Largemouth Bass Annual Exploitation in Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge, Arkansas as Determined by a Tag-Reward Study

D. Colton Dennis*
Arkansas Game & Fish Commission P.O. Box 110 Camden, AR 71711, Phone # (870) 836-4612 Ext.11; Fax # (870) 836-6508; e-mail cdennis@agfc.state.ar.us

Steve Lochmann
Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Pine Bluff, Arkansas 71601 Phone # (870) 543-8165; Fax # (870) 543-8124; e-mail slochmann@uaex.edu

Currently, there is a concern with an apparent lack of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) exceeding 51 cm or 2.27 kg in Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge (FNWR) reservoir, a 15,000-acre impoundment in south central Arkansas. Refuge anglers have reported annual fish die-offs during the summer months. Analysis of electrofishing data revealed that RSD-P was at the low end of the acceptable range and tournament data indicated a recent decrease in the number of tournaments in which the largest bass was greater than 2.27 kg. During November 1997, a 1-year tag-reward study was initiated in FNWR reservoir to quantify exploitation. A total of 519 bass were captured, tagged with a small, PDB-type Hallprint dart tag, and released. The annual exploitation rate was adjusted for tagging mortality, tag loss, and non-reporting of tagged fish. Anglers harvested a high percentage (76%) of tagged largemouth bass. This was reflected in an annual exploitation rate (u) of 46%. Total annual mortality (A) is being calculated based on cove rotenone and electrofishing data in FNWR. Using this data, we will compare the criteria for implementing a regulation change based on the Arkansas Largemouth Bass Management Plan and MOCPOP.