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Effects of a Catch‐and‐Release Regulation on a Wild Trout Population in Colorado and Its Acceptance by Anglers
Author(s) -
Anderson Richard M.,
Nehring R. Barry
Publication year - 1984
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 - 10.1577/1548-8659(1984)4<257:eoacro>2.0.co;2
Subject(s) - trout , salmo , brown trout , rainbow trout , stocking , fishery , catch and release , population , fishing , hectare , trophy , biology , electrofishing , zoology , fish <actinopterygii> , geography , ecology , demography , recreational fishing , sociology , archaeology , agriculture
From 1979 to 1982, the trout population of the catch‐and‐release area on the South Platte River was dominated by rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri, had a biomass as high as 667 kg/hectare, and 50% of the trout were greater than 30 cm long. In contrast, the trout population of an area with standard regulations (eight trout per day) was dominated by brown trout (Salmo trutta), had a maximum biomass of 219 kg/hectare, and only 17% of the population were longer than 30 cm. The difference in trout population characteristics was attributed to the harvest rates of the respective areas. Rainbow trout were found to be more vulnerable to angling than brown trout, and Age 3 + and older trout were more exploited than young/smaller fish. Catch rates averaged 48% greater in the catch‐and‐release area than in the standard‐regulation section that had the benefit of catchable‐trout stocking. The catch rate of trophy‐sized trout (longer than 38 cm) was 28 times greater in the catch‐and‐release area than in the harvest area.