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The following schedule is subject to change (as of October 11, 2016). Please check back for updates. For more information about this meeting, go to: www.seafwa.org/conferences/2016
AUTHORS: Tomas J. Ivasauskas, Wilson N. Xiong, Augustin C. Engman, Jesse R. Fischer - North Carolina State University Department of Applied Ecology; Thomas J. Kwak, North Carolina State University Department of Applied Ecology, U.S. Geological Survey, North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit; Kirk R. Rundle, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
ABSTRACT: Urban fisheries provide unique angling opportunities for people with limited transportation and from traditionally underrepresented demographics. Prior studies have shown that these fisheries differ from rural counterparts in terms of factors affecting angler satisfaction, as well as effort and harvest rates. Lake Raleigh is a 38-ha impoundment located on North Carolina State University campus in Raleigh; little is known about angler use and satisfaction or how angling success relates to fish availability in this urban fishery. We simultaneously characterized the Lake Raleigh recreational fishery and sport fish assemblage with an angler survey and boat electrofishing in 2015. In total, 197 anglers were interviewed over 68 occasions. Pulsed-DC boat electrofishing was conducted on 25 dates, and 1,985 fish were sampled. On average, anglers spent 1.6 hours fishing per trip and caught 0.24 fish per hour. Forty-six percent of anglers targeted multiple species, 34% targeted Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides, 11% targeted catfish (bullhead catfishes and Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus), and 9% targeted panfish (e.g., Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus, Black Crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus). A majority of anglers surveyed (73%) were satisfied with their experience, and satisfaction was not related to catch rate. Angler catch rate was not related to electrofishing catch rate, indicating that anglers’ success was independent of fish density. The addition of fish attractor structures did not have an immediate effect on angling or electrofishing catch rates. Our results highlight the unique preferences and behaviors of urban anglers, and demonstrate that even minimally managed urban fisheries can provide high angler satisfaction.
Tuesday October 18, 2016 3:20pm - 3:40pm CDT
Riverview A
