Research Paper: Consequences of Catch and Release... Help!

[mpspeer]

Hey all,

I am writing a research paper on the possible consequences of catching and releasing fish and I need some help. I know over popluation can cause damage to the food chain etc, but what are some other consequences?

Do any of you all have stories about your local ponds or lakes and over population etc.

If you give any facts or figures, please try your best to cite your source, but if you cant that alright as well.

I have found the topic titled "Bass Fillets" that has some info, but I cannot link you because I have less than 10 posts hah....

Thanks in advance!

-Patrick

[aarogb]

    Overpopulation can cause "Small Bass Syndrome".  It is not actually called this but it is what I call it.  "Small Bass Syndrome" is when there is so many bass that there isn't enough food left to let all the small ones grow bigger.

    For the source it would be: "I have just been on this site so much I became aware of it".  

    Also this is a very real and very common problem in many lakes and ponds across the world.

[zaraspook_dylan2]

    Overpopulation can cause "Small Bass Syndrome".  It is not actually called this but it is what I call it.  "Small Bass Syndrome" is when there is so many bass that there isn't enough food left to let all the small ones grow bigger.

    For the source it would be: "I have just been on this site so much I became aware of it".  

    Also this is a very real and very common problem in many lakes and ponds across the world.

In my opinion I think it would be very hard to overpopulate a lake, if it is an average size. I just see to much area for there to be to many fish, causing "small bass syndrome"

[T-2000]

How long does the paper have to be?

[Long Mike]

It's obvious that you haven't bothered to read the many articles that are published on this site.  OK, I'll do some of your homework for you.

http://www.bassresource.com/fish_biology/harvest.html

[Quinn]

I have learned from this forum that this is kind of a touchy issue with some folks here, some will refuse to keep any bass, some because they just don't eat them, some because they really want to let the BIG ones get bigger for others to catch.

I was swayed to the releasing side for a while but after awhile, I learned to understand that some culling will help keep the fish healthier, weight and size wise.

I would recommend contacting the department of conservation in your area, most are biologists and I follow the limit size for the lake I am on if I feel like cleaning them and I always eat the ones I keep.

just my $.02

Q

PS. Welcome to this forum from Mid. MO

[cart7t]

Exactly what college would allow some IMO's from authors like T-2000, zaraspook_dylan2 or dock_master 3 as a legitimate source for a research paper?  Can you cite a forum thread on a bibliography page these days?

:

[Fish Chris]

Hey Quinn >

some because they really want to let the BIG ones get bigger for others to catch.

Are you kidding me ? I don't let the big ones get bigger > for others to catch them < I let em' get bigger, for ME to catch them again !   ;D ;D

Hey, if somebody else catches a big one I let go, hats off to them (as long as they release it too) but I was thinking "first" about #1, secondly, about my fishing buddies, and then all of the other big bass C/R anglers ;-)

Catching and keeping a limit of smaller fish {in some fisheries} is not only okay, it can be a benefit. However, every fishery is different. Places that tend to overpopulate with stunted bass, definately need to have quite a few smaller fish harvested.

Other places with low numbers of larger fish, are best for C/R angling.

I tend to concentrate on the low numbers / big fish lakes in the first place..... but I am guilty of letting them all go, just because I don't care for the taste of Bass.

Peace,

Fish

[RobbyZ5001]

Is this for a college paper? If so your college should have database services which you could get GOOD legit information. Sources may include Web of Science, Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries Abstracts, and Jstor. Also check your library for American Fisheries Society journals.

[DawsonH]

You shouldn't be using opinions in your paper to begin with, if it really is a research paper. Second, like everyone else has said, this is one of those things that is a case by case basis, some lakes and regions will be harmed by to many fish being kept, while others suffer when fish are not harvested from them. Alot of this has to do with how fertile the area is, and what the food chain consist of. Go look up your area or state and use that, not what someone else across the country from you uses. You'll learn something useful for yourself, and you mite actually give someone else a good bit of information that they can use too.

