CATCH & RELEASE: DO YOUR BEST TO MINIMIZE MORTALITY
Oct 12, 2015 23:58:01 GMT -5
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Post by formula180 on Oct 12, 2015 23:58:01 GMT -5
Many anglers have discovered there is even more satisfaction in returning a fish to the water than there is in catching one.
By Fred Golofaro
Lou DeRicco releases a husky school striper back into Jamaica Bay.
Toothless gamefish can be lifted from the water by inserting your thumb into the fish's lower jaw. Large fish should be supported with a second hand between the belly and anal area.
Our marine resources, and especially our fish, are far too valuable to be used just once. I heard that said many years ago. I was probably no older than 12, and I believe it was Joe Brooks who said it during a televised fishing show, but regardless, that message remains vivid in my mind. Catch and release allows other anglers the opportunity to enjoy the thrill and satisfaction that comes with catching a trophy gamefish, and many anglers have discovered that there is even more satisfaction in returning a fish to the water, than there is in catching one.
While the concept of catch and release is a good one, it is critical that it be practiced properly. Many anglers are under the mistaken impression that because a fish swims off in an apparently healthy state, that it will survive. The more a fish is handled and the more time that fish spends out of the water, the better the odds that you are impacting on the chance for that fish to fully recover.
I have witnessed many well-intentioned anglers return fish to the water that have little chance of survival. Not long ago, I watched from a distance as a surfcaster beached a striper well into the 30-pound class. The surf was up with a long wash, and by the time he took the fish back to his truck for weighing and snapping a series of photos, the fish had to be out of the water for a good five minutes. As he carried the fish back toward the water, I thought he intended to wash the sand off before placing the fish in his cooler. Instead, he walked halfway to the water as the wash receded and proceeded to drop the fish on the sand, expecting I guess that the next wave and subsequent wash would return the fish safely to sea. Needless to say, the fish was rolled around in the wash and was last seen drifting west in the crashing surf.
Regardless of whether you fish from a boat or the surf, there are some critical factors revolving around the release of all fish. Time out of water is probably the most critical and should be kept to an absolute minimum.
Releasing any fish that you don’t plan on eating is admirable, but in a case like the above, nothing good was accomplished other than feeding crabs. That fish had zero chance of survival right from the start. First of all, trying to release a big striper in heavy surf does not work more times than not. Big stripers often need to be resuscitated which means being able to get in the water beyond the soupy mix of sand and shells, and work water through the fish’s gills. Without reviving the fish, it would most likely wallow on its side and be sucked out by the undertow, with virtually no chance of survival.
Regardless of whether you fish from a boat or the surf, there are some critical factors revolving around the release of all fish. Time out of water is probably the most critical and should be kept to an absolute minimum. There have been several studies done that reveal just how critical it is to return fish to the water as quickly as possible. A study done on trout by Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada revealed just how damaging subjecting fish to air (time out of water) can be. Trout in an exhausted state (caught on hook and line) saw only a 28% survival rate when exposed to air for 60 seconds. The survival rate jumped to 63% in fish that were out of the water for 30 seconds, and to 88% for those not removed from the water. Some saltwater species may have a higher tolerance, but these results provide a good barometer for the importance of getting fish back into the water quickly.
Obviously then, the ideal scenario for achieving optimum catch and release mortality is to keep fish in the water when unhooking them. In saltwater fishing situations, this is possible when wading, especially in calm back bay or inlet areas, and for those fishing from small boats, or boats with low enough freeboard to allow you to reach down to the fish while it is still in the water. Single hook lures such as bucktails and jigs dressed with soft plastic baits make unhooking a snap and there is usually no need to even touch the fish. Just slide your hand down your leader, grab the head of the lure and a quick twist will usually set your catch free. Every good fisherman should have a pair of pliers on them, or within easy reach. The leverage provided by pliers, as well as the protection they provide from toothy blues, and even weakfish, make them a valuable asset in unhooking fish quickly.
