Response of anglers to a differential harvest regulation on three black bass species in an Oklahoma reservoir

Randy G. Hyler¹ and William L. Fisher²
Oklahoma Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Unit, 404 Life Sciences West,
Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, 405/744-6342 (voice), 405/744-5006 (fax), ¹hyler@okstate.edu; ²wfisher@okstate.edu

Keywords: creel survey, harvest, largemouth, smallmouth, spotted bass

We used a two-stage probability roving creel survey in Skiatook Lake, Oklahoma to estimate angler catch, harvest, effort and knowledge about a differential black bass harvest regulation. The regulation, implemented in 1997 because of a large increase in the abundance of the spotted bass allows for the harvest of largemouth and smallmouth bass over 14 inches with a daily creel limit of 6 fish while the daily creel limit for spotted bass is 15 fish of any size. Fishing effort decreased slightly in 1998 compared to 1997 while catch and harvest rates remained similar between years. Fifty-five percent of the anglers were aware of the regulation change in 1997 and 1998. Significantly higher percentage of anglers could identify spotted bass by feeling for a tooth patch on their tongue and smallmouth bass by their external body coloration in 1998 compared to 1997. A significantly smaller percentage of anglers reported that they would increase their effort and harvest directed at spotted bass in 1998 compared to 1997 while anglers opinions of the regulation change and angler satisfaction levels remained between years. Data from the 1999 creel season are currently being analyzed. This regulation change has been ineffective to date.