Evaluation of a 23-cm Minimum Length Limit for Black and White Crappies in a Small South Dakota Impoundment

Abstract The South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Parks instituted a 23-cm minimum length limit for black crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus and white crappie P. annularis in Lake Alvin on 1 January 1996 because an undesirable size and age structure indicated that these populations were being overharvested. Crappies were sampled annually using trap (modified fyke) nets from 1992 to 1999. Mean catch per unit effort (fish/net night) was higher in the postregulation years (1996–1999) than in the preregulation years (1992–1995) for both species. The mean length of age-3 fish in the postregulation years was not different from that of the 1995 baseline for either species. The relative stock density of 23-cm crappies did not increase after implementation of the length limit. Limited prey availability, which was inferred from the negative trend of relative weight with respect to length, was the likely reason that larger crappies did not appear. The 23-cm minimum length limit was removed on 1 January 2000 to giv...

[1]  Timothy J. Blister Evaluation of a 23-cm (9-in) Minimum Length Limit for Black and White Crappies in Lake Alvin, South Dakota , 2000 .

[2]  D. Willis,et al.  ANGLER OPINIONS REGARDING FISHING SUCCESS AND CRAPPIE REGULATIONS IN A SMALL SOUTH DAKOTA IMPOUNDMENT , 2000 .

[3]  R. S. Hale,et al.  Evaluation of a 254-mm Minimum Length Limit on Crappies in Delaware Reservoir, Ohio , 1999 .

[4]  D. Willis,et al.  Earlj life historj and recruitment of black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus) in two South Dakota waters , 1998 .

[5]  Mark T. Porath,et al.  Use of Walleye Relative Weights (Wr ) to Assess Prey Availability , 1997 .

[6]  W. Hubert,et al.  Trends in Relative Weight of Walleye Stocks in Wyoming Reservoirs , 1997 .

[7]  K. Pope Factors Affecting Recruitment of Black Crappies in South Dakota Waters , 1996 .

[8]  L. Miranda,et al.  An Evaluation of the Value of Harvest Restrictions in Managing Crappie Fisheries , 1995 .

[9]  D. Willis,et al.  Growth of Crappies in South Dakota Waters , 1995 .

[10]  D. H. Wahl,et al.  Relative Weight (Wr ) as a Field Assessment Tool: Relationships with Growth, Prey Biomass, and Environmental Conditions , 1995 .

[11]  M. J. Maceina,et al.  Use of a Split-Plot Analysis of Variance Design for Repeated-Measures Fishery Data , 1994 .

[12]  Scott C. Larson,et al.  Exploitation and Survival of Black Crappies in Three Georgia Reservoirs , 1991 .

[13]  B. Murphy,et al.  Evaluation of the Relative Weight (Wr ) Index for Assessment of White Crappie and Black Crappie Populations , 1991 .

[14]  Michael Colvin Evaluation of Minimum‐Size Limits and Reduced Daily Limits on the Crappie Populations and Fisheries in Five Large Missouri Reservoirs , 1991 .

[15]  Richard A. Ott,et al.  Effects of Length and Bag Limits on Population Structure and Harvest of White Crappies in Three Texas Reservoirs , 1991 .

[16]  W. D. Davies,et al.  Population Dynamics of Black Crappies and White Crappies in Weiss Reservoir, Alabama: Implications for the Implementation of Harvest Restrictions , 1991 .

[17]  J. Lindgren Evaluation of Largemouth Bass Harvest Regulations For South Dakota Waters , 1991 .

[18]  D. W. Gabelhouse,et al.  A Length‐Categorization System to Assess Fish Stocks , 1984 .