Angler demographics and fishing catch and effort in Olympic National Park rivers and Lake Crescent from 2009 to 2012
Kerr LH, Brenkman SJ, Geffre J. 2013. Angler demographics and fishing catch and effort in Olympic National Park rivers and Lake Crescent from 2009 to 2012. Natural Resource Technical Report. NPS/OLYM/NRTR—2012/830. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
This report summarizes angler interviews across key Olympic National Park (OLYM) watersheds from 2009 to 2012. The objectives were to: characterize angler demographics, quantify the extent and seasonality of sport fishing effort, report catch by fish species, and determine incidental catch of federally threatened bull trout. We completed angler interviews in the Queets, Hoh, and Elwha Rivers and Lake Crescent. A total of 3,433 anglers were interviewed, fishing 20,184 hours and catching 11 fish species. Anglers were from 33 states, two Canadian provinces, and seven countries. Ninety percent of all anglers were from Washington representing 29 counties. A total of 61% of anglers were from Puget Sound and 30% were from counties immediately surrounding OLYM. Ninety-six percent of anglers were male, 44% were older than 50 years of age, and 77 % were satisfied with fishing regulations. Anglers generally preferred catch-and-release regulations (62%). Ninety-three percent of anglers were aware the lake or river was managed by OLYM, 75% had seen a copy of the fishing regulations, and 908 anglers were members of organized fishing groups. In the Queets and Salmon rivers, 2,993 anglers fished 18,981 hours, 53% were boat anglers and 9% were reported as guided fishing trips. Steelhead trout were the most common fish targeted and anglers caught 1,998 steelhead (1,292 hatchery; 659 wild; 47 unknown), retained 944 fish, and averaged one steelhead per 8.6 hours of fishing. A total of 178 federally threatened bull trout were encountered. Incidental catch of bull trout comprised 5% of the total catch across all rivers.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Kerr, Lauren; Brenkman, Samuel; Geffre, Josh
- Date of Issue
- 2013-12
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- NRSS , OLYM
- Keywords
- angler, Bull Trout, catch, Chinook, chum, Coho, Cutthroat Trout, demographic, Dolly Varden, effort, Fishery Management, Hatchery, Hoh River, interview, Lake Crescent, North Fork Skokomish River, Olympic National Park, Puget Sound, Queets River, Rainbow Trout, Recreation, Regulation, Salmon, Salmon River, sockeye, Sport Fishing, Survey
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Fishes , Ecological Framework: Human Use | Visitor and Recreation Use | Visitor Use