Peacock Bass Angling: A Preliminary Profiling of Recreational Anglers for Invasive-Species Management in Malaysia

Abstract— Recreational angling for peacock bass (Cichla spp.) has expanded rapidly across Peninsular Malaysia, yet the species is non-native and the anglers who pursue it remain poorly characterised. This preliminary study explores the application of angler profiling as a management-support tool for an invasive recreational fishery. Drawing on recreation specialization, leisure motivation, and the human-dimensions perspective on introduced species, a multidimensional profiling approach was developed and applied to data obtained from 51 anglers attending a peacock bass angling event. Socio-demographic, behavioural, motivational, economic and informational characteristics were coded, and three attitudinal batteries (motivation, conservation/stewardship, and satisfaction/loyalty) were summarised descriptively and examined for internal consistency. The respondents were exclusively male, predominantly aged 21–40, highly experienced and frequent, casting-oriented participants who reported strong intrinsic motivations, a robust stewardship orientation, and high satisfaction and loyalty; awareness that peacock bass is an introduced species was high (≈84%). The results highlight a specialised and management-responsive angler base and demonstrate the relevance of profiling for segmentation, instrument design and invasive-species governance. Based on the findings, a preliminary conceptual framework for profiling peacock bass anglers is proposed, together with propositions to guide confirmatory research. Despite limitations associated with the small, self-selected sample, the study provides an initial, theory-grounded basis for the systematic profiling of anglers in Malaysian freshwater fisheries.

Recreational fisheries; angler profiling; recreation specialization; leisure motivation; invasive species; peacock bass; human dimensions; Malaysia

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