Page 13 - Outdoor Oklahoma Magazine Mar-Apr2023

September 2022 brought a notable revision to one of Oklahoma’s However, during a Wildlife Department study in the 1990s, up
longtime fishing regulations. For decades, the statewide standard to 43 percent of fish released after being caught in fishing tourna-
rule allowed anglers to catch and keep six black bass daily if they ments died within six days.
were 14 inches or longer. The Wildlife Department developed a statewide black bass
The recent change modifies the statewide size and bag lim- management plan in 1991. Long-range management goals with
its for largemouth and smallmouth bass in lakes and reservoirs. specific objectives were set, including the eventual implemen-
Specifically, the limit for largemouth tation of the 14-inch minimum length
and smallmouth bass (in aggregate) limit on smallmouth and largemouth
remains six fish per day, but only one OKLAHOMA FISHERIES bass. At that time, less than 10 per-
may exceed 16 inches in length. BIOLOGISTS ARE NOW cent of bass fishing lakes sampled were
Fisheries biologists proposed the CONCERNED THAT considered a “quality” bass fishery.
modified limits to encourage anglers to The regulation was heavily supported
keep more abundant, smaller black bass CATCH-AND-RELEASE by anglers.
while limiting the harvest of larger bass. HAS POSSIBLY GONE TOO However, the 14-inch minimum limit-
Biologists anticipate a positive ed anglers’ overall opportunity to har-
impact on the overall quality of FAR, AND NOT ENOUGH vest any bass.
Oklahoma’s black bass populations in BASS ARE BEING TAKEN Oklahoma fisheries biologists are now
the longer term — if anglers will dial HOME FOR TABLE FARE . concerned that catch-and-release has
back the catch-and-release mind-set possibly gone too far, and not enough
and actually harvest the smaller fish. bass are being taken home for table fare.
Cliff Sager, Senior Fisheries Biologist with the Wildlife “In the most recent survey of Oklahoma anglers, 69 percent
Department, said the proposal is designed to give anglers a bet- of bass anglers returned all, or nearly all, the bass they caught
ter chance to catch larger bass in the future. back to the water. The popularity of the sport combined with
“Catch and release has become very ingrained with bass anglers. the cultivated practice of catch-and-release of smaller bass has
In the most recent survey of Oklahoma anglers, 69 percent of bass impacted ODWC’s ability to increase the abundance of larger
anglers returned all, or nearly all, the bass they caught back to the bass,” Sager said.
water. The popularity of the sport combined with the cultivated Biologists have noted slowing growth rates and skewed size
practice of catch-and-release of smaller bass has impacted ODWC’s structures in black bass populations while surveying many lakes.
ability to increase the abundance of larger bass.” This is concerning because they not only manage the state's fish-
The catch-and-release ethic is practiced today by most bass eries resources so that natural reproduction will sustain popula-
anglers. During the past four decades, the often self-imposed tions, but they also manage these resources to create as many
practice of catch-and-release for largemouth and smallmouth angling opportunities as possible.
bass has become deeply rooted in fishing culture. It has been “While much has been done by the Wildlife Department to pro-
touted as a greatly successful fisheries management tool. mote fishing, including bass fishing, in recent years, the adjust-

JENA DONNELL/ODWC

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