Interesting Catch and Release Article

[Brandon]

I read the below on a fishing news wire that I receive and found it interesting where they talk about striped bass. While I've read studies where in some conditions release rates can be high, I am not sure I've seen the 8% like that and also think the 1.3m lbs quoted as commercial was not the entire quota for the east coast for 2003, maybe one state? The point about other species from the deep is well made, clearly that is a different situation when you bring a fish up from 100+ feet quickly. The article does have a a few good tips at the end. Always interesting to read what is being put out there.

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Tips on Releasing Fish Help

Saltwater fishing isn't as simple as it used to be. Our grandfathers could flip a line off their boats, catch a mess of fish and take them home for dinner, but we have to abide by an ever growing number of regulations. A fish that doesn't pass regulatory muster must be released, but have you ever stopped to wonder if they survive the encounter?

According to marine biologists, a portion of them die within a few hours or days. The estimates vary from species to species, but they end up as "release mortality" in management jargon. Release mortality is used in determining future regulations and is established using a statistical process based on randomly sampling anglers to estimate what they keep and let go. The number released is multiplied by the percentage of fish assumed to die. It's a complicated system with lots of room for error, but one thing is clear; the fewer fish that die, the more fish there are still swimming around to reproduce and be caught again.

The striped bass fishery illustrates why release mortality is a concern. In 2003, anglers legally kept an estimated 2.4 million stripers, and caught and released 15 million more. Scientists determined that about eight percent or 1.2 million fish don't survive release, a number greater than the entire commercial quota for that year. Release mortality is even higher for some popular bottom species where pressure changes occur when reeling them to the surface, much like the "bends" divers experience if they surface too quickly. For these species, release mortality is double or triple that of striped bass. So the question becomes, what can we do to assure a greater percentage of fish survive? Knowledge and a few simple, inexpensive tools can make a big difference in survivability.

Did you know that handling a fish can strip some of the protective slim coat off its body leaving it vulnerable to parasites and infections? Ideally, not handling a fish at all is best, but if you do, wet your hands or wear wet soft cloth gloves to minimize slime loss. The major cause of release mortality comes from where a fish is hooked and how the hook is removed. Hooking a fish deep inside the mouth can puncture the gills, gullet and even the stomach lining, and clumsy hook removal can compound the damage. Cutting the line is not a solution because a hook left behind can impede feeding and cause infection. One of the best ways to reduce deep hooking is by using circle hooks when fishing with bait. Traditional J-type hooks impale a fish wherever the point touches it when the angler pulls on the line to set the hook. Circle hooks are designed to wrap around a fish's outer jaw structure, an area composed of bone and membranes with few blood vessels. When a fish inhales a baited circle hook and turns to run, the angler reels the line tight and the hook slides back out and catches around the edge of the jaw. Surprisingly, the hook up ratio with circle hooks can be higher than with J-hooks when used for such popular species as striped bass, snappers, groupers, bluefish, weakfish and other round fish. They are easier to remove because the hook eye and line are already outside the fish's mouth, and no vital organs have been damaged.


ARC Dehooker in action
The latest recommendation from biologists is to remove all hooks, even those deep inside a fish, with the absolute minimum of handling, and there is only one hook removal we know of that can do the job. It's called an ARC Dehooker® and is a simple, stainless steel rod with a T-handle on one end and a circular pig tail on the other. The circle is open to allow it to be slipped onto the line and slid down onto the hook bend, even if it's deep inside a fish's mouth where you can't see it. With the line held tight and the tool bottomed out on the hook bend, a light jab forward pushes the hook out and captures the point inside the circle for complete extraction. It comes in sizes to cover everything from panfish to marlin, and it works so well you can unhook most fish without even taking them out of the water. The company website www.dehooker4arc.com (http://www.dehooker4arc.com) has video instructions that make learning how to use the tool a breeze.

