C&R Hysteria, Knee-jerk Regulations, and False Promises – Still Waiting

[Ken H.]

In 2009, the Fisheries Service (FS) managers put their heads together to address the alleged, but totally undocumented, issue of release mortality in the spring C&R Fishery for striped bass even though they didn’t know, for any year since C&R started, how many:
1. people were fishing
2. fish were released
3. fish were female
4. fish were prespawn females
5. fish died after being released

Without any evidence to support the problem, hysteria prevailed and they invoked something called “non-lethal” effects to justify tilting at this windmill. This is sort of like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) for humans and, according to the “experts,” MIGHT cause some pre-spawn female fish to just abandon the spawning urge.

This was still pretty weak so they invented a one-time policy change just for the C&R fishery - they said it would be irresponsible not to act if there was uncertainty about impacts to a resource that could be damaging. I wondered how such a proactive policy would impact the spring Trophy Season designed to kill the same fish that MIGHT die during the C&R season but the FS promised that this was just the start of a comprehensive review of recreational impacts on striped bass.

The new regulations went into effect and, almost three years later, DNR has defaulted on addressing other fisheries. Even for good scamsters, it’s hard to be consistent when you are making it ALL up as you go along.

Ken Hastings

[wen]

Problem is no-one wants to think about the impact the C&R & Trophy season has on fish mortality. After all, these are all "Sportsmen" that are impacted.
I don't include the comms in this because this is not an issue with them-they either kill by means of by-catch or keep-- no issue there.
It's all gonna sort itself out,can you say "Moratorium"
just sayin.....

[Capt Brady Bounds]

Let us recognize, public fisheries regulation must be devised to affect the lowest common denominator of public compliance and behavior. Most professions of the guiding ilk know catch & release principles and techniques and strive to uphold those standards. This is because their clients demand respect for the resource and demand their guides conduct themselves accordingly. This is a BIG difference between guiding and charterboating ; different clients with different expectations.

So we have folks who know how to practice C & R properly and with a very low mortality effect. However because we do not distinguish these folks from other fishermen, we must craft regulations to folks who either do not care about conservation, or mortality, or anyone one else for that matter.

So I have a suggestion ; create a special "Zero Creel" license, and start with the guides. Allow them to fish catch & release in areas and at times when other folks not willing to play by the higher standards are not allowed to fish.

The Zero Creel folks will pay extra for this privilege, they will pay up front for classs and DNR certifications, taught by volunteer instructors and they will not cause any financial burden upon the taxpayers.

I personally would be willing to be a Zero Creel volunteer instructor, and willing to pay hundreds of dollars annually to fish on a strictly C&R guide basis in areas now off limits.

The practice of catch & release is not the enemy. Allowing fishermen and captains to fish at a very low standard of conduct is why fish get killed during the C&R season. That and the inability of the Md DNR to tell the Maryland Charterboat Association a resolute NO.

[goose70]

Let us recognize, public fisheries regulation must be devised to affect the lowest common denominator of public compliance and behavior. Most professions of the guiding ilk know catch & release principles and techniques and strive to uphold those standards. This is because their clients demand respect for the resource and demand their guides conduct themselves accordingly. This is a BIG difference between guiding and charterboating ; different clients with different expectations.

So we have folks who know how to practice C & R properly and with a very low mortality effect. However because we do not distinguish these folks from other fishermen, we must craft regulations to folks who either do not care about conservation, or mortality, or anyone one else for that matter.

So I have a suggestion ; create a special "Zero Creel" license, and start with the guides. Allow them to fish catch & release in areas and at times when other folks not willing to play by the higher standards are not allowed to fish.

The Zero Creel folks will pay extra for this privilege, they will pay up front for classs and DNR certifications, taught by volunteer instructors and they will not cause any financial burden upon the taxpayers.

I personally would be willing to be a Zero Creel volunteer instructor, and willing to pay hundreds of dollars annually to fish on a strictly C&R guide basis in areas now off limits.

The practice of catch & release is not the enemy. Allowing fishermen and captains to fish at a very low standard of conduct is why fish get killed during the C&R season. That and the inability of the Md DNR to tell the Maryland Charterboat Association a resolute NO.

Good post, Captain. I'd be onboard with that with two modifiactions: the license be available to ayone who takes the course, not just guides, and any extra charge be minimal (to encourage more folks to go this route).

[uncljohn]

this thread had the prefix of "Good Information" on it, but I couldn't find ANY in the OP's post.

[Capt Brady Bounds]

Uncle John. This is good information because it is useful and provokes thought. If it starts a civil and insightful discussion, that could benefit any reader. It might not benefit you personally, but there are many worthy topics within Ken's orginal post, in my opinion.

[dasher]

I thought about this a bit & think the good captains suggestion has a great deal of merit. I'd even have no problem with a guides only approach for the first year to evaluate the program & eliminate C & R for the rest of us. Enforcement would have an issue. How could a person having zero creel license & a regular license ever fish & keep stripers?

[paxfish]

The misguided Catch and Release debacle a couple of years ago certainly revealed huge weaknesses in fisheries management processes. By acting on emotional calls from just a few, without science, DNR took a big black eye on that one. I think we've all noticed a change in their approach to such things over the last two years.

So we have an excellent fisheries management tool at our disposal in the form of Catch and Release. I'd hate to see C&R restricted in anyway, though I agree that additional training is warranted for new anglers who are attempting to engage in this practice. From every study I've been able to find, the actual mortality for pre season catch and release is statistically insignificant. When the water is over 65F, that training becomes more and more important.

Perhaps there is a need here for a certification that can be obtained, but not necessarily mandated by the state. Maybe even free of charge led by volunteers like yourself Brady. "Maryland Expert Angler" or something.

[bebopper]

Capt.: I'm reading your post to mean that this Zero Creel be for licensed guides and the people who will pay to fish with them in areas that others will not be allowed to fish. Sounds like a good business plan to me. This sort of implies that guides are the only ones who know the proper techniques for c&r.

I do agree that maybe a permit be required to fish C&R obtained by completing a class on the subject. And since all law abiding anglers practice C&R year 'round maybe a class should be required for all fishermen. What's the difference when you release a mature female?

Personally I think this whole C&R deal is blown totally out of proportion. I don't do it in the spring and have absolutely no problem with those who do. If they were killing fish we would see dead rock floating all over the bay and we don't. Based on young of the year surveys this type of fishing has no apparent impact on the species. There are just too may factors involved in to say one is any more important then the other.

Unfortunately we have government agencies who make rules with what we know is false information. But it has been demonstrated in the past when good solid scientific information is used one user group, or another, usually disagrees with that. This will never change.

There is a lot of passion between anglers on this subject. In fact I was told by someone who would know that this caused a lot of really good fishermen to stop posting reports after the great debate on Tidalfish the year before last. I had asked him why so many of these guys stopped posting and that was his reply. I believe him.

[27 sailfish]

IMHO - Many more C/R Rock get killed accidentally in summer then in March / early April. The warm water and hot air temps. combined with light gear can kill Rock that are C/R.

Only good came out of that PSCR mess - we learned who to trust and more important - who is dirty.