Fish quality changes under two fisheries management plans.

Abstract

Fishing has become a very popular recreational activity in the United States. A change from fishing for food to fishing for recreation has created the demand for improved-quality sport fisheries. Comparison of relative weight (Wr) and weight of five fish species were made to distinguish changes in fish quality during two different management plans at a 72.9 hectare lake in Woodson County Kansas. Wr represents an index of condition calculated by dividing the weight of a fish by a length-specified standard weight for that species (Murphy and Willis, 1996) Data collected during management monitoring (spring electro fishing and fall netting) in 1980-1983 and 19951998 were used for the study. Supplemental feeding and selective harvest regulations were the main changes that occurred between the study periods. Fish quality increased significantly during the 1995-1998 study period over the 1980-1983 period. Creel census data supports the findings, showing an increase in average size harvested, total harvest, and total number harvested. A recreational fishery that emphasizes the optimum sustained yield concept can be created with appropriate fisheries management methods.