An ounce of prevention might be worth many release mortality percentage points in the future!
Fishing is a sport for glory. Everyone wants to show off their hard-earned catch. I don’t care who you are, where you’re fishing, how you’re fishing, or what your ability level is. If you put the time in and land a memorable fish, you want it recorded for bragging rights. It’s human nature.
With such strict regulations across multiple saltwater fisheries, this step is almost always followed by a more important step, a successful release. On my boat the proper practice of CPR (catch, photo, and release) is executed daily. Everyone has a right to show off their prized catch. It does no good however, if the correct catch and release methods aren’t applied.
What follows are a few catch and release basics, science behind the practice and ways to help sustain healthy fisheries.
Taking Responsibility
Sadly, improper handling and release methods from recreational fishermen account for the largest percentage of striped bass mortality. According to the data coming out of management circles, it’s a number that’s so high that it dwarfs the number of fish harvested by commercial fishermen. We must remember as fishing enthusiasts and ambassadors to the sport that it’s our responsibility to handle these fish with care. When you hook any fish on rod and reel, you’ve now triggered a fight or flight response in that fish. They know something is wrong and they’re now literally fighting for their lives. The fight that is all smiles and excitement for the angler above the surface, is a fight for survival in the eyes of that hooked fish.
By the time that fish is defeated and makes it boatside or slides onto the shore, it’s exhausted and full of adrenaline, lactic acid and other response-triggered chemicals. The stress level is extremely high, likely the highest that fish has ever experienced. At this point, the next step is to net or hand land this already stressed and exhausted fish and remove it from the water, where it will not be able to breathe. Improper handling will result in an important coating of bacterial slime being damaged or removed from the fish’s exterior, which reduces its chances for survival even further.
Lastly, after a long duration of stress, exhaustion, minor physical harm and lack of oxygen, the fish is expected to swim off with ease with little more angler effort than being tossed back into the water. This is a major problem within the recreational striped bass world, as it is with other popular species. With just a few changes to your approach, and some honest consideration for the well-being of these fish, we can drastically change the adverse impacts of catch and release fishing.
Anticipate & Act
Keep the condition and well-being of the fish you’ve hooked in your mind, even before hooking and fighting the fish. Be sure to use a net with nitrile or rubber coating to reduce the amount of protective slime removed. If fishing light tackle (my preferred style of fishing) try to fish with heavier drag to reduce fight time. If the fish has taken a long run or is running with the tide while fishing from a boat, motor up on the fish and quickly reel up as much line in as you can. As you’re getting closer to the end of the fight, anticipate and prepare for the coming steps.
| CIRCLE HOOK RULE |
| In 2021, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) implemented a coastwide rule that requires anglers fishing for striped bass while using bait – which is defined as any marine or aquatic organism live or dead, whole or parts thereof – must use a non-offset circle hook. According to the ASMFC, this shall not apply to any artificial lure (bucktail, eelskin jig, tube and worm, etc.) with bait attached.
ASMFC further defines “non-offset” as meaning that the point and barb are in the same plane as the shank (e.g. when the hook is laying on a flat surface, the entire hook and barb also lay flat). In terms of incidental catch, any striped bass caught on any unapproved method of take (for example, while targeting bluefish with a baited ‘j-hook’) must be returned to the water immediately without unnecessary injury. |
When I land a fish that I know is exhausted, I try to keep the netted fish in the water for as long as I can before actually bringing it aboard. Often, I’ll remove the hook from the fish while it’s still in the water. If a fish is gut hooked or has partially swallowed a hook, simply cut the line without pulling on the hook. If you can’t successfully remove the hook, you’re better off to let it naturally rust out on its own. Be sure to use circle hooks when fishing live baits and opt for inline single hooks in lieu or large treble hooks on your plugs.
When it’s time to actually boat the fish, I ask my clients to sit or get prepared for a very quick photo, emphasizing the fact that time is of the essence. Since fish are never naturally out of the water, gravity has a much different effect on them. Try to avoid holding the fish by the jaw vertically, especially larger striped bass; this can injure the fish and cause serious damage. Try to hold them horizontally, carefully supporting the weight of the fish, caring for its vital organs. And never hold any fish by the gill plates or by sticking your hand inside the gills, as this can almost certainly result in mortality.
As soon as you’ve taken a few pictures, carefully get the fish back in the water, holding the fish by its tail, with the head into the tide. Of course, the best course of action would be to not take a photo at all, but if you’ve taken every step to minimize time out of the water, taking a quick photo shouldn’t impact your release – as long as you don’t get carried away! Even still, sometimes the fish needs a little more help to survive.
Revival & Release
Reviving a fish is hugely important for a successful release. We need to get these fish back to a calm and healthy enough condition that they’re able to survive when we let them go. For a basic revival technique, especially in striped bass, I like to hold the fish by the tail and angle the fish’s head into the tide or down drift in a figure-eight pattern forcing oxygenated water through its gills. Be careful not to pull the fish against the water in the opposite direction, flaring its gills, as this can be harmful.
