The largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) fishery and population structure at Victor Braunig Reservoir, Texas, were monitored from 1985 through 1992 following changes in harvest restrictions from 254-mm minimum length and 10 fish daily bag limits to 533-minimum length and 2 fish daily bag limits. Harvest rates were significantly reduced under the more restrictive limits and averaged 0.002 fish/angler-hour. Mean weight of harvested fish increased from 0.85 kg to 3.22 kg. Total catch rates ranged from 0.145 to 0.650 fish/angler-hour; the weighted mean annual catch rate during the study was 0.337 fish/angler-hour. Catch rates of fish ≥533 mm averaged 0.004 fish/angler-hour. Proportions of larger fish in the creel increased throughout the study. Electrofishing surveys showed increases in relative proportions of fish ≥381 mm, and relative abundance of fish ≥203 mm increased after 1989. Mean lengths-at-capture of age-1 fish declined, but relative weights remained above 100 for fish of all sizes. Results suggested relatively few largemouth bass recruited to lengths ≥533 mm. Under the experimental regulations, the largemouth bass fishery failed to provide anticipated catch rates of trophy (≥3.2 kg) fish, but did provide a quality catch-and-release fishery in terms of weight of fish caught per hour.
