Post by uncross on Dec 12, 2012 22:05:31 GMT -5
I meant to post this last week, but have been out of town and crazy at work.
After the mention of a possible tournament last week, I figured we might get a "frown" or two on here from previous post on here and other sites. After an email I received last week, I think I was right. I sent an email to the head fish biologist in the region that I used to work, when I worked for VDGIF. I asked him his thoughts on CPR tournaments and asked him if he thought it would be a risk for added mortality for the fish. I told him the fish handling practices that had been suggested to use at the tournaments that I have fished, and asked him his thoughts on these handling practices, and if these were the best methods. Here are the fish handling methods I described.
1) Hook and land fish
2) Unhook fish as quickly and gently as possibe.
3a)Return fish to net in water
or
3b) Hook fish grip(tethered to kayak) to lower jaw and return fish to water
or
3c) Take one of the the clasp style striger ends and tether it to you kayak. attach to fish by poking a hole in the film under the fish's mouth (not through the gills!) and place the fish back in the water.
4) Get your camera, measuring device, and identifier out.
5) Wet measuring device
6) Place fish on measuring device and take a quick picture or 2
7) Release fish.
I just wanted an experienced opinion or expert opinion before I got others.
Here is his response.
Hey Jeff,
Good to hear from you. Glad you are having fun on the New. You are correct in that tournaments have been linked to increased bass mortality. Most of this mortality is associated with handling and time in live wells. The methods you plan to use should essentially put you into the same category as “normal” fishing mortality. These procedures should work fine. Since the fish will get released where they are caught, won’t be hauled around all day in a live well, and won’t get lots of time out of the water at a weigh-in; you’re doing pretty much everything that will keep the fish healthy. In fact, they will likely get more gentle treatment than they’d get from the average non-tournament angler. This type of tournament shouldn’t add any additional mortality to the population. Also, there’s a link below from BASS that offers suggestions for handling fish and running tournaments. I’ve been told it’s done pretty well, but haven’t seen it yet. Hope the fishing is good. Let me know if you’ve got any more questions.
Best,
Scott
www.bassmaster.com/sites/default/files/imce/KeepingBassAlive_guidebook%20comp.pdf
I could't get the link to work, but found it on another site. I will post it later.
After the mention of a possible tournament last week, I figured we might get a "frown" or two on here from previous post on here and other sites. After an email I received last week, I think I was right. I sent an email to the head fish biologist in the region that I used to work, when I worked for VDGIF. I asked him his thoughts on CPR tournaments and asked him if he thought it would be a risk for added mortality for the fish. I told him the fish handling practices that had been suggested to use at the tournaments that I have fished, and asked him his thoughts on these handling practices, and if these were the best methods. Here are the fish handling methods I described.
1) Hook and land fish
2) Unhook fish as quickly and gently as possibe.
3a)Return fish to net in water
or
3b) Hook fish grip(tethered to kayak) to lower jaw and return fish to water
or
3c) Take one of the the clasp style striger ends and tether it to you kayak. attach to fish by poking a hole in the film under the fish's mouth (not through the gills!) and place the fish back in the water.
4) Get your camera, measuring device, and identifier out.
5) Wet measuring device
6) Place fish on measuring device and take a quick picture or 2
7) Release fish.
I just wanted an experienced opinion or expert opinion before I got others.
Here is his response.
Hey Jeff,
Good to hear from you. Glad you are having fun on the New. You are correct in that tournaments have been linked to increased bass mortality. Most of this mortality is associated with handling and time in live wells. The methods you plan to use should essentially put you into the same category as “normal” fishing mortality. These procedures should work fine. Since the fish will get released where they are caught, won’t be hauled around all day in a live well, and won’t get lots of time out of the water at a weigh-in; you’re doing pretty much everything that will keep the fish healthy. In fact, they will likely get more gentle treatment than they’d get from the average non-tournament angler. This type of tournament shouldn’t add any additional mortality to the population. Also, there’s a link below from BASS that offers suggestions for handling fish and running tournaments. I’ve been told it’s done pretty well, but haven’t seen it yet. Hope the fishing is good. Let me know if you’ve got any more questions.
Best,
Scott
www.bassmaster.com/sites/default/files/imce/KeepingBassAlive_guidebook%20comp.pdf
I could't get the link to work, but found it on another site. I will post it later.
