Muddling management: heterogeneity of blue catfish anglers

Hyman AA, DiCenzo VJ, Murphy BR. 2017. Muddling management: heterogeneity of blue catfish anglers. Lake Reserve Manage. 33:23-31.A world-record blue catfish was caught from Kerr Reservoir in 2011; since then, the state has experienced an influx of tournaments and trophy anglers. As a result, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) has sought a holistic management approach for the blue catfish fishery. In a pilot study, we surveyed 61 catfish anglers on Kerr Reservoir, which spans the Virginia-North Carolina state line, to examine their angling habits, harvest behavior, and management preferences. Using hierarchical cluster analysis, we identified 4 distinct angler groups that, on a broad scale, parallel other specialization studies: Tournament Specialists, Consumptive Specialists, Avid Generalists, and Occasional Anglers. Results from this study depict a dualistic angler population, with many anglers seeking trophy catfish while others wish to harvest many catfish. The most-specialized anglers had a tendency to support stricter harvest limits and setline regulations, whereas the least-specialized opposed stricter regulations. With such polarized attitudes, we suggest that VDGIF and North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission work with anglers to avoid disputes regarding gear and harvest regulations in the future. Specifically, we suggest state agencies test the use of spatial regulation of setlines (i.e., the agencies limit setline use in portions of the reservoir). Results from this research could help fisheries managers regulate trophy fisheries by understanding their anglers and in turn help to set management goals and objectives that best meet the desires of their stakeholders.