2023 Fishing Resolution: We've read many Catch and Release debates here on the Stage and it made me think about my methods. I've gone deeper into this subject reading studies and...

NoCal Steve Loc: Dunnigan, CA

We've read many Catch and Release debates here on the Stage and it made me think about my methods. I've gone deeper into this subject reading studies and statistical analysis of mortality rates. One controversial study concludes the mortality rate caused by tournaments is 40%. No doubt that study contributed to some of the changes in format we've seen lately. But, the data that is generally accepted and used comes from a metastudy (I think that was the name). A metastudy looks at all the studies that have been done to mine data. The mortality rate for largemouth bass from catch and release is between 18 and 19%. For every 100 bass released almost 20 will die! For Striped bass it is less than 6%. For trout, more than 20%. The duration and difficulty of the fight, time out of the water, and handling of the fish are identified as the biggest contributors to mortality.
All of this information is to help you understand why I decided 2023 is going to have a New Year's resolution to reduce my catch and release mortality rate. Here is a list of the things I am doing towards that goal.
1. 90% of my fishing is catch and release. The two live wells on my boat will be converted to storage compartments. One live well will be available to use for those times one is needed.
2. Experiment with barbless hooks to determine if using them 100% is possible.
3. Fish smaller than 2 lbs, every effort will be made to release it without removing the fish from the water. Small fish have less oxygenated blood and can get beat up pretty bad during the fight.
4. Fish brought on board will be secure in a net to prevent getting lose and flopping around the boat. Camera, pliers and anything else will be out and ready to use. I will touch the fish as little as possible, take pictures, and remove baits, quickly. Then. return the fish to the water as fast as I can. Allow the fish to recover inside the landing net in the water as needed.
Here is my thing...if I practice catch and release it just doesn't make sense for me to not do everything I can for my fish to survive. I want to do better than 18%. I hope that many of you will read this and decide to adopt my 2023 resolution to reduce your catch and release mortality rate.

nutz4fish Loc: Colchester, CT

NoCal Steve wrote:

We've read many Catch and Release debates here on the Stage and it made me think about my methods. I've gone deeper into this subject reading studies and statistical analysis of mortality rates. One controversial study concludes the mortality rate caused by tournaments is 40%. No doubt that study contributed to some of the changes in format we've seen lately. But, the data that is generally accepted and used comes from a metastudy (I think that was the name). A metastudy looks at all the studies that have been done to mine data. The mortality rate for largemouth bass from catch and release is between 18 and 19%. For every 100 bass released almost 20 will die! For Striped bass it is less than 6%. For trout, more than 20%. The duration and difficulty of the fight, time out of the water, and handling of the fish are identified as the biggest contributors to mortality.
All of this information is to help you understand why I decided 2023 is going to have a New Year's resolution to reduce my catch and release mortality rate. Here is a list of the things I am doing towards that goal.
1. 90% of my fishing is catch and release. The two live wells on my boat will be converted to storage compartments. One live well will be available to use for those times one is needed.
2. Experiment with barbless hooks to determine if using them 100% is possible.
3. Fish smaller than 2 lbs, every effort will be made to release it without removing the fish from the water. Small fish have less oxygenated blood and can get beat up pretty bad during the fight.
4. Fish brought on board will be secure in a net to prevent getting lose and flopping around the boat. Camera, pliers and anything else will be out and ready to use. I will touch the fish as little as possible, take pictures, and remove baits, quickly. Then. return the fish to the water as fast as I can. Allow the fish to recover inside the landing net in the water as needed.
Here is my thing...if I practice catch and release it just doesn't make sense for me to not do everything I can for my fish to survive. I want to do better than 18%. I hope that many of you will read this and decide to adopt my 2023 resolution to reduce your catch and release mortality rate.

We've read many Catch and Release debates here on ... (show quote)

Steve... C&R is great, not that's there's anything wrong with catch & eat. After seeing the damage inflicted on fish by my net, I changed over to rubber netting type, and what a difference ! No scales ripped off, and no gill plate edge damage. Much less slime coat loss. To me, well worth the additional expense, especially considering all the $ I have used for the other gear.
Barbless hooks will result in losing a few fish. If you don't plan to harvest them, so what? Not any big deal. Just Thinkin'.

OJdidit Loc: Oak Creek Wisconsin

Been doing that for many years, but I will try to convert to barbless hooks in effort to save more for the next person!

