Catch And Release Survival Rate

[CWB]

I agree with Tom. I think the majority of the top guns really do care and are careful about handling the fish. At least I think they do. They have major sponsors and get paid something just by going out on the water and other obligations. The weekend warrior is another story. I've seen a guy actually toss back a short fish like it was a frisbee. Pretty sad. Dwight brings up a good point as well. Close tournaments during spawning season. There's a lake somewhere were they aren't spawning. I think Major League Fishing has the right idea. An official in the boat, and penalties if the fish are mishandled. Putting something like this in place at local tournaments might be a bit tough to implement though.

[RoLo]

Some tournaments tried catch and release boats for on the water validation and that doesn't work because of the nature of bass fishing itself is impossible to keep a boat close enough to the anglers without shutting off the bite. 

Tom

 

I'm not sure what tourneys you're referring to Tom, but that wasn't the format employed in Florida's C&R tournament.

There were no release boats in the pro-tournament held on Lake Istokpoga. Instead, a scale-bearing official

was present in the boat of every professional angler. If the referee seen your bass so much as touch the deck,

he imposed a brief time-penalty during which you couldn't fish. A penalty was also imposed for a broken line.

To spice up the event, every angler was kept abreast of his current standing throughout the day, right to the ounce. 

 

http://highlandstoday.com/hi/local-news/americas-best-anglers-try-their-luck-at-istokpoga-544452

 

Roger

[greentrout]

Not a tournament basser. But  I'm with Aaron Martens and Doug Hannon, don't fish for bass during the spawn. Pick up your

Crappie or Sac-a-lait gear and fish for a wonderful fish and let the old girls do their thing.

[porkleaker]

I had dozens upon dozens of giant, amazing bass wash up on my shore because of a poorly executed tournament. It was an exceptionally hot summer and I know this lake, they all went to deeper, cooler water and caught them, then released them in the shallow, oxygen depleted bay without giving a care. For me, that's like driving drunk, they should've have their fishing licenses revoked for 5 years and have to take a course on preserving fisheries.

[Catt]

The research data strongly shows no ill effects on the spawn. Few females drop all there eggs at once. Instead, they expel a portion and then move off to a near by breakline, bush, or grass edge.

It is this sporadic purging of eggs and the ability to spawn with different males on several nests that the annual spring bedding season from being severly impacted by large tournaments. Texas Parks & Wildlife Department biologist Clarence Bowling says studies have that a female (when handled properly) will simply locate a bed and an available male in the area where she is released and complete spawning.

GET A LOCK ON THE SPAWN by Tim Tucker

Ray Scott is not the father of "Catch & Release", he implemented it into B.A.S.S. rules after being lead to it by Pro Anglers like Ken Cook who is an Oklahoma Fisheries biologist.

[WRB]

Roger,

I don't get the Outdoor Channel so haven't watched the Major League bass fishing tournaments. I have heard about it and the format is interesting, eliminates poor bass handling issues. The time penalty was discussed a lot, as I recall the conversation the hooked bass can't break off or touch the anglers body or any part of the boat without a penalty being called by the referee. The penalty being a 5 to 15 minute time out from fishing.

They also have a no cull rule, you must decide if the bass caught gets weighed or released without weight with a 5 bass limit. Lots of strategy goes on. 24 of the top tournament anglers compete from both B.A.S.S. and FLW. Circuits

I need to watch this series, sounds very interesting.

Thank you.

Tom

[WRB]

Regarding protecting spawning bass from over harvest. What some of the trophy small bass lakes have done is buoy off a few of the spawning coves during the spawn with signs the area is closed to fishing. This keeps everyone out of those areas, providing sanctuary zones.

I agree that larger bodies of water have enough natural sanctuary areas that bass successfully spawn without additional help. The giant bass are vulnerable during the spawn because it's the time of the year these rare fish are visible and up in shallow water being targeted by recreational anglers, weekend tournament anglers, guides with clients and pro tournaments. Very few giant bass are caught after the spawning cycle is completed.

The survival rate of giant bass caught is low because they get poorly handled, photographed, weighed, shown off to buddies and a large % end up in a freezer, some on the den wall.

If every state had a program like theTexas Share a Lunker, giant bass low survival rate problem would be nearly eliminated.

Tom

[CWB]

Major League Fishing has an official in every anglers boat. If a fish is hooked. It cannot touch the angler or the deck while being landed. If so a two minute penalty is accessed. All caught fish count toward the total weight as long as they are legal. Angler must agree with the official's weight. Fish must be released properly and not just thrown back in the water. Constant updates are given. Could be the way of the future.

