Thomas R. Champeau

Angler survey data indicated that voluntary release rates for largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) ranged from 8% to 85% for 11 Florida lakes surveyed during 1989 with a mean of 40%. Nine lakes surveyed during the past decade showed an increase in voluntary release, indicating the practice may be becoming more popular. Lake Tarpon anglers released 85% of their bass catch, and 97% of those anglers stated conservation was the reason for not keeping fish. No harvest of bass <30 em was documented at Lake Tarpon, which supports the notion that in Florida most anglers release smaller bass...

The effectiveness of a catch-and-release regulation for largemouth bass (Mieropterus salmoides) was assessed from 1982 to 1987 at Webb Lake, Florida. The objective was to prevent rapid overharvest of bass and maintain high angler success rates in this new 158-ha lake. Prior to opening the lake to public fishing, experimental angling for largemouth bass resulted in catch rates (C/E) averaging 3.3 fish/ hour. During 30 months of public fishing, the average C/E dropped to 1.3 fish/hour. Decreases in largemouth bass biomass estimates, population density, and proportional stock density...

Otolith aging was utilized to evaluate age structure and survival of hybrid striped bass stocked in 5 central Florida lakes. Age VI and age VII hybrids collected during the study represent the oldest yet collected in Florida. High survival rates of ages 0, I, and II were observed in all lakes. Lakes stocked for more than 4 years had low survival of hybrids older than age II. It is possible that adding hybrids in a lake on an annual basis may lead to overstocking. Alternative stocking practices are being investigated.