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Article
Tournament and non-tournament anglers have little effect on a largemouth bass population compared to natural mortality
Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
  • Andrea Sylvia, Iowa State University
  • Stephen J. Dinsmore, Iowa State University
  • Michael J. Weber, Iowa State University
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Accepted Manuscript
Publication Date
4-15-2021
DOI
10.1139/cjfas-2020-0442
Abstract

Popularity of bass Micropterus spp. catch and release and tournament angling during the past decade has resulted in increased potential for these activities to induce population level effects. Understanding capture rates and mortality sources relative to total population mortality is essential to focus of management. We conducted monthly electrofishing, solicited nontournament angler tag returns, and censused largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides tournaments at Brushy Creek Lake, IA, USA from April 2015 to June 2018. We used a multistate mark-recapture model to evaluate the effects of air temperature, water temperature, tournament bass per angler, and tournament initial mortality on non-tournament and tournament angler capture probability and natural, non-tournament angling, and initial and delayed tournament mortality. Average total annual mortality was 0.66 with natural mortality representing the largest mortality source (0.57) followed by delayed tournament mortality (0.06), non-tournament angling mortality (0.02), and initial tournament mortality (0.006). Our results reveal both non-tournament and tournament angling mortality are low compared to natural mortality in some lakes. Therefore, cumulative angling mortality likely has minimal population level effects on some bass populations.

Comments

This is a manuscript of an article published as Sylvia, Andrea L., Stephen J. Dinsmore, and Michael J. Weber. "Tournament and non-tournament anglers have little effect on a largemouth bass population compared to natural mortality." Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (2021). doi:10.1139/cjfas-2020-0442.

Copyright Owner
The author(s) or their institution(s)
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Andrea Sylvia, Stephen J. Dinsmore and Michael J. Weber. "Tournament and non-tournament anglers have little effect on a largemouth bass population compared to natural mortality" Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (2021)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/stephen_dinsmore/120/