Differences in catch rates of Black Crappie and Largemouth Bass anglers using forward-facing sonar in Lake Talquin, Florida

Objective Largemouth Bass Micropterus nigricans and Black Crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus are two of the most popular sport fish species within the United States. Anglers have expressed concerns that the increased use of forward-facing sonar (FFS) could lead to increases in angling pressure and greater risk of overfishing. We determined whether catch, harvest, release rate, and size structure of Largemouth Bass and Black Crappie differed between fish that were captured by anglers who were and were not using FFS. Methods A roving creel survey was conducted on Lake Talquin, Florida, from February 12, 2024, to June 2, 2024. The survey periods were 5 h in length and were conducted on 24 weekdays and 16 weekend days that were randomly selected. All the interviewed anglers were asked to provide information on trip length, target species, whether they were using FFS while fishing, and the number of caught and released fish. The creel data were analyzed using roving-survey catch-rate estimators. Results Sixteen percent of all anglers, 26% of Black Crappie anglers, and 28% of Largemouth Bass anglers were using FFS while fishing. Black Crappie anglers who used FFS had significantly higher release rates of Black Crappie (FFS = 1.03 fish/h, SE = 0.2; non-FFS 0.58 fish/h, SE = 0.1) and significantly higher catch rates of Black Crappie <254 mm than non-FFS anglers (FFS = 0.92 fish/h, SE = 0.19; non-FFS = 0.52 fish/h, SE = 0.08). Largemouth Bass anglers who used FFS had significantly higher catch rates (FFS = 1.32 fish/h, SE = 0.2; non-FFS = 0.51 fish/h, SE = 0.07) and also had significantly higher catch rates of Largemouth Bass ≥406 mm than non-FFS anglers (FFS = 0.49 fish/h, SE = 0.15; non-FFS = 0.09 fish/h, SE = 0.03). Conclusions Our results suggest that anglers who use FFS have significantly higher catch rates for Largemouth Bass, Largemouth Bass ≥406 mm, and Black Crappie <254 mm and significantly higher release rates for Black Crappie than non-FFS anglers. As angling technology continues to advance, there is a need for fisheries managers to closely monitor angler effort, catch, and harvest, especially as the use of FFS may increase in the future.