Factors related to angler catch of trophy largemouth bass in texas reservoirs

Abstract

We used angler catch reports of largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department angler recognition programs to determine if catch occurrence of trophy fish (≥5.9 kg) was greater in reservoirs stocked with fingerling Florida largemouth bass M. s. floridanus (FLMB) than in non-stocked reservoirs. We also compared trophy fish catch occurrence between reservoirs having the standard 356-mm minimum length harvest limit to reservoirs having a more restrictive length limit, and evaluated the relation of catch occurrence to reservoir age, surface area, shoreline development index (SDI), latitude, longitude, FLMB stocking frequency and density. Catch occurrence of trophy fish was significantly greater in FLMB-stocked reservoirs (29%) than in non-stocked reservoirs (4%). Probability of trophy largemouth bass catch occurrence in FLMB-stocked reservoirs increased with reservoir SDI, decreased with reservoir age, and was greater for reservoirs managed with special harvest regulations (high minimum length, protective slot, and no-harvest restrictions) than for reservoirs managed with the statewide standard minimum size. Our study indicated that introduction of FLMB into Texas reservoirs yielded greater trophy largemouth bass potential and suggested that differences in trophy potential among FLMB-stocked reservoirs are likely more a function of differing reservoir habitat than differences in FLMB stocking frequency and density. © 2005 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.