Can Two Predator Species Play Nicely? Managing Sympatric Smallmouth Bass and Muskellunge Populations

The management of fisheries that include multiple predatory, sport fish species can be difficult, from both the perspectives of ecological balance and competing angler interests.  Such interactions and complications certainly exist for the Muskellunge Esox masquinongy and Smallmouth Bass Micropterus dolomieu fisheries of the New River, Virginia. The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) introduced Muskellunge in the 1960s, and the population has since developed into a premier, state-renowned fishery. Circa 2005, VDGIF changed Muskellunge management to spur this development and promote a self-sustaining, trophy fishery. Concurrently, Smallmouth Bass anglers voiced concern over possible increases in predatory interaction between Muskellunge and Smallmouth Bass and the effects their interaction might have on the quality of the bass fishery. We evaluated size structure and food habits of the current Muskellunge and Smallmouth Bass populations.  Using this information and FAMS, we simulated interactions between the populations under different management regimes. Our study indicates the New River can support premier fisheries for both Smallmouth Bass and Muskellunge. Similar results are emerging from studies conducted on other Virginia Rivers, such as the James River. Hence, we feel intensive Muskellunge management can successfully add new fishing opportunities in Virginia while preserving other popular fisheries.