Population and Fishery Characteristics of White Bass in Four Large Missouri Reservoirs

Abstract

The population and fishery characteristics of white bass Morone chrysops were determined for four large Missouri reservoirs to help establish meaningful objectives for white bass fisheries. The growth of white bass in Table Rock and Bull Shoals lakes was faster and a higher proportion of fish were larger than 380 mm than in Pomme de Terre Lake and Lake of the Ozarks. Age-4 white bass exceeded 400 mm at Table Rock and Bull Shoals lakes and averaged about 370 mm in the other two. When gender differences in growth could be examined, female white bass grew faster than males in Pomme de Terre Lake and Lake of the Ozarks and were 12–20 mm longer than males for ages 3 and older. Mean relative weights were at least 90 in all reservoirs and exceeded 100 in Table Rock and Bull Shoals lakes. The age structures of white bass populations were similar among all four reservoirs; fish up to age 7 were present, but there was a sharp decline in abundance after age 4. Variable recruitment strongly affected size and age structure in all reservoirs. Total annual mortality, calculated from consecutive years of gill netting, was about 40% through age 4 and 80% thereafter. Tagging studies at Pomme de Terre Lake and Lake of the Ozarks indicated that angler exploitation rates varied annually, ranging from about 15% to 35%. Creel surveys indicated that anglers released most white bass less than 230 mm and that white bass were first harvested at age 1 toward the end of their second growing season. When compared with fish in other reservoirs in southern states, the white bass in these reservoirs exhibited good growth and had moderate rates of total mortality and exploitation.