And if I recall, the first people to actively promote catch and release and probably coined the phrase were the guys at In-Fisherman. B.A.S.S. And others soon followed. I saw an BFL event a few years back where the bay behind where the fish were weighed in was littered with dead bass. This was at the resort that held the event and weigh-in. Didn't have to drive for miles to weigh in fish. Just drive up to the dock, bag and weigh the fish, and release them a few yards away.

[Catch and Grease]

So in the major league fishing tournaments y'all are saying the fish can't touch the angler during landing so does that mean you have to net them? Like is there a no lipping rule?

[greentrout]

I consider it unethical to fish for bass on their spawning beds. They are locked into their nests; they will not leave unless driven off by a larger predator (usually man or a drastic, sudden change in water temperature). A big bass is highly vulnerable while spawning. Often spawners are easily seen...and easily taken. I've seen fishermen throw heavy lines rigged with grab hooks to snag big females on their spawning beds. While most would never resort to a such a lowly method of gathering a trophy, many believe it's okay to catch bass on their beds with artificial lures or live bait. I'm a fisherman and a researcher, not a preacher. All I can say is that once you really get to know the bass, bed fishing simply becomes out of the question.

Doug Hannon -- The Bass Professor

[WRB]

I believe B.A.S.S. start catch and release in 1973 before On-Fisherman was formed in 1975.

In-Fisherman used the term Selective Harvest.

I wrote a article in 1969 for Western Outdoor News regarding releasing big bass during March to May and a warning that the modern bass angler could impact big bass populations. I sent the article to Ray Scott and received his reply that stated anglers couldn't possibly impact bass populations.

Looking back we were both right, my experience was with small reserviors and Scotts bass lake were massive in comparison; 2,000 acres vs 40,000+ acres.

I got a lot of hatefull feedback from local anglers and after a few years of beating my head against a wall gave the cuase.

Today the pendulum has swung too far toward C & R and the In-Fisherman Selective Harvest is a better approach.

Tom

[Catt]

The real story according to Bill Dance

http://www.billdanceoutdoors.com/bills-blog__2.php?p=406

[geo g]

I think most on the tournament level today are trying to provide the right environment for bass to  survive the tournament ordeal.  It is far better today, then it has ever been.  We have better products on the market today, and better built livewells and O2 systems in the new bass boats, to promote survival.  Are some fish going to die, YES,  but what is the alternative, stop tournaments?  I don't think so, that is a non issue.  The positives from tournaments far outweigh any negatives!!!!!!!  The sport is growing, lets keep making it safer for the fish.

[lmoore]

I don't remember what group did it, but I saw a study from a BASS Nation state tournament several years ago where they tagged all day one fish.  Not only did they find a high survival rate over the next several days, but something like 20% of the bass weighed in on day 2 were tagged.  Really surprising stuff, as I always assumed a bass caught today won't bite tomorrow.

 

Of course, safety/mortality rates will always depend on fish handling.   Things happen when you hook fish and you can't always control how deep/where a fish gets stuck, but you can always control how you handle it once you have it out of the water until you release it.  Just my opinion.

[Catch and Grease]

Do you guys think a bass can survive with one eye? I was fishing a spinnerbait around some grass and a good sized jackfish smashed it and I landed him and the hook was through his mouth and out his eye, I got the hook out and he swam off but then maybe 10 cast later it happened with a one or two pound bass. In his mouth and out his eye, I got it out as gently as I could but his eye was messed up but he also swam off good...

I don't see why they couldn't live with one eye but maybe the stress from losing it could kill them.

[F14A-B]

I believe B.A.S.S. start catch and release in 1973 before On-Fisherman was formed in 1975.

In-Fisherman used the term Selective Harvest.

I wrote a article in 1969 for Western Outdoor News regarding releasing big bass during March to May and a warning that the modern bass angler could impact big bass populations. I sent the article to Ray Scott and received his reply that stated anglers couldn't possibly impact bass populations.

Looking back we were both right, my experience was with small reserviors and Scotts bass lake were massive in comparison; 2,000 acres vs 40,000+ acres.

I got a lot of hatefull feedback from local anglers and after a few years of beating my head against a wall gave the cuase.

Today the pendulum has swung too far toward C & R and the In-Fisherman Selective Harvest is a better approach.

