Size-Specific Angling Return Rates of White Bass in Kansas Reservoirs

Abstract

The size selectivity of angling for white bass Morone chrysops in Kansas reservoirs was evaluated through a 3-year tagging study on five reservoirs. Nearly 6,500 white bass were tagged with Floy FD-94 anchor tags, and tag return postcards were used to quantify size-specific angling return rates. The range for length of fish tagged was 200–573 mm, and the range for length of fish recaptured was 225–492 mm. Size selectivity was similar for male and female white bass between 230 and 460 mm. Larger white bass, particularly males, may be more vulnerable to angling exploitation, but small sample sizes of these fish (0.5% of fish tagged in this study were greater than 450 mm) hinder confirmation of this supposition. Return rates suggest that length limits lower than 300 mm may be ineffective for restructuring white bass populations and would provide little benefit to anglers.