The same company also offers a venting tool developed by Sea Grant biologists for dealing with bottom fish that experience decompression problems when reeled up to the boat. It is actually a needle and syringe without the plunger that is used to puncture the belly of the fish to relieve the pressure built up in the stomach cavity. The give away that a fish is experiencing pressure problems is the stomach actually gets pushed up into its mouth by expanding gasses. The vent tool is used to release the pressure so the stomach can return to normal position, and the fish can immediately swim back down to the bottom. Once you understand a little about the anatomy of the fish and how the venting tool works, it is a pretty simple procedure and one that dramatically reduces mortality of fish like red snapper, grouper, black sea bass and other bottom dwellers susceptible to this condition.

Any concerned angler should have the tools on his boat, and know how to use them to release fish in the best condition possible. It's one of the most important things you can do to promote conservation on a personal level.

[Scott McGuire]

Who wrote it?
Where was it published?

The facts seem a little fuzzy - but the article does a good job recognizing that discard mortality needs to be considered when managing a fishery. The current accepted year long discard mortality average used by ASMFC for striped bass is 8% of the total discards. Sometimes it's less (like PSCR), and sometimes it's more (like mid-august chumming).

You can check the facts here using the FMP from 2003:

http://www.asmfc.org/speciesDocuments/stripedBass/reports/fmpreviews/sbfmpreview2003.pdf


Also the most recent FMP:

http://www.asmfc.org/speciesDocuments/stripedBass/reports/fmpreviews/sbfmpreview2010.pdf

[Brandon]

It was in a fishing industry news wire service that I get a few times a week. It did not have an author, but I am going to write and ask just out of curiosity. The 8% seems OK given the ASMFC, but the reference to it being more then all the commercial catch seems off.

[ictalurus]

Recreational harvests of stripers have exceeded commercial harvests for a while now according the ASMFC assessments. Those numbers are coast wide, and there are years when the disparity between commercial and recreational harvest are even greater. That's why I'm always surprised when recreational fisherman complain about commercial fishing so much. Even doubling the commercial catch would be less than recreational harvest and discards. You might could argue that commercial discards are low, but requiring observers would be a way to improve on those estimates.

Commercial poaching aside, managing the recreational catch is so much harder than managing the commercial catch because there are so many points of access for recreational fishermen, and recreational catches don't have to be reported anywhere, so there's no easy contact points to keep track of the catch. Hitting the busiest boat ramps may get a large proportion of the recreational catch, but it is hard to estimate how many people launch from home or smaller ramps during non-peak fishing times (i.e. weekdays). I kind of wonder if there is no summer striper season in Virginia because they're trying to keep hooking mortality down. Sometimes recreational discard mortality is almost equal to the recreational harvest.

[B-Faithful]

Remember even at 8% mortality, 92% survived and lived on to be caught another day. It certainly provides for the most sustainable use of the resource given the mortality rate of fish put in a box or caught in a net. The number of fish lost due to C&R mortality isnt a bad thing if the numbers combined with the harvest are sustainable as it shows good participation in recreational fishing. It is participation and access to fishing that drives the recreation/sport and its benefits to society. Of course the opportunity to harvest for oneself is a draw to the participation too.

[C-Hawk18]

Remember even at 8% mortality, 92% survived and lived on to be caught another day. It certainly provides for the most sustainable use of the resource given the mortality rate of fish put in a box or caught in a net.

....but if 1 in 10 fish is a keeper then the "mortality rate" is almost identical to the "Harvest rate" essentially doubling the "assumed harvest"...right? or maybe these numbers should not be considered?

[B-Faithful]

....but if 1 in 10 fish is a keeper then the "mortality NUMBER" is almost identical to the "Harvest NUMBER" essentially doubling the "assumed harvest"...right? or maybe these numbers should not be considered?

Definately the numbers need to be considered for proper managment. so do the numbers of fish harvested illegally of the coast and those illegally harvested commercially. Creel limits, size limits, and season lengths along with sector allocations need to be adjusted accordingly to account for all mortality (just as commercial discards need to be accounted for). I just dont think it is a bad thing if many anglers are participating and releasing fish, especially if 92% of them survive. Seems to be a good use of the resource that 92% of the fish encountered can be encountered (used) again. This certainly does not mean i am opposed to a harvest and believe the lure of a harvest increases participation in fishing. I just believe catch and release fishing maximizes the use vs "depletement" (if there is such a word) of the renewable public natural resource.