[mpspeer]

whoa whoa,

No, I am not allowed to use IMO's in my paper, and if you read my post I didnt ask for them, stories are different (they are emotional appeals, which we are told to use).

I was just coming here to get "general public" (For lack of better words) opinions on the subject to go with formal researched information such as books and dissertations. (yes, I can get this type of information from the school's libraries and databases (for RobbyZ5001)).

I asked to cite your sources if you looked somewhere else to get any of your info, I was not going to cite any of you (cart7t regarding your post).

Sorry for the confusion, I just asked to gather information I may have looked over/stories regarding the subject, if any, so I can rebut the contradictions (which is only catching and releasing).

Thanks and Sorry for the miscommunication,

Patrick

[CRFisher]

I woud argue that there are no consequences from catch and release.   Barring some injuries from hooks, etc., it is as if nothing was done.    Now you there can be consequences of keeping the fish, good or bad, but there aren't really any consequences of letting them go.  

[cart7t]

I would strongly urge you to contact Bass Resource member Bob Lusk.

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?action=viewprofile;username=607F7E74727F63632525100

Bob was down at the KY lake road trip as a presenter and spoke upon this subject among other things.  He is a professional fish biologist that has his own consulting business.  I guarantee the man would be a wealth of knowledge on catch and release and it's consequences pro and con.  

[Paul Roberts]

Google BigIndianaBass.com for some scientific treatment of the issue. This might lead you to research that's been done. You can also try Google Scholar. Also...try contacting your state fisheries dept. Your biologists are versed in C&R as management tool. A real live interview would be great.

[coffee]

The one thing I can't stand is fishing with someone who keeps every dang fish they catch, like they are going to starve or something.  I see people on Kentucky lake pull hundreds of crappie out of the lake a day, not even caring about a limit, just because they caught them.  Then when the power goes out, they loose all of them in the heated up deep freeze.  It seems so wasteful.

My philosophy is to keep a few smaller than average fish for one meal for two, then let the rest go (when talking bluegill, crappie ect).  If fishing for catfish, I will keep enough for one meal (usually just one fish), but let the rest go.  If I am not catching much, I let them all go.  

[Quinn]

The one thing I can't stand is fishing with someone who keeps every dang fish they catch, like they are going to starve or something.  I see people on Kentucky lake pull hundreds of crappie out of the lake a day, not even caring about a limit, just because they caught them.  Then when the power goes out, they loose all of them in the heated up deep freeze.  It seems so wasteful.

My philosophy is to keep a few smaller than average fish for one meal for two, then let the rest go (when talking bluegill, crappie ect).  If fishing for catfish, I will keep enough for one meal (usually just one fish), but let the rest go.  If I am not catching much, I let them all go.  

That's kinda what I was getting at sorta,kinda...

However, I agree with the limits (size and length)

http://www.crappie.com/crappie/missouri-crappie-fishing/80012-what-keeper.html

this is a question I asked

[Bob Lusk]

Catch and release is a tool that fisheries biologists use to allow fish to grow. It is only a temporary tool.

For example, catch and release is used where populations of fish are under heavy fishing pressure, especially young lakes. Catch and release is only used to protect fish to allow them to continue to grow.

But, each lake eventually reaches a point where catch and release is detrimental. I've personally seen hundreds of private lakes ruined by practicing catch and release. Here's what I mean.

A lake is similar to a garden. It fills with water, we stock it and the fish grow. At some point, there's a bounty. The biologist's job is to figure out what the bounty is and begin harvest. That's where "slot limits" come into play.

If a lake isn't properly harvested, certain size ranges of fish become overpopulated and begin to run out of food. When that happens, their growth rates plummet and they begin to lose weight.

So, here's your answer.

Catch and release is a great tool for new lakes or for fish populations that need to be protected for a given amount of time.

Catch and release, if practiced too long, can ruin a fishery.

Every fishery is dynamic. It ebbs and flows, fish spawn, grow, are eaten and eat each other. When the predator base grows too large, the dynamics cease. When that happens, the fishery produces fish that no one wants.