fish mortality

[guywhofishes]

So I've been seeing lots of posts about catching/releasing large numbers of walleyes each day. I forget the estimates by researchers - but a certain percentage of those fish will die.

I would imagine some of these posts come from the same folks who complain about people catching and keeping small or large fish, spawning fish, etc.

Seems hypocritical.

#$%^&>

 

[LBrandt]

If it's eatable size and I feel its not going to live in the live or {dead}well it goes and counts in limit.

 

[hoytslayer]

my general rule is a bleeding fish is going to be a dead fish, might as well throw em in the box. bothers me to see a fish floating behind the boat

 

[Allen]

Yep, if we wanted the law to "protect" the fishery, the rules would be a lot more like paddlefishing of yesteryear. You caught it, you keep it. First five walleyes landed are yours and now get your ass off the water.

 

[sweeney]

So you can watch people burn the line off with the cigar hanging from their mouth

 

[Migrator Man]

So I've been seeing lots of posts about catching/releasing large numbers of walleyes each day. I forget the estimates by researchers - but a certain percentage of those fish will die.

I would imagine some of these posts come from the same folks who complain about people catching and keeping small or large fish, spawning fish, etc.

Seems hypocritical.

#$%^&>

Quick releases are key as long as they are not a long fight especially on the bigger fish.

I keep a bleeding fish no matter the size unless it is too small to clean. Got to keep up the good fishing karma.

 

[JayKay]

Guy, you trying to start a fight?

I get you though. You hear of a guy who caught and released 100 fish, to keep 5. Don't get me wrong, I'd find it very hard to quit, when they're biting like that, but it can't be good for the fish. Some aren't gonna make it. Very few folks would quit, to give the fish a break. I know, you're one of them - I salute you.

Likewise, when 100 boats each take home 10 fish.. Why, that's more than 235 fish pulled out of a spot (Van Hook) in a day.

I'd guess that the Hook is soon going to be unpopulated.

 

[Allen]

So you can watch people burn the line off with the cigar hanging from their mouth

Arguably, that is better for the fish than any handling. Hooks rust away in about a week (depending on hook type, etc) and the fish swims away. Larger fish in particular are going to die if they are held in such a way as to stretch them out. Their internal organs are designed such that they need to have the gentle support of the water. Plus, handling them removes their original factory coating (slime) that is designed to keep them from getting infections.

Yep, pretty much anyone who catches 20 fish and keeps their 5 is guilty of killing more than their daily possession limit.

Of course, I don't actually have a beef with current laws and am just playing devil's advocate here.

 

[guywhofishes]

It is hard to quit - no doubt.

What I usually do if fishign is stupid easy is to try stuff I suck at "for practice". Usually it goes poorly - giving the fish a break.

Or I'll switch to "funner" techniques that maybe provide a more jolting strike, lighter test line, etc. to up the thrill factor.

Or maybe even try for something else (white bass for the smoker, etc.)

Or just quit and take a nap. Ha ha.

 

[Joe]

I'm at the point, that I catch 2 and call it a day. From June through July, if your aim is to have a freezer full, you should already have a freezer full. Bragging about a 20 fish haul proves nothing, so stop text bombing me 'buddy that is about to get an earful'!

 

[snow]

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is this time of year when water temps are in the 70's,pulling walleyes up from below the thermocline and pulling fish up to fast from the deep kills more than most folks realize from blowin bladders,eyes popping out and such.

 

[sweeney]

I don't know about your mortality numbers. If a fish is hooked in the lip or upper mouth on a slow death I'm guessing they aren't going to die especially if the fish is under 23 inches and pulled out of less than 20 feet, to me the key is to keep 2or 3 slots open in your limit so if you do get a deep hooked one and your to cheap to cut the hook off and "let it rust out or be digested" you can throw it in the box. Definitely see a lot of times where people are throwing gut hooked 12's back in the water only for them to float up, if you know they are going to die throw them in the box, once you get 10 in there you can quit. We usually throw the first half of a limit in the boat then leave any other slots open for fish that are hooked deep or in the gills. When we fish really deep water either bring them up in stages or box everything because as mentioned before when their guts are popping out the mouth the mortality rate is definitely there.

 

[Captain Ahab]

If you are fishing 30 feet or more, you should keep the ones you catch. Shallow fish released right away are probably going to be fine(if not deep hooked).

 

[BBQBluesMan]

I see a lot of people thinking they are Uncle Rico betting they can throw a walleye over dem mountains when releasing (throwing) small walleyes or other species that they don't fancy. Not literally throwing like a football, but a good toss back into the drink. That can't be good for the feesh!

 

[sweeney]

bass tossing isn't an Olympic event??????

 

[Sub_Elect]

bass tossing isn't an Olympic event??????

Only in your boat!!!

 

[cooter00]

They call them skip Jack's for a reason man...

 

[sweeney]

skip jack skipping obviously still is legit though right

 

[3Roosters]

What is this catching of limits that you guys speak of?;:;boohoo

 

[Migrator Man]

I don't know about your mortality numbers. If a fish is hooked in the lip or upper mouth on a slow death I'm guessing they aren't going to die especially if the fish is under 23 inches and pulled out of less than 20 feet, to me the key is to keep 2or 3 slots open in your limit so if you do get a deep hooked one and your to cheap to cut the hook off and "let it rust out or be digested" you can throw it in the box. Definitely see a lot of times where people are throwing gut hooked 12's back in the water only for them to float up, if you know they are going to die throw them in the box, once you get 10 in there you can quit. We usually throw the first half of a limit in the boat then leave any other slots open for fish that are hooked deep or in the gills. When we fish really deep water either bring them up in stages or box everything because as mentioned before when their guts are popping out the mouth the mortality rate is definitely there.

I used to follow the rule of cutting the hook on deep hooked fish. I caught a deep hooked 13" fish and cut the hook right away and released it. It swam right away no problem. I went back the next day and saw a fish on the surface struggling. Went over to pick it up and noticed it was the same fish with my hook in its mouth. Turns out that fish wasnt going to make it as it looked pretty weak. From now on I just keep any cleanable deep hooked fish. I catch plenty of fish in the year so keeping a small one doesn't hurt or break my big limit ego....