Impacts of Competitive Angling Tournaments on Largemouth Bass Populations
Competitive angling tournaments are a popular form of recreational fishing, representing an effective use of fisheries resources with more than 30,000 tournaments held annually in the US. Largemouth bass are the most popular target species for angling tournaments. Many aspects associated with traditional angling tournaments have the potential to impart negative impacts on fish. Given the popularity of these events, managers raise concerns surrounding the population-level impacts of tournament angling. The goal of this study was to define the influence of angling tournaments, with an emphasis on post-release behavior and livewell holding on individuals and apply these impacts to populations. Together, results from this project will provide key management recommendations to preserve stock integrity and preserve future angling opportunities.
