Response of Anglers to a
Differential Harvest Regulation on Three Black Bass Species in an Oklahoma Reservoir
Randy G. Hyler and William L. Fisher, Oklahoma
Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Unit, 404 Life Sciences West, Oklahoma State University,
Stillwater, Oklahoma 74078; Voice 405-744-6342; FAX 405-744-5006; E-Mail hyler@okstate.edu, wfisher@okstate.edu
Keywords: creel survey, anglers specialization, 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. In 1997 all anglers fished 677,377 hours,
black bass anglers caught (and harvested) approximately 63,329 (2,703) largemouth bass,
10,470 (0) smallmouth bass, and 46,885 (3,946) spotted bass. Occasional bass anglers were
not as well informed of the regulation change as tournament anglers and could not identify
spotted bass as well as other bass anglers. Similarly occasional crappie anglers were not
as well informed of the regulation change as devoted crappie anglers and, a higher percent
of these anglers reported they would keep the bass the caught that day as compared to
other crappie anglers. Data from the 1998 creel season are currently being analyzed.
Response by anglers to the regulation change seems to be related to the intensity of their
fishing effort.
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