ARC Dehooker
The "ARC" stands for Aquatic Release conservation) manufactures a number of dehooking devices for everything from panfish to sharks and tuna. They are a great asset in helping to avoid removing fish from the water, and handling fish unnecessarily. Their Sportsman 16-inch Dehooker is ideal for unhooking short fluke, sea bass, weakfish, small stripers and cod, while the 24-inch Game Model is made for big stripers, blues and the like. The 34-inch Big Game Dehooker is designed for releasing pelagics like sharks and billfish without removing them from the water.
ARC Dehooker
Dehook
If you have any intention of keeping a legal size fish that requires being measured, the minimum length should be marked off on your rod, the boat’s gunwale, or somewhere that is easily and quickly accessible. It translates into seconds measuring the fish, instead of what could be minutes spent searching for a tape measure. Also, if you have any intention of photographing your catch, you should have a camera within easy reach, and it should be ready to shoot. Have an idea of where and how you want to shoot photos before landing a fish, and limit your photography to one or two quick shots to avoid leaving your catch gasping on the deck or sand.
Anything we can do to expedite hook removal, minimize handling and get the fish back in the water as quickly as possible, improves the odds of survival. The following guidelines should go a long way in helping you practice “safe catch and release.”
The use of single hooks where applicable and always crushing the barbs of trebles can make unhooking a snap. Hook removal is amazingly easy when barbs are removed. Always use circle hooks when fishing with bait. There is no question that the use of circle hooks results in a very high percentage of lip-hooked fish and reduces mortality associated with gut-hooked fish.
Handle fish carefully. There are many situations where fish can be released without removing them from the water, but if a fish has to be landed, avoid using a net when possible. Removing a fish from the net tends to increase time out of water. The netting will also remove some of the fish’s protective slime, which it needs to fend off disease and fungus infections. Netting can also cause damage to gills and fins in some cases. Obviously, fishing from some bigger boats requires netting a fish. Remove the fish from the net as quickly as possible and worry about getting your rig or lure untangled after the fish has been released.
Always avoid putting your hands into the gill area, and never insert your hand into the gills to hold up a fish. Hands should be kept free of the gill area at all times. Instead, use a thumb grip inside the fish’s lower jaw to pick a fish up. In the case of larger fish, use your other hand to help support the weight of the fish. There are several tools on the market that allow you to get a secure grip on the lip of the fish, eliminating any need to handle the fish. One, the Boga Grip, doubles as a scale and allows you to get a weight without any additional stress on the fish. Berkley has introduced a similar tool, sans the scale, but at considerably less money.
Most fish have to be revived when they are returned. Never throw or toss a fish back into the water. Resuscitate the fish by moving it back and forth so that water flows through its mouth and over its gills. Do not release it until the fish is able to swim free of your grasp. In the case of fishing from boats with too much freeboard to allow resuscitating a fish, release the fish by slipping it head first into the water alongside the boat. The sudden rush of water through the fish’s gills is often enough to energize some fish. This is a tactic commonly employed with species such as false albacore, tuna and bonito.
Try to avoid fighting a fish to exhaustion, especially when you plan on releasing it. Using tackle that is poorly matched to the job at hand can result in unnecessarily long fights, and an overly stressed fish. These days, even light action rods are amazingly powerful, and coupled with fine diameter braided lines that allow you to fish heavier pound test, it’s possible to pressure fish as much as you would with heavier tackle. Enjoy the fight but don’t “toy” with a fish that you plan on releasing.
Catch and release is here to stay, and each season sees the catch and release philosophy gain new converts. There is nothing wrong with taking fish home for the dinner table – it is one of the great benefits of the fishing game. Just don’t take more than you need, and please don’t kill a fish, then when you get off the boat or beach, wonder what you are going to do with it. Also, current fishery management policies mandate that everyone practice catch and release where size or bag limits come into play. With all of these fish going back into the water, it is every angler’s responsibility to ensure that they are given every opportunity to survive.
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