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Stocking Subadult Largemouth Bass to Meet Angler Expectations at Carr Creek Lake, Kentucky
Author(s) -
Buynak Gerard L.,
Mitchell Bill,
Michaelson Dan,
Frey Kevin
Publication year - 1999
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 - 10.1577/1548-8675(1999)019<1017:sslbtm>2.0.co;2
Subject(s) - micropterus , stocking , fishery , bass (fish) , biology , acre , agronomy
In response to angler dissatisfaction with the fishery for largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides at Carr Creek Lake, minimum length limits were increased in 1991 from 12.0 to 15.0 in and pellet‐reared subadult largemouth bass (mean length = 11.4−12.4 in) were stocked beginning in 1993. Anglers expected catch rates of 12.0 in and larger largemouth bass to increase from 0.24 to 1.18 fish/h and harvest rates to increase from 0.01 to 0.06 fish/h. Fin‐clipped largemouth bass were stocked during the fall of 1993 and 1994 and in the spring of 1996 and 1997 at densities of 9.9–10.2 fish/acre. The stocked largemouth bass resulted in an immediate increase in both the population and the catch‐and‐release portion of the angler's creel. Angler catch rates differed with the time of the year fish were stocked. Angler catch‐rate expectations were approached by spring stockings (1.01 fish/h) but not from the fall‐stocked fish (0.58 fish/h). Harvest rates did not increase as a result of the stocking program. Survival of stocked largemouth bass was reduced by illegal harvest and by mortality from the catch and release of the highly vulnerable stocked bass. Stocked largemouth bass did not increase fish harvest, but did result in a cost–benefit ratio of 1:9 for the catch and release fishery. Stocking of subadult largemouth bass protected by a minimum length limit has angler catch‐and‐release benefits, but subadult bass must be stocked annually for benefits to continue. Stocking programs such as this should be considered only for social reasons because long‐term improvements did not occur to either the fishery or the population.