Influence of live-imaging sonar on black bass catch: A multifishery analysis of professional tournaments

Objective To determine (1) if average catch rates or average weight of black bass Micropterus spp. differed between periods of live-imaging sonar (LIS) use and nonuse for avid anglers across a diverse range of fisheries and (2) if the frequency of LIS-facilitated catches was associated with specific fishing habitat characteristics. Methods We analyzed catch data from professional anglers across eight Major League Fishing events in 2025. The tournament rules restricted the use of LIS to one of three daily competition periods. A linear mixed-effects model was used to assess if LIS had an effect on catch or fish weight. The fixed effects included LIS use, fishery, and tournament day, with an interaction term used to evaluate whether LIS efficacy was contingent on specific fisheries. To account for repeated measures and individual angler skill, angler identity as a random effect was used. We also explored how selected habitat aspects of fisheries related to the use of LIS to catch black bass. Contingency analyses were used to examine relationships with water body type, habitat cover complexity, and water depth. Results The influence of LIS on catch rates varied by fishery, with notable increases occurring at Lakes Conroe and Murray. Generally, the weight of the black bass that were caught did not significantly differ between LIS and non-LIS periods. A greater percentage of black bass was caught by anglers who were using LIS in areas that were ranked as lentic water versus rivers or creeks as well as in low-complexity habitat cover. Additionally, anglers who caught fish in deep water had nearly three times the likelihood of using LIS. Conclusion Although anglers were more likely to catch fish with LIS in deeper, less structured environments, it appears to offer limited utility in shallow, complex shoreline habitats. Therefore, the risk of increased exploitation due to LIS may be inherent in fisheries with deeper, less structured habitats or seasonal pelagic opportunities. By standardizing angler avidity and accounting for angler skill in our models, this study provides an isolated measure of LIS use and benefit. This highlights the necessity for fisheries managers to account for avidity bias and water body morphology when considering the effects of widespread adoption of LIS in a fishery.