Tom

Tom, was not Ray Scott's B.A.S.S tourneys originally a Ten fish limit? Also I believe using chain wire stringer? Were not fish often Dead when weighed in? This is what I remember from being 14 in those years... Seems much has improved to be sure

[Dwight Hottle]

Do you guys think a bass can survive with one eye? I was fishing a spinnerbait around some grass and a good sized jackfish smashed it and I landed him and the hook was through his mouth and out his eye, I got the hook out and he swam off but then maybe 10 cast later it happened with a one or two pound bass. In his mouth and out his eye, I got it out as gently as I could but his eye was messed up but he also swam off good...

I don't see why they couldn't live with one eye but maybe the stress from losing it could kill them.

 

I have caught numerous smallmouth bass & walleye that had only one eye. They were all healthy looking without any signs of stress or malnourishment.

[Montanaro]

As long as they have one eye they will be fine assuming they have the capability of their other senses

[WRB]

The all American tournaments in '67, '68 and '69 had a 15 bass limit and the bass were eaten after the tournament during a fish fry dinner. The extra bass were given to local church's for charity.

I had a Coleman cooler "livewell" with home made aeration back in the late 60's and my first "bass boat" was Astroglass with a front built in livewell in ' 71. I believe the late '60's Skeeter, MonArk or Kenzie made a bass boat with livewell built in, not sure?

Tom

[Dinky]

The token care given to bass is driven by pressure from concerned sportsman and groups.

Indeed we do see a belated expression of concern, but their concern is driven by the profit motive.

Regrettably, delayed mortality from traumatic degradation can occur several weeks after the release

 

Roger

And you know this how???

[Dinky]

Roger,

I don't get the Outdoor Channel so haven't watched the Major League bass fishing tournaments. I have heard about it and the format is interesting, eliminates poor bass handling issues. The time penalty was discussed a lot, as I recall the conversation the hooked bass can't break off or touch the anglers body or any part of the boat without a penalty being called by the referee. The penalty being a 5 to 15 minute time out from fishing.

They also have a no cull rule, you must decide if the bass caught gets weighed or released without weight with a 5 bass limit. Lots of strategy goes on. 24 of the top tournament anglers compete from both B.A.S.S. and FLW. Circuits

I need to watch this series, sounds very interesting.

Thank you.

Tom

Major League Fishing actually counts the weight of every legal fish caught-there is no limit on numbers caught or weight. And they are penalized for mishandling the fish--including allowing it to touch the boat deck.

[Dinky]

Easy solution is for the state to ban all tournaments during spawning season like PA does. I also like the catch, weigh & release concept for tournaments.

 

 

The most recent empirical evidence suggests that tournament fishing and C&R of spawning bass pose no threat to bass spawn in a given body of water. Nonetheless, regional differences in weather patterns and type of habitat, and availability of forage could dictate different rules for different states.

 

Obviously, if tournaments had resulted in reduced spawns in a state it would have become apparent by now.

 

Overpopulation that is not supported by the available food supply can also be a huge problem.

[RoLo]

And you know this how???

 

In post #31 above I stated: "Delayed mortality cannot be accurately assessed, but is generally worse than projected" 

Delayed mortality is tough to confirm because holding-tank studies usually don't run much longer than 72 hours,

after which they become cost ineffective. There have been several instances however where tagged bass

and bass with conspicuous field marks like Dottie had, were used to substantiate delayed mortality that ran into weeks.

In the grand scheme of things, this is not recognized as a widespread event.

 

Roger

[geo g]

Rolo, you made an assumption, you have few if any facts! Dottie was caught and released a number of times over years of successful living. Dottie was also toward the end of her life cycle. Size alone would be an indicator of that. To get that big she was not a youngster. Dottie if anything, is an example of successful catch and release since it happened many times to her, and DOCUMENTED. There are few facts in your last statement, but a lot of unsubstantiated assumptions.

[WRB]

The problem with catching big female bass during the spawn is a high percentage are the anglers personal best catch and get over handled or taken home. When female bass spawn it is stressful and a few don't survive as a result, without being caught. Add the stress of being caught, put into a livewell, weighed, photographed etc and a stressed bass to start with, the odds increase they may die. These bass don't always roll over and die instantly, they swim around like a zombie and starve unable or no desire to chase or catch food.

If we use Dottie as a catch and release example, she was a star. Dottie was always caught off a bed, never documented being caught any other time of the year. Dixon lake is small, the weigh station minutes away from where Dottie was caught so she didn't stay in a livewell more than a few minutes and was handled by expert trophy bass anglers and biologists, ideal conditions few other giant bass had.

Tom