Impacts of small club tournaments on black bass populations in Connecticut and the effects of regulation exemptions

Annual tournament-associated mortality of largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides and smallmouth bass M. dolomieu (greater than or equal to 30 cm) was quantified at Mansfield Hollow Reservoir and Gardner Lake, Connecticut, during 2001 and 2002 to determine the effects of tournaments on black bass populations. Nontournament and tournament anglers followed a 30-cm minimum length limit during both years. Tournament anglers-but not nontournament anglers-were exempt from new, more restrictive regulations (a 30-41-cm protected slot length limit at Mansfield Hollow Reservoir; a 41-cm minimum length limit at Gardner Lake) imposed in 2002. Annual tournament-associated mortality of largemouth bass was 2.4-8.4% of total annual mortality, 1.0-3.2% of the population size, and 2.0-20.8% of annual fishing mortality. For smallmouth bass, tournament-associated mortality was approximately 7% of total annual mortality, 4% of the population size, and 29-52% of annual fishing mortality. Based on the levels of total annual mortality, annual fishing mortality, and annual tournament-associated mortality, impacts of tournament angling appeared low in these two lakes. Tournament-associated impacts would have been lower if anglers were prohibited from exemptions. If exemptions were prohibited year-round or only during the summer, 80-94% of the tournament catch would have been immediately released. Relative to fishing effort, tournament anglers in Connecticut contributed a greater proportion of annual fishing mortality than nontournament anglers. In lakes where tournament-associated mortality is high, prohibiting exemptions (especially during summer) may help to reduce tournament-associated mortality. In lakes with low tournament impacts, allowing exemptions (except during summer) may protect tournament angling opportunities for most of the fishing season, while at the same time decreasing tournament-associated mortality during the warmest months.