Species-specific relationship between angler catch and satisfaction among anglers targeting salmonid fishes in Hokkaido lakes, Japan

Abstract

　Recreational angling is a dominant use of inland fish resources. Since recreational angling is a leisure-based activity, the stock manager must meet two objectives: 1) maintain fish stocks, and 2) maximize angler satisfaction with limited catch. To achieve these goals, it is important to evaluate the relationship between angler satisfaction and catch in order to construct a management strategy, because catch is one of the most important connections between fish stock and angler satisfaction. In this study, the relationships of four angling target species which have different biological and social traits were investigated. The results of a questionnaire survey of 639 anglers in total revealed four types of orientation: 1) the catch of endemic target fish strongly enhances angler satisfaction, 2) the existence of endemic fish increases angler satisfaction for all anglers, 3) fish size has a greater influence than number of fish for anglers who target fish that grow larger (i.e. trophy anglers), and 4) anglers desire more fish when the target fish has higher value as a food (i.e. consumption orientation). For the sustainable use of fish stocks for recreational angling, not only the biological traits of stocks but also anglers' orientation toward catch should be considered.