Would you kill one for science ???

[Fish Chris]

Okay, so I have a buddy who is a fisheries biologist. He's getting ready to do some biological testing of a group of Smallmouths and Largemouths for age and growth testing.

He's asked me if I could please get him a nice (preferably 5lb +) Smallmouth, and a 6 to 8lb Northern strain Largemouth. Ahhhh......

The logical, scientific side of me says this would possibly be a "benefit" to the bass population as a whole (all bad for that one individual fish, of course) and would probably be the right thing to do. But ouch ! That is going to be a painful thing to actually carry through with.

So then, I think about it for a little bit, and I tell him > "Well it can't be a fish that I 'know' ! (remember my "old friends" post ?) To which he chuckles and says, "Dude, you have officially lost it" ;D

How would you feel about a situation like this ???

Just curious,

Fish

PS, Not to mention how the knowledge gained from these fish could be a benefit to the fishery as a whole, but from a personal standpoint, I'd really love to see how old (or young) a 5lb Smallie and a nice Northern strain bass, from my trophy pond really were. It would certainly help to calculate what kind of top end potential they had.....

[Catt]

Absolutely no problem at all

[Izzy3374]

I would say do it.  It would be hard for me too.  I hate killing anything unless it is for the greater good.  But I would say go for it.  If it can preserve our fishing resources for many many years to come, hell yeah.  

I do have one suggestion.  I would take the fish from waters where there are is little fishing pressure.

Ask him if he wants some 2 lb LMB.  I need to get rid of some out of my lake so they will grow.  To d*** overpopulated.  JK. I could get in trouble for taking fish out of the lake.

[Fish Chris]

Thanks guys.

Hey Izzy, he wanted them specifically from the 'trophy pond'..... As they already have a good idea of the typical age and growth rates from other places.... But the $10K question is, "WHY do they get so big in this place" ??? Are they growing really fast ? (probably). Are they living longer ? (maybe).

Like I said.... Alright ! Alright ! I'll do it. But it can't be "a fish that I know"  

Peace,

Fish

[Izzy3374]

Hell, you probably know just about all of em'?

[WRB]

The catch & release ethic is good on one hand, over the top on the other. No one can have a 100% C & R survival rate, bass die from being caught regardless of the proper care and handling. Donating a couple of big adult bass shouldn't be a problem.

My question is; if this friend is a biologist why doesn't he shock a few for his research project? One bass will not provide much information about the species, it will be all about that one fish.

Fish at night and target bass that you have never met before.

WRB

[UrbanRedneck]

Ahhh, Chris my friend, you opened a can of worms.  Theres much more to the story than Chris is telling.

Now, go out and bonk that smallie.

[Mattlures]

I would catch him the smallest one that meets his criteria

[fourbizz]

I'll bonk a fish just out of spite ;D ;D

He's getting a 3-11 spotted bass from me.

[Mattlures]

Urban why not contact a local taxidermist who does skin mounts. I would imagine he would have a lot of dead bass for you to get "parts" out of?

[FordNFishinLover]

Urban why not contact a local taxidermist who does skin mounts. I would imagine he would have a lot of dead bass for you to get "parts" out of?

Sounds as if they are wanting it Strictly from the certain waters.

[burleytog]

I'll bonk a fish just out of spite ;D ;D

You beat me to it.  

[SMfisher]

this could be one of the hardest thing you have to do. good luck!

[tyrius.]

I wouldn't have a problem with it, especially since that size isn't the true "trophy" size in your waters.

I'd have a hard time keeping a 7lber out of my pond but that's because that is the biggest fish I've caught out of that water.  I'd "donate" a 4 or 5lber to science without thinking twice though.

[roadwarrior]

Geez...Those aren't even "big" fish. I hope you post the results

here, we're all interested in this type of information, especially

first hand.

8-)

[fishfordollars]

One of our local lakes(Lake Nacogdoches) is a slot lake that is strictly enforced. Several years ago our bass club was picked to catch as many LMB as possible to donate for testing. we were recruited by TP&W to do a study on the LMBV. We each had a written approval in our boat and were required to return to the ramp several times a day and put our fish on ice. Parks and wildlife dept. was there doing the creel count. they however, did ask us to bring in the larger fish for measurement and weighing and they were live released. Best I can remember we ended up with a little under a hundred for the survey. Most were 8-14" with a few 2-2 1/2 lbs. None any larger.

Only problem the lake patrol was not informed and it created several instances with them until they arrived back at the ramp and TP&W straightened it out.

So yes, I do agree that killing for science is ok.

[George Welcome]

There would be absolutly nothing gained with one fish sampled.

[tyrius.]

There would be absolutly nothing gained with one fish sampled.

Well the original post does state that the fisheries biologist is "getting ready to do some biological testing of a group of Smallmouths and Largemouths for age and growth testing. "

So, the study will not be a sample of 1.

[George Welcome]

Two ponds connected by a flow weir sharing the same water can produce drastic differences. An example of this can be seen here with Stickmarsh/Farm 13 compared to Ansin/Garcia. One lake produces many fish in the 10+ range, while the other only a few. They share the exact same water. These lakes are side by side and are connected by a spillway. Out of the SW corner of the Stick Marsh is Blue Cypress lakes which produces not only smaller bass, but also far less than either of the other two lakes. Blue Cypress is a stones throw from both Stick Marsh and Ansin. Three lakes all part of the same system, with vastly different findings.

There have been many studies looking at growth as it relates to age but the variables make the studies totally inconclusive. Growth as it relates to age will differ from one body of water to the next. Further, it is not needed to kill fish to do this study.

When a study of this type takes place you will find the biologist scratching his/her head as to why. If and when the why is discovered then you might see more lakes producing both numbers and size.

Some of the variables: Forage - Predation - Water quality - length of growing season (5 miles of separation in lakes can have large differences in seasonal periods).

The original post did state that the biologist was looking for one of each type.

[tyrius.]

There have been many studies looking at growth as it relates to age but the variables make the studies totally inconclusive. Growth as it relates to age will differ from one body of water to the next. Further, it is not needed to kill fish to do this study.

When a study of this type takes place you will find the biologist scratching his/her head as to why. If and when the why is discovered then you might see more lakes producing both numbers and size.

I think you may be making an unwarranted assumption in the type of study being performed.  What if this is for a completely new type of study?  

If it's only for aging purposes then I would agree with you that killing the fish is completely unnecessary, but if the biologist is worth anything he/she will know that too.  Therefore, it follows that this must be a more in depth/different type of study.

[George Welcome]

** Edited due to reference of a deleted post **

George Welcome is one of our professional guides, senior member of

this Forum and and highly regarded expert on both technique and fish

behavior.

George has a BS in Biology with a concentration in Zoology, MS in

Genetics. Please visit his website for additional information:

http://www.imaginationbassin.com/

-Kent a.k.a. roadwarrior

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