Smallmouth Bass Fishing in Missouri: Results from the 2011 Angler Survey

In 2011 a mail survey was sent to Missouri resident anglers who reported they had fished for or caught Smallmouth Bass, asking their opinions and to report their 2010 stream Smallmouth Bass fishing activities. Eighty-two percent of anglers typically fished for Smallmouth Bass. Wade/bank fishing was the most often used method, followed by float fishing. Designated public accesses were heavily used by anglers. Responding anglers took an average of 10.2 trips in 2010 and caught an average of 7.1 and harvested 1.9 Smallmouth Bass per trip. The statewide harvest rate for Smallmouth Bass was 31.8%. Anglers knew Stream Black Bass Special Management Areas (SBBSMA) existed (86.4%); however, only 12.3% reportedly fished them in 2010 and reported 10,524 fishing trips. Anglers that fished at least one SBBSMA in 2010 reported catching more Smallmouth Bass per trip than anglers who did not. Few anglers indicated that they avoided fishing in SBBSMA because of the more restrictive harvest regulations. Anglers were about evenly split in preferring a single statewide regulation (36.8%), or a system with statewide regulations and SBBSMA (35.9%). Anglers preferred the existing 12” minimum length limit (37.8%), while others preferred a length limit of 14” (18.8%) or 15” (23.3%).