Bottom line is that recreational discard numbers should be accounted for but shouldnt be viewed as a "problem" within the fishery. Citing it as a problem is what the commercial side uses to distract from what they are taking since their industry revolves solely around the number of fish taken whereas the recreational side is depenent upon access and opportunity first

[5th Tuition]

Wasn't it just last year (or was it the year before:eek2:) that Virginia did that special tag and release study. They had a number of DEEPLY hooked stripe bass that they attached transmitters to, and after several days (weeks) the transmitters popped off and floated to the top to be retrieved. These were fish that they EXPECTED to have a high mortality rate, and if I'm not mistaken, ALL of them survived.
The study (while it was being done) was posted on TF because you could retrieve the transmitters for cash:thumbup:.
Perhaps someone that is a subscriber can find the posts and provide a link.
5th (Marty)

[Brandon]

Marty
I would like to see that study. Our foundation was going to tag stripers with satellite tags and we worked with MD DNR to see if it was viable by getting some VERY large stripers in the spring, holding them in tanks at the Oxford Lab and testing how and if the satellite tags would work. Our conclusion was that the tags were too large and would effect the normal behavior of striped bass. Most satellite tags need a fish bigger then 60-70lbs because of the size of the tags. I know sattelite tags have gotten smaller, but I did not think they got small enough to put on striped bass?

[27 sailfish]

I got to really question that high a death rate on C/R fish. That many fish - we would see lots of dead ones floating.

Perhaps years ago when chumming was in full force but now most use lures - avoiding deep hooked fish. Add in the growing sense of proper C/R - seems to me few are being killed.

My wife caught a Rock about 6 years ago that was tagged. It had a small transmitter ? inserted in the belly area. Only clue was a wire about 6 inches long hanging out from the vent area. We mailed it back after removing it from the fish. The letter we got back showed the fish had been released over 18 months earlier near PLO. She caught it near TPL.

Think about that - the fish was out of water - slit opened - transmitter inserted - then put back. If a fish can survive all that - being pulled in - unhooked and released quickly should almost guarantee it survives.

[5th Tuition]

Marty
I would like to see that study. Our foundation was going to tag stripers with satellite tags and we worked with MD DNR to see if it was viable by getting some VERY large stripers in the spring, holding them in tanks at the Oxford Lab and testing how and if the satellite tags would work. Our conclusion was that the tags were too large and would effect the normal behavior of striped bass. Most satellite tags need a fish bigger then 60-70lbs because of the size of the tags. I know sattelite tags have gotten smaller, but I did not think they got small enough to put on striped bass?
Brandon, The thread was started on 1-17-08 "Reward-Striped Bass Tags" by Healthy Grin (Ken Neill). It documented the research being done by John Graves, Professor of Marine Science Virginia Institute of Marine Science College of William and Mary p.o. box 1343.
He could be reached at 804-684-7352 (office); 7258 (lab); or 7157 (fax).

Thanks to James who sent me the link from the Virginia board.
5th (Marty)

[5th Tuition]

Brandon; James sent me additional information in the form of links through PM. He found the study (in pdf form) and he also found another TF link showing the size of the tags. I have tried to forward the PM's to you.
James, thanks for all your help.

p.s. James, is there a way you can cut and paste those links you sent me and post them here on this thread?
5th (Marty)

[ruger77]

http://fishbull.noaa.gov/1073/graves.pdf

http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/showthread.php/223645-REWARD-Striped-Bass-Tags

James

[5th Tuition]

James; thanks for the links.
5th (Marty)

[Lt Dan]

Thanks for the information!!!!!

