On a few other threads the mortality of Rockfish from C&R fishing was brought up. I thought it was an important enough subject that should have its own thread.
It seemed pretty much split among most people about how many were actually killed during C&R, some thought many, some didn't think many at all, a few actually even said none were. I personally think in most cases there are less fish killed by people that C&R then people that keep fish, but I think a lot more are killed then most realize. It may seem rare to deep hook a fish so badly that it doesn't look like it will survive (maybe 1% of the time or less). But just because a fish looks healthy when released, it doesn't mean it will survive, even when the water is cold. The stress that the fish goes through from fighting for their life can be tremendous. most fish that are released will probally develop lactic acid build up, its basically the same thing humans go through when their muscles become stiff and sore after a vigorous workout, only its worse on fish because the same muscle that are damaged are the same muscles they need to swim, even If it doesn't kill them directly, It could make them much slower for many days (or even longer) And even immobile for a while, and far less likely to escape pedators like Bluefish, Sharks, porpoises, crabs, snapping turtles, even other Rockfish just to name a few.
If they are bleeding when released, they are at an even bigger risk from prey because the blood may attract the predators.
One thing that I and Im sure others have witnessed in the past while C&Ring many fish,Is that the released fish will actually attract predators and they will hang under the boat and attack any fish that is released, its easy picking for them because the fish released are disoriented at first, in a worst case scenario,if you are releasing hundreds of fish, most could possibly get killed, a single person C&Ring could possibly kill more fish then an entire fleet of Charters! I know it sounds far fetched, but its possible on rare occasions.
Even if they survive all that they may still be at risk from diseases from the stress or the wound they obtained from being caught, disease may not kill them for weeks, months or even years!
I still think you usually will kill less fish by C&R, but the point im trying to make is that its impossible to know, anyone that says they know exactly how many are killed during C&R are BSing you.. when people just instantly assume that no fish are killed during C&R, well you know what they say about people that ASS U Me
It seemed pretty much split among most people about how many were actually killed during C&R, some thought many, some didn't think many at all, a few actually even said none were. I personally think in most cases there are less fish killed by people that C&R then people that keep fish, but I think a lot more are killed then most realize. It may seem rare to deep hook a fish so badly that it doesn't look like it will survive (maybe 1% of the time or less). But just because a fish looks healthy when released, it doesn't mean it will survive, even when the water is cold. The stress that the fish goes through from fighting for their life can be tremendous. most fish that are released will probally develop lactic acid build up, its basically the same thing humans go through when their muscles become stiff and sore after a vigorous workout, only its worse on fish because the same muscle that are damaged are the same muscles they need to swim, even If it doesn't kill them directly, It could make them much slower for many days (or even longer) And even immobile for a while, and far less likely to escape pedators like Bluefish, Sharks, porpoises, crabs, snapping turtles, even other Rockfish just to name a few.
If they are bleeding when released, they are at an even bigger risk from prey because the blood may attract the predators.
One thing that I and Im sure others have witnessed in the past while C&Ring many fish,Is that the released fish will actually attract predators and they will hang under the boat and attack any fish that is released, its easy picking for them because the fish released are disoriented at first, in a worst case scenario,if you are releasing hundreds of fish, most could possibly get killed, a single person C&Ring could possibly kill more fish then an entire fleet of Charters! I know it sounds far fetched, but its possible on rare occasions.
Even if they survive all that they may still be at risk from diseases from the stress or the wound they obtained from being caught, disease may not kill them for weeks, months or even years!
I still think you usually will kill less fish by C&R, but the point im trying to make is that its impossible to know, anyone that says they know exactly how many are killed during C&R are BSing you.. when people just instantly assume that no fish are killed during C&R, well you know what they say about people that ASS U Me
