The Importance of Catch Motives to Recreational Anglers: The Effects of Catch Satiation and Deprivation

Abstract

Motivation theory suggests that if anglers fail to catch the size, number, or species of fish they most prefer to catch, they will experience the condition of catch-deprivation. Similarly, if anglers succeed in catching the size, number, or species of fish they most prefer to catch, they will experience the condition of catch-satiation. It was hypothesized that the importance trout anglers attach to catching the size, number, or species of fish they most prefer will increase as the level of catch-deprivation increases. Our results show that trout anglers place significantly more importance on catching their preferred size, number, and/or species of fish on their next trip under conditions of increasing catch-deprivation than under conditions of catch-satiation. These results are consistent with the concepts of motivation theory and our predictions. This study represents an extension of the current state of knowledge and conceptual development concerning angler motives and further advances our understanding of the angling experience.