HenryG Loc: Falmouth Cape Cod Massachusetts

NoCal Steve wrote:

We've read many Catch and Release debates here on the Stage and it made me think about my methods. I've gone deeper into this subject reading studies and statistical analysis of mortality rates. One controversial study concludes the mortality rate caused by tournaments is 40%. No doubt that study contributed to some of the changes in format we've seen lately. But, the data that is generally accepted and used comes from a metastudy (I think that was the name). A metastudy looks at all the studies that have been done to mine data. The mortality rate for largemouth bass from catch and release is between 18 and 19%. For every 100 bass released almost 20 will die! For Striped bass it is less than 6%. For trout, more than 20%. The duration and difficulty of the fight, time out of the water, and handling of the fish are identified as the biggest contributors to mortality.
All of this information is to help you understand why I decided 2023 is going to have a New Year's resolution to reduce my catch and release mortality rate. Here is a list of the things I am doing towards that goal.
1. 90% of my fishing is catch and release. The two live wells on my boat will be converted to storage compartments. One live well will be available to use for those times one is needed.
2. Experiment with barbless hooks to determine if using them 100% is possible.
3. Fish smaller than 2 lbs, every effort will be made to release it without removing the fish from the water. Small fish have less oxygenated blood and can get beat up pretty bad during the fight.
4. Fish brought on board will be secure in a net to prevent getting lose and flopping around the boat. Camera, pliers and anything else will be out and ready to use. I will touch the fish as little as possible, take pictures, and remove baits, quickly. Then. return the fish to the water as fast as I can. Allow the fish to recover inside the landing net in the water as needed.
Here is my thing...if I practice catch and release it just doesn't make sense for me to not do everything I can for my fish to survive. I want to do better than 18%. I hope that many of you will read this and decide to adopt my 2023 resolution to reduce your catch and release mortality rate.

We've read many Catch and Release debates here on ... (show quote)

You got my vote Steve🙂👍

Flytier Loc: Wilmington Delaware

NoCal Steve wrote:

We've read many Catch and Release debates here on the Stage and it made me think about my methods. I've gone deeper into this subject reading studies and statistical analysis of mortality rates. One controversial study concludes the mortality rate caused by tournaments is 40%. No doubt that study contributed to some of the changes in format we've seen lately. But, the data that is generally accepted and used comes from a metastudy (I think that was the name). A metastudy looks at all the studies that have been done to mine data. The mortality rate for largemouth bass from catch and release is between 18 and 19%. For every 100 bass released almost 20 will die! For Striped bass it is less than 6%. For trout, more than 20%. The duration and difficulty of the fight, time out of the water, and handling of the fish are identified as the biggest contributors to mortality.
All of this information is to help you understand why I decided 2023 is going to have a New Year's resolution to reduce my catch and release mortality rate. Here is a list of the things I am doing towards that goal.
1. 90% of my fishing is catch and release. The two live wells on my boat will be converted to storage compartments. One live well will be available to use for those times one is needed.
2. Experiment with barbless hooks to determine if using them 100% is possible.
3. Fish smaller than 2 lbs, every effort will be made to release it without removing the fish from the water. Small fish have less oxygenated blood and can get beat up pretty bad during the fight.
4. Fish brought on board will be secure in a net to prevent getting lose and flopping around the boat. Camera, pliers and anything else will be out and ready to use. I will touch the fish as little as possible, take pictures, and remove baits, quickly. Then. return the fish to the water as fast as I can. Allow the fish to recover inside the landing net in the water as needed.
Here is my thing...if I practice catch and release it just doesn't make sense for me to not do everything I can for my fish to survive. I want to do better than 18%. I hope that many of you will read this and decide to adopt my 2023 resolution to reduce your catch and release mortality rate.

We've read many Catch and Release debates here on ... (show quote)

You have obviously given this a lot of thought and come up with some very useful suggestions. I like your ideas and probably will try to use them. Already have the net, used one for years. Crushing the barbs down all you need is a pair of pliers. Care in handling the fish shoukd be there already.

audigger53 Loc: Severn, MD

Circle Hooks that are NOT with a twist to them will also help. More lip hooking with them.

Grizzly 17 Loc: South central Pa

NoCal Steve wrote:

We've read many Catch and Release debates here on the Stage and it made me think about my methods. I've gone deeper into this subject reading studies and statistical analysis of mortality rates. One controversial study concludes the mortality rate caused by tournaments is 40%. No doubt that study contributed to some of the changes in format we've seen lately. But, the data that is generally accepted and used comes from a metastudy (I think that was the name). A metastudy looks at all the studies that have been done to mine data. The mortality rate for largemouth bass from catch and release is between 18 and 19%. For every 100 bass released almost 20 will die! For Striped bass it is less than 6%. For trout, more than 20%. The duration and difficulty of the fight, time out of the water, and handling of the fish are identified as the biggest contributors to mortality.
All of this information is to help you understand why I decided 2023 is going to have a New Year's resolution to reduce my catch and release mortality rate. Here is a list of the things I am doing towards that goal.
1. 90% of my fishing is catch and release. The two live wells on my boat will be converted to storage compartments. One live well will be available to use for those times one is needed.
2. Experiment with barbless hooks to determine if using them 100% is possible.
3. Fish smaller than 2 lbs, every effort will be made to release it without removing the fish from the water. Small fish have less oxygenated blood and can get beat up pretty bad during the fight.
4. Fish brought on board will be secure in a net to prevent getting lose and flopping around the boat. Camera, pliers and anything else will be out and ready to use. I will touch the fish as little as possible, take pictures, and remove baits, quickly. Then. return the fish to the water as fast as I can. Allow the fish to recover inside the landing net in the water as needed.
Here is my thing...if I practice catch and release it just doesn't make sense for me to not do everything I can for my fish to survive. I want to do better than 18%. I hope that many of you will read this and decide to adopt my 2023 resolution to reduce your catch and release mortality rate.