[Southerly]

this is probably old stuff 16.4% on single hook artificial - maybe i misunderstand something.

http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/recreational/articles/crmortalityresearch.html
"
Susquehanna Flats Catch-and-Release Fishery
The rising popularity of catch-and-release fishing lead to the development of catch-and-release fishery in the upper portion of Chesapeake Bay known as the Susquehanna Flats. This activity developed despite regulations that prohibit catching or attempting to catch striped bass in areasdesignated as spawning rivers and areas during the period March 1 through May 31. A workgroup comprised of stakeholders was formed by the Fisheries Service to investigate what might be done to provide better recreational fishing opportunities in those areas without impacting the spawning stock or the reproductive ability of striped bass. The workgroup recommended that the Fisheries Service design and conduct a study that would determine the mortality of striped bass associated with catch-and-release fishing on the Susquehanna Flats.

Over a five week period in April and May 1998, three 2-day trials were conducted on the Flats. Participating anglers were instructed to use single hooked artificial lures. Fish were marked as deep or shallow hooked, transported and held for three days as in the other striped bass studies.

Two size groups of fish were sought for these experiments: less than 24 inches and greater than 24 inches. This size delineation was selected because mortality data for striped bass greater than 24 inches caught at low water temperatures in fresh water did not exist in the scientific literature.

The results showed that water temperature greatly influenced release mortality of striped bass caught on the Flats. Mortality was 0.15% at temperatures of 57-59°F, 4.2% at 61-62°F and 16.4% at 64-71°F. There was no difference in mortality between large (>24") and small (<24") striped bass at these low temperatures. More than 95% of the fish caught on the flats in this study were small males.

A legal catch-and-release season was implemented in 1999 and was closely monitored by the Fisheries Service. Water temperatures remained low and the size distribution of striped bass caught in the 1999 season was very similar to that seen during the study.

[Matt]

its hard to accept that mortality comes down to single variable (temperature). What about the affect of handling large fish out of water for excessive amounts of time, or the affect of removing too much slime coating while handling the fish. What about the affect of treble hooks over single hooks, or baiting fish versus artificial lures, or fighting fish for excessive periods of time on bass fishing tackle or fly fishing gear. There's several relevant variables involved in release mortality of any fish, any study that boils it down to one issue is inconclusive.

[Scott McGuire]

Temperature doesn't have to be the only driver, it only has to explain a significant amount of the results. There will always be confounding variables - If it was a physics problem we would spend the time to figure them out, but in life sciences, it just isn't possible. R^2 of 80% or more is a good result.

FWIW - as I understand the DNR results, water temperature is the primary driver in fresh water only. That's why the flats season is shut down when the temperatures rise. For the rest of the bay (where there is salt water) release mortality has averaged around two percent - EXCEPT on really hot days when the air temperature is +95, where it jumps significantly (like 20%). I don't have the charts to back up my statements, but I'm certain they could be requested from DNR (or find most of it on the webpage that Southerly posted).

[Southerly]

i'm in complete agreement there Matt. first thing i really think of is how the low salinity affected those results. i'm not knocking their methods because i just don't know; but the researchers transported and held the fish for 3 days after being caught. seems stressful in itself. regardless of whatever effect that had and variables not considered, etc the general affect of temperature is very remarkable; even when only using single hook artificial lures.

but more of a surprise to me personally, is the lack of correlation between size and mortality. i would have expected the little guys to show more robust survival. live and learn. and as next post says, it looks like the regulations up there now reflect the research. catch/ release early season/low temp and catch/keep in later season.

[Matt]

when other factors are controlled I'm not surprised by the correlation to temp, but there's way more to it and everybody knows it. Frankly, I question how good we can measure mortality. If a fish swims away? Seriously. A damaged fish could live for weeks. Years maybe.

[Southerly]

i think their results were good in cold water and i assume they did what they could to be consistent during warm and cold water sampling. for sake of argument, we could 100% blame their coldwater mortaility on their holding pens and deduct that mortality number from each of their results. the numbers are still clear and significant.

for mortality - they only counted the ones that didn't survive 3 days. why not assume all the rest lived long happy lives.

in real life, all the other variables of fish/fishing/catching can't be controlled any more so than during their test.

i suppose a larger sample would let the fishing variables better fall into a natural distribution. but with such a significant correlation between temp and mortaility, and the lack of variation by size; i would expect at least similar results in a larger sample too.

