Timothy F. Bonvechio

Anglers have become increasingly interested in pursuing trophy largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), but creating and maintaining such fisheries are often challenging. We used a low-density stocking of female-only largemouth bass in combination with forage species stocking and a catch-and-release regulation to create a trophy fishery in a 43-ha Georgia impoundment. Initial stocking of age-1 female largemouth bass occurred in spring 2005, and the population was dominated by fish ≥457 mm total length (TL) within four years. A total of 180 largemouth bass were collected in 2012; 34.4 %...

We described and compared population dynamics of introduced flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris) between the Satilla River, Georgia, and the Little Pee Dee River, South Carolina. Both of these Atlantic coastal plain rivers are blackwater, low productivity systems that historically supported popular redbreast sunfish (Lepomis auritus) fisheries. Flathead catfish have been established in the Little Pee Dee River since the late 1970s or early 1980s, whereas the species was introduced into the Satilla River in the mid 1990s. Both populations are managed differently by their respective state...

Crappies (Pomoxis spp.) are popular sportfish, but can be difficult to manage due to erratic recruitment and variable growth. In this study, we document the population dynamics of a white crappie (P. annularis) population in a small impoundment characterized by low predator density and abundant populations of several forage species. White crappies (n=301) were collected by electrofishing in October 2012. Relative abundance as indexed by electrofishing catch per unit effort of crappie was high (103.3 fish h^-1 ± 18.7 SD). A sub-sample was aged (n = 153) and growth was described...

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the population dynamics of bowfin (Amia calva) in Lake Lindsay Grace, Georgia, and to compare those dynamics to other bowfin populations. Relative abundance of bowfin sampled in 2010 in Lake Lindsay Grace was low and variable (mean±SD; 2.7±4.7 fish per hour of electrofishing). Total length (TL) of bowfin collected in Lake Lindsay Grace varied from 233-683 mm. Age of bowfin in Lake Lindsay Grace varied from 0-5 yr. Total annual mortality (A) was estimated at 68%. Both sexes appeared to be fully mature by age 2 with gonadosomatic index values...

Recent studies on largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) fisheries indicate fishing mortality has declined significantly due to voluntary catch-and-release practices by anglers. We evaluated the relative abundance, growth, mortality, and exploitation of largemouth bass in three Georgia small impoundments. To assess exploitation, 100 largemouth bass were tagged during spring 2010 in Lake Lindsay Grace and Hugh M. Gillis Public Fishing Area and during spring 2011 in Dodge County Public Fishing Area. Monetary rewards for tag returns were either US$5 or $105 per fish, and these values were...

Blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) were first detected in the Altamaha River, Georgia, during an access creel survey in 2005 and subsequently in 2006 during annual ictalurid sampling. Introduction of this species in the Altamaha River is believed to have occurred via escape from normal upstream reservoir releases from Lake Sinclair and Lake Oconee. Relative abundance, as indexed by electrofishing catch rate (fish per hour), has increased from 2.9 ± 1.0 SE in 2006 to 38.8 ± 8.2 SE in 2011. The size of blue catfish captured ranged from 56 to 820 mm total length and 0.001 to 7.7 kg. Using...

A standardized sampling dataset collected from 1991-2007 on the Satilla River, Georgia, was used to document changes in bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus), largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), and redbreast sunfish (L. auritus) populations after the introduction of flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris). Repeated measures ANOVA was conducted incorporating a control area, where flathead catfish abundance is extremely low, and a flathead area, where flathead catfish have become well established, for both before (1991-1995) and after (1996-2007) flathead invasion. The analyses revealed...