled the SPL within 9 d of ingestion; all lures were either regurgitated or egested. Less than 1% of Largemouth Bass sampled in two Illinois reservoirs had SPL s in their stomachs. Our results suggest that discarded SPL s do not pose a significant long‐term threat to the health of individual Largemouth Bass. However, SPL s should still be discarded in a responsible manner.