in spring/fall i want to expend some effort to catch the biggest fish i can, which implies throwing some back. but i don't want to destroy the place just for bragging rights to a fish. i'm leaning towards moderation in the quantity, best practice in catching/handling, and paying attention to what's going on. but whatever my intentions, i don't really know what happens after i let one go. at the pet store i see dead fish on the bottom.

as it applies to my fishing activity, i'm very happy to see the low numbers in cold water and am probably as surprised as anyone to see those high numbers using single hook artificials. i think of that as low impact as it can be. and previously, i didn't even think of their warm temps as significant. i thought the dangerous temp was more around 80 degrees. since i fish midbay, i like to think their results are from the overall stress, particularly including that from being in freshwater but don't really know.

[Scott McGuire]

Southerly,

I believe you are interpreting too much out of one result.


The results showed that water temperature greatly influenced release mortality of striped bass caught on the Flats. Mortality was 0.15% at temperatures of 57-59°F, 4.2% at 61-62°F and 16.4% at 64-71°F. There was no difference in mortality between large (>24") and small (<24") striped bass at these low temperatures. More than 95% of the fish caught on the flats in this study were small males.

This applies to the fresh water area of the Susquehanna Flats ONLY. The same mortality is NOT observed in the Mid Bay (salty water) within those temperatures. Temperature is the primary driver of mortality in Fresh water (Flats).

[Matt]

I think its one thing to say there's a strong correlation between temperature and mortality, when all other factors are held constant. Its another to say temp is the primary driver of mortality. There's several important variables in the equation. If two similarly skilled fishermen are catching and releasing the same numbers in the same temps, but one fisherman is bringing every fish onboard to flop on deck and be hung by its lip for a picture, whereas the other guy is releasing his fish at the side of the boat, I think we all know the first guy will cause higher release mortality. That kind of comparison doesn't show up in DNR's study. Regarding temp, I think mortality can be offset at higher temps i.e. lower dissolved oxygen if care is taken to handle fish properly, and time is taken to revive fish before releasing them. Handling fish for maximum survival, in my opinion, begins with unhooking a fish in the water, next to the boat. Probably worth mentioning, its hard to remove double or triple trebles with the fish in the water. In my experience, reviving a 20 lb fish fought for five or ten minutes on 7 wt fly tackle can be a challenge. Sometimes, I think, an elderly rockfish at the end of a spawning migration caught in unfavorable conditions simply can not be revived.

[Southerly]

i sincerely doubt they babied the cold water fish and then beat up the warm water fish to come up with those results.

i think what you say is true enough, and that it's not unfair to say part of discard mortality is from ignorance, and some from denial. ignorance of best practice for example, and blind belief that if a fish swims off it will be ok. i don't like the results they got because it suggests that even if i'm doing my very best to catch and release a hundred fish to fight again another day, there's fair number that won't make it.

here's example - i like (LM) bass fishing and did it 100% c and r for years. by dnr's definition, there were some deep hooks(past gills) but it's easy to reverse and pop the hook out. i don't need pics, so straight back in water and they swim off. c and r is widely accepted in bass management. but google discard mortality of large mouth bass and i find there's pretty high discard mortality. so now, i'm not as ignorant as i was and only thing left is denial.

i'm not neglecting possibility of better survival in midbay; it's where i fish. i'm just taking the trouble to try and evaluate my personal impact.

[27 sailfish]

I grew up near a farm that had a 3 acre pond on it. Fished it a lot - seemed almost everyday after school - for about 6 years.
5-6 other local kids did as well - plus others now / then.

There were LM bass in it and some had very distinct scars / one eye / hump back / etc - so we knew them to be the same fish.
It was not uncommon to catch the same bass 8-9 times in a season - year after year. The pond never was restocked and if we did not all do C/R - the bass would have been fished out in one season.

I know Rockfish are different but goes to show fish do survive C/R time after time.

Here's two photos - taken almost one year apart. It is in a quarry in Va. - there are big bass in there that eat the Bluegill.
No one is certain how the fish was injured but shows just what fish can survive.

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q295/lisazinck/IMAG0012.jpg


http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q295/lisazinck/IMAG0014.jpg