{"id":4134,"date":"2024-03-11T08:40:37","date_gmt":"2024-03-11T12:40:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/hooklinescience\/?p=4134"},"modified":"2024-03-11T08:53:17","modified_gmt":"2024-03-11T12:53:17","slug":"whos-out-looking-for-mountain-trout","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/hooklinescience\/whos-out-looking-for-mountain-trout\/","title":{"rendered":"Who’s out looking for mountain trout?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n
Three groups of anglers with very different motivations.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Research Need<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n North Carolina\u2019s Public Mountain Trout Water system (PMTW) is vast, complex, and provides a variety of angling opportunities.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n When managers consider ways to improve the trout fishery, they need mental shortcuts to understand anglers and their interests. Catch characteristics are the most significant factors that contribute to anglers\u2019 satisfaction with trips. As such, we wanted to look at catch to identify common groups of North Carolina mountain trout anglers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using these groups, we can explore other characteristics that make each group unique. These data can inform management and communication strategies with the trout angling public.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What did we study?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCatch orientation\u201d captures anglers\u2019 attitudes about how much they catch, whether they keep it, and the size of the fish. Using data from a statewide survey, we categorized trout anglers into groups. We then explored differences and similarities among groups, such as PMTW use, motivations for angling, and experience level, to name a few.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What did we find?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n We identified three unique clusters of North Carolina mountain trout anglers: \u201cconsumptive anglers,\u201d \u201ctrophy anglers,\u201d and \u201cnon-catch oriented anglers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Consumptive anglers were unique in their positive attitudes about catching many fish and<\/em> keeping them, using natural bait and<\/em> artificial lures, angling in streams with the least restrictive rules, and being motivated by social activity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Trophy anglers were unique in their positive attitudes towards catching large fish and fishing for sport. Also, they prefer to fish in streams stocked with trophy fish and with catch-and-release regulations for half of the year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Non-catch-oriented anglers were motivated by experiencing \u201cnature,\u201d and they preferred fishing in the most abundant and dispersed network of streams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Anything else?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n We challenge the assumption that anglers become more specialized the longer they participate in a fishery. That is, more time means using more advanced equipment and placing less importance on keeping fish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Takeaways<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Our descriptions of groups of trout anglers can inform management planning, access issues, and engagement with the public. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Our data also provides a snapshot of anglers\u2019 reliance on different areas of PMTW, which has implications for hatchery and crowding management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n