Urban and Community Fisheries Programs: Development, Management, and Evaluation

Stocking Frequency and Fishing Quality in an Urban Fishing Program in Arkansas

Thomas J. Lang, J. Wesley Neal, and Clifford P. Hutt

doi: https://doi.org/10.47886/9781934874042.ch34

Abstract.—Declines in recreational fishing participation, under representation of women and nonwhites among the angling population, and increased urban immigration and urban sprawl have prompted the development of urban fishing programs throughout the United States. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission initiated their urban fishing program, the Family and Community Fishing Program (FCFP), in 2001. The FCFP stocks channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus biweekly from April to August and rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss biweekly from December to March. In this study, the effects of stocking frequency on fishing quality and angler satisfaction were determined for biweekly and monthly stocking regimes. Stocking frequencies were randomly assigned to ponds in the first year, and reversed in the second year of the study. Roving creel surveys were used to collect angler effort, catch, harvest, and satisfaction data. Response rates of the 1,533 catfish and 512 trout angler parties approached were 96% and 98%, respectively. There were no significant differences between the two stocking frequencies for effort, catch, harvest, or angler satisfaction ratings during catfish or trout seasons. Satisfaction ratings were much lower for fishing satisfaction (26–38% excellent or good rating) than overall trip satisfaction (61–74% excellent or good rating), and appeared to be closely associated with catch rates. These findings suggest that the FCFP can reduce stocking frequency without causing detrimental effects to fishing quality, as long as the same monthly allocations of fish are stocked. Biweekly stocking has high transportation and personnel costs, thus reducing stocking frequency could potentially decrease costs and better allocate funds and labor.