Use of a Volunteer Angler Survey for Assessing Length Distribution and Seasonal Catch Trends of Trophy Largemouth Bass

Abstract

A volunteer angler survey was conducted from October 2004 to May 2006 at Fayette County Reservoir, Texas, to help determine the seasonal catch trends and length distribution of trophy (≥21 in long) largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides. Although previous Texas Parks and Wildlife creel and electrofishing surveys had collected data on the reservoir's largemouth bass fishery, little information was obtained on trophy bass. Quarterly catch and length distribution data from a volunteer angler survey were compared with data collected concurrently during an agency-staffed creel survey as a means to validate the volunteered data. The costs associated with each survey method were also compared. Anglers voluntarily reported catches of 177 trophy largemouth bass during the 20-month survey period. The length distributions by inch-group 21 in or longer were not significantly different between survey methods, validating the fish lengths reported by volunteers. The quarterly catch trends over a 1-year period were also similar between methods. The monetary costs of the 20-month volunteer survey were 16% those of the 12-month staffed creel survey. Managers should consider similar volunteer surveys on small impoundments when relatively low-cost length distribution and catch trend data are needed for trophy fish. Volunteer data may help justify the cost associated with additional creel surveys when more extensive data are needed. This information can also be used to complement data gathered in previous creel surveys.