Dijar J. Lutz-Carrillo

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) began the ShareLunker program (currently sponsored by Toyota) in 1986 to promote public involvement in the management of trophy largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides; LMB) fisheries in Texas. The program provides anglers an opportunity to donate trophy LMB (≥ 5.9 kg) to a selective breeding and stocking program managed by TPWD, with the goal of increasing the production of trophy-sized fish in Texas reservoirs. Although the program was known to be successful at promoting trophy LMB fishing in Texas, it was not known whether selective breeding...

Studies assessing whether there are differences in angling susceptibility between northern largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides salmoides (NLMB) and Florida largemouth bass M. s. floridanus, (FLMB) have typically been conducted at small study sites and have produced inconsistent results. Thus it is unclear how these results translate to natural populations, particularly those in large bodies of water. We evaluated the genetic composition (seven microsatellite loci) of angled and electrofished collections of LMB from five Texas reservoirs and related these results to angling...

Reports of extensive hybridization among black bass species throughout North America as well as anecdotal information from anglers led to an investigation of the possibility of hybridization between Alabama bass (M. henshalli) and both subspecies of largemouth bass (M. salmoides salmoides and M. s. floridanus) in Alan Henry Reservoir, Texas. Fish were collected and identified by field staff and then by using genetic markers. Results suggested no hybridization had occurred between Alabama bass and largemouth bass in Alan Henry Reservoir; however, genetic markers did reveal...