AUTHORS: Aysah Dondlinger, Alison A. Coulter, Brian G. Blackwell, David O. Lucchesi, Steven R. Chipps
ABSTRACT: Urban and community fisheries (UCF) are often used by state wildlife/fisheries agencies to recruit, retain, and reactivate young, novice, lapsed, and current anglers. Fishing participation has declined nationally and in South Dakota for several decades, particularly among urban youth. Given these recent declines, emphasis has been placed on UCFs to reverse this trend. A primary purpose of UCFs is to minimize barriers to recreational fishing participation while providing quality fishing opportunities that keep young, and novice anglers engaged. Management of UCFs typically focuses on providing amenities and stocking catchable fish to improve young angler recruitment, retention, and overall satisfaction. While many factors can contribute to overall angler satisfaction, catch rates of preferred fish species may be crucial to keeping anglers engaged in recreational fishing. South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks currently uses recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) to produce adult Largemouth Bass and Hybrid Sunfish (Bluegill X Green Sunfish) that exhibit fast growth. Although South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks uses supplemental stockings of RAS - produced fish to improve angler satisfaction, it is unclear if young angler recruitment, retention, and satisfaction are being improved. Objectives of this study are to (1) quantify use of UCFs by young, novice, and lapsed anglers using creel survey information from community fisheries in eastern South Dakota, (2) identify if catch rates of preferred fish species are adequate to keep young, novice, and lapsed anglers engaged, (3) determine if supplemental stocking of RAS -produced adult Largemouth Bass and Hybrid Sunfish improves young, novice, and lapsed angler satisfaction. Results from this study will help identify stocking regimes that maximize young, novice, and lapsed angler use and satisfaction in urban and community fisheries.