When they’re ready to go, they will let you know. You will feel them start to pump their gills faster and shake their tale as they regain strength. Unfortunately, sometimes the simple revival method isn’t enough, and the fish needs to be swam. This is especially true with large tuna but absolutely applies to striped bass and other inshore species, as well. To properly swim a fish, the goal is to force even more oxygenated water through the fish’s gills. This is only a viable option when fishing from a boat or kayak.
On a boat, put the engine in gear and steer into the wind or tide at the absolute s-l-o-w-e-s-t speed possible. Using a swim hook, small gaff, gripping tool or Boga grip, lock onto the fish’s bottom lip and keep the head pointed down into the water as best you can. Again, the fish will let you know when it’s ready to be released, by pumping its gills frequently, slashing its tail and even biting down on you. Swimming a fish can take a few minutes or at times, even longer.
There are times when even these measures aren’t enough. In late summer, during the ‘doldrums’ when the inshore water temps are at their highest, the dissolved oxygen levels are at their absolute lowest. This simply means that fish will tire and reach exhaustion more quickly. Have you ever noticed that you need to frequently revive stripers in late summer? Reduced dissolved oxygen levels are to blame. As water temps increase throughout the summer, I make a serious effort to reduce fight times and even adjust my techniques to keep from unnecessarily tiring fish out.
Striper Venting?
After all these careful precautions, sometimes the fish still won’t swim off on their own. This is usually the case when a fish’s swim bladder is over inflated. Many fish species have a swim bladder, a ‘dive tank’ if you will. This bladder aids in buoyancy and helps maintain their gaseous equilibrium while swimming from different depths. Under normal conditions, fish can regulate their swim bladder naturally. However, as a fish is hooked, fighting under stress and changing depths quickly, it’s unable to regulate its swim bladder properly. In times like these, fish like the striped bass need to be vented to reduce buoyancy and successfully return to the bottom.
Venting a striper is quite easy, and it’s something many of us who fish in the deeper waters of New England have had to address. Rest the fish on its right side with its head facing left. Place four fingers behind the tip of the gill plate and pinpoint the last scale touching your fourth finger. Using a fish venting tool or a small, hollow needle, insert it under that scale, going in about an inch on a 45-degree angle. You should hear air escaping, like popping a bike tire. When you place the fish back in the water you should see air bubbles coming out. Once the bubbles stop, the air bladder has emptied, and the fish should be able to swim down without issue.
| 9% MORTALITY |
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) – which is the management body responsible for the conservation and sustainability of striped bass – assumes that 9% of all striped bass released by anglers will die. These numbers are ultimately added into the annual catch estimates (see chart courtesy of ASMFC) which are used in striped bass stock assessments. So where does that 9% mortality rate come from? According to an article published in the May, ’22 edition of The Fisherman by Monmouth University professor John Tiedemann (“Why 9%? Striped Bass Catch & Release Mortality”) the 9% hooking mortality rate estimate comes from a study conducted by Dr. Paul Diodati of the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries and Dr. R. Anne Richards from NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Center published in The Transactions of the American Fisheries Society in 1996. “Their study, which was conducted in a high salinity saltwater impoundment, analyzed variables related to mortality of sub-legal-sized stripers (under 28 inches, the minimum size limit in place at the time) including hook type, hooking location, and angler experience,” noted Tiedemann, adding that the overall observed and modeled hooking mortality for their experimental group of fish was 9% with mortality attributed to some combination of angling induced stress and/or injury after fish were caught and released. |
Many bottom fish found in deeper depths have a harder time regulating their swim bladders when ascending during a fight. This can lead to a dangerous outcome where they cannot de-gas fast enough, a phenomenon called barotrauma. Barotrauma simply means too much gas has built up in the swim bladder has caused other organs to protrude, sometimes resulting in damage. Many southern reef fish, and even our own black sea bass will have their stomachs forced up, protruding from their mouths.
For tautog, visible effects of barotrauma can be seen when their lower intestine is forced from their rectum. This can potentially be deadly. When the intestinal protrusion is still in a ‘bulb’ shape, there is no real concern, and as they de-gas the intestines will move back in normally. However, sometimes the blow out can be so severe it will rupture the intestines. In times like these you will see a ‘sagging’ or ‘dripping’ piece of intestine coming from the fish’s rectum. On occasion, you can hear the intestines burst. This is a sad sight to see and usually results in death. We can help prevent this process. When bottom fishing deep, especially for tautog, take your time when bringing the fish in. Reel the fish up painfully slow, giving them time to de-gas during their ascent.
If you’re reading this, you’re likely an avid angler and lover of the sport. For many others, myself included, rod and reel fishing is more than just a passion, it’s a living. I want to share the joys of saltwater fishing with my kids and grandkids. We all need to work together to ensure the future of our local fisheries.
It’s a sad truth that most of the striped bass mortality comes from improper catch and release techniques. The good news is that we have the power to change that. Always try to limit fight times, within reason. Keep the fish in the water as long as possible. Have the right gear onboard for catch and release fishing. (ie. rubber coated net, swim hooks, gripping tools, de hookers and venting tools) Be sure to use safe handling practices with focus on supporting the fish and returning it to the water ASAP. Take time to revive the fish properly, even if that means swimming and venting them. Be mindful of barotrauma when bottom fishing in deeper water. Let’s all do our part, so we can keep our local recreational fisheries thriving, for years to come!