We've read many Catch and Release debates here on ... (show quote)

I'm with you on that Steve. I never keep bass. Not that plentiful around here. My livewell has been storage from day one. I started removing barbs on some of my lures this year. Easier to remove from clothing n skin. Watch some of the pros on there fishing shows. They just toss the fish back. Drop them tail first flip them so they land on the sides. Real bad example. Everyone has to follow their own morals. Due to too many livewell tournaments n too many guides for people that pay $350 for a 4 hr trip. A section of the Susquehanna River that was considered to be one of the premier smallmouth fisheries in the world was almost wiped out. Pa has been trying to bring it back. This will always be a controversial topic. 👍🎣

Grizzly 17 Loc: South central Pa

nutz4fish wrote:

Steve... C&R is great, not that's there's anyt... (show quote)

Nutz I switched to rubber or rubberized netsover 20 years ago. Got tired of trying to get the hooks outa the string nets. 👍👍

Grizzly 17 Loc: South central Pa

audigger53 wrote:

Circle Hooks that are NOT with a twist to them will also help. More lip hooking with them.

Aud being from MD you know how strict they are about hooks. Inline circle hooks only in many cases. Striper got very depleted at one point. 👍

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

NoCal Steve wrote:

We've read many Catch and Release debates here on the Stage and it made me think about my methods. I've gone deeper into this subject reading studies and statistical analysis of mortality rates. One controversial study concludes the mortality rate caused by tournaments is 40%. No doubt that study contributed to some of the changes in format we've seen lately. But, the data that is generally accepted and used comes from a metastudy (I think that was the name). A metastudy looks at all the studies that have been done to mine data. The mortality rate for largemouth bass from catch and release is between 18 and 19%. For every 100 bass released almost 20 will die! For Striped bass it is less than 6%. For trout, more than 20%. The duration and difficulty of the fight, time out of the water, and handling of the fish are identified as the biggest contributors to mortality.
All of this information is to help you understand why I decided 2023 is going to have a New Year's resolution to reduce my catch and release mortality rate. Here is a list of the things I am doing towards that goal.
1. 90% of my fishing is catch and release. The two live wells on my boat will be converted to storage compartments. One live well will be available to use for those times one is needed.
2. Experiment with barbless hooks to determine if using them 100% is possible.
3. Fish smaller than 2 lbs, every effort will be made to release it without removing the fish from the water. Small fish have less oxygenated blood and can get beat up pretty bad during the fight.
4. Fish brought on board will be secure in a net to prevent getting lose and flopping around the boat. Camera, pliers and anything else will be out and ready to use. I will touch the fish as little as possible, take pictures, and remove baits, quickly. Then. return the fish to the water as fast as I can. Allow the fish to recover inside the landing net in the water as needed.
Here is my thing...if I practice catch and release it just doesn't make sense for me to not do everything I can for my fish to survive. I want to do better than 18%. I hope that many of you will read this and decide to adopt my 2023 resolution to reduce your catch and release mortality rate.

We've read many Catch and Release debates here on ... (show quote)

I've been trying to do the same thing for years Steve. I use a rubber net and a wet cotton rag to hold fish for unhooking , and clipping onto my scale. The rag keeps the fish moist and prevents it flopping out of your grip and landing on the deck. I've been experimenting with mashing down the barbs on worm, and wacky hooks. Barbless hooks in most Bass styles don't exist. Also add a pair of wire cutters , heavy enough to cut through a 5/0 worm hook, just in case.

nutz4fish Loc: Colchester, CT

Grizzly 17 wrote:

Nutz I switched to rubber or rubberized netsover 20 years ago. Got tired of trying to get the hooks outa the string nets. 👍👍

Yeah Grizz, I switched over way back too. Forgot about the tangled up hooks. Just one more good reason to change over.

Grizzly 17 Loc: South central Pa

nutz4fish wrote:

Yeah Grizz, I switched over way back too. Forgot about the tangled up hooks. Just one more good reason to change over.

I could never figure out the hook could dead center those little strings 🤣

nutz4fish Loc: Colchester, CT

Fredfish wrote:

I've been trying to do the same thing for years St... (show quote)

✔️👍🏻.

NoCal Steve Loc: Dunnigan, CA

nutz4fish wrote:

Steve... C&R is great, not that's there's anyt... (show quote)

Agreed Nutz... rubber net is worth everyone penny. The metastudy identified it as the best net to use. Happy New Year.

NoCal Steve Loc: Dunnigan, CA

Fredfish wrote:

I've been trying to do the same thing for years St... (show quote)

Fred... that is perfect fish handling advice!