Slot Length Limits: When and Why
Length limits are a popular tool for regulating harvest for various reasons, such as preventing over harvest, improving population abundance, and increasing angler catch rates and the size of fish caught. AGFC has set no statewide length-based restriction for black bass. That said, AGFC biologists utilize a variety of length limits for black bass in reservoirs depending on management objectives and angler desires. Biologists use slot limits to protect a specific size range of fish. For example, a protected slot limit of 13 to 16 inches allows only fish less than 13 and greater than 16 inches to be harvested while protecting fish between 13 and 16 inches. Slot limits are practical when a few things occur. First, when anglers are keeping a significant number of fish that are in the waterbody. Second, there is high natural recruitment. Lastly, growth is slow or moderate. For example, a biologist may use a slot limit to protect bass from 16 to 21 inches, which are desirable to anglers while allowing for harvest of the abundant smaller fish below 16 inches. It is very important that anglers harvest sufficient numbers of fish below the slot limit for a slot limit to be beneficial. Otherwise, stunted populations of small bass can occur (see picture). Slot limits are sometimes used for trophy bass management. Lake Atkins utilizes a 16 to 21 inch slot limit. Slot limits have little effectiveness when anglers are practicing a high rate of catch-and-release of fish below the slot size. Black bass harvest of small fish, especially those less than 14 inches, is important for improving black bass populations.
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