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Note: Session titles beginning with an asterisk (*) have student presenters.
AUTHORS: Nick Trippel, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; John Hargrove, University of Florida; Wes Porak, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; Erin Leone, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
ABSTRACT: Nesting black bass Micropterus spp exhibit parental care during the spring spawning season. Anglers often intentionally target black bass that are guarding nests. Previous studies of black bass have shown that catching fish off of nests will increase predation of eggs and larvae, which can reduce individual nest success. Little work has been done to evaluate whether this indirect fishing-associated mortality could influence population level recruitment. During this study, nine replicate ponds were stocked with adult Florida bass, forage fish, nest predators, brush piles, and vertical structure were placed into the ponds to simulate a natural system during two consecutive years. Ponds were snorkeled every other day throughout the spawning season to track nest success and abandonment. In five of the ponds, every nest located was angled. No angling was conducted on the other four control ponds each year. Nest success rates were 52% for fished ponds and 45% for unfished ponds during year one and 36% and 57% in year two respectively . During year one the average number of adults contributing to the yearclass produced was similar between fished and unfished ponds. Ponds were drained nine months after stocking in order to compare young-of-the-year recruitment between fished and unfished ponds. During both years there was no significant difference in the number of recruits produced between fished and unfished ponds. Results from this study indicate that in Florida bed fishing likely does not negatively impact year class production.
Tuesday October 31, 2017 2:20pm - 2:40pm EDT
French