Back in January, the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) drafted a conservation measure titled, “Proposal to Reduce Striped Bass Release Mortality.” In this proposal, two measures were being considered: the prohibition of the use of gaffs for striped bass and mandate of the use of in-line circle hooks when using live or cut natural baits when targeting striped bass. The proposal goes on to say:
The Massachusetts recreational striped bass fishery is primarily catch and release. Our anglers release about 93% of all the striped bass they catch. Discards in the commercial striped bass fishery, though difficult to quantify, are also believed to make up a significant share of the catch, and especially given the larger minimum size for that fishery. Studies have shown that about 9% of released striped bass will die from the effects of hooking and handling (called release mortality). Given that recent stock assessments have shown that fishing mortality is increasing, we think it is time to institute some broad-based and effective measures to lower the mortality rate and ensure the future health of the striped bass stock.
We have heard from many anglers that feel a no-gaffing rule in the striped bass fishery is a no-brainer. Using a gaff to assist in bringing your catch aboard causes significant injury to the fish and there is often no way to tell the precise length of this fish until it is removed from the water. Given that our fisheries release large numbers of striped bass that are just below the legal size limit, we feel it is irresponsible to continue to allow the practice. Numerous other Atlantic coast states have already implemented such a provision in their striped bass fisheries, including Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Maryland, and Virginia.
The mandatory use of in-line circle hooks is the single most effective way to decrease mortality in striped bass. There are many studies that demonstrate the efficacy of circle hooks in lowering release mortality in striped bass and other species. Deep hooking (i.e., when the hook catches in the esophagus or gills rather than the lip) is the major contributor to release mortality. It has been demonstrated that the use of circle hooks, as compared to j hooks, greatly reduces the incidence of deep hooking and therefore mortality. The latest catch estimate from the revised Marine Recreational Information Program indicates that Massachusetts recreational anglers released almost 13 million striped bass in 2017. If we apply the release mortality rate of 9%, that means over 1 million striped bass died after being released. That’s compared to only 300,000 that were taken home and eaten! Clearly the mortality resulting from fishing in Massachusetts can have an effect on the striped bass population. That’s why DMF is proposing the mandatory use of circle hooks for anglers using certain natural baits. A study in Maryland found a 90% reduction in mortality when using in-line circle hooks. Imagine if we could reduce the number of release deaths from over a million fish to 100,000!
As expected, there was some push-back from the angling community when this proposal was first made public. As someone who spends a lot of time fishing where the use of a gaff on a striped bass is not legal (Connecticut), I know of no good reason why a gaff should be allowed. I understand that the use of a gaff is pretty common in certain fisheries, but to think that it is the best way to land a striped bass, to me, is simply preposterous when such things as nets, lip-grippers and an old-school hand still exist. Striped bass do not have teeth to contend with, and they are rather docile when brought boat-side. Unless I am overlooking some sort of obvious reason, this seems like a no-brainer to me.
Regarding the mandatory use of a circle hook, I have mixed feelings on the subject. I spend a lot of time targeting striped bass, and much of that time using bait including live eels and cut fish baits (bunker, mackerel etc.) While there is plenty of science to back up the case for the use of circle hooks, they are only truly effective when used properly. For example, it took me quite a few tries before I found a suitable circle hook for chunking bunker that provided a similar hook-up ratio to that of a j-hook. However, once I began using the correct hook, I find it hard to consider that I would ever go back to a j-hook when chunking. My hook-up ratio has improved dramatically, I deep-hook very few fish, and when fishing from shore, the heavy circle hooks I use actually provide a more secure way to attach to the bait and I cast off far fewer baits. On the flip-side, I still use a j-hook with live and dead eels. Perhaps due to how I fish an eel, I seldom get a deep-hooked bass with an eel/j-hook combo. Further, when I have tried circle hooks for eels in the past, my results were less than stellar and I did not stick with it for very long. In all likelihood I just need to spend more time testing different circle hooks with eels to find the right combo.
Getting back to the public outcry over these changes, my guess is that the core issue for is a result of one of the biggest problems that WE ALL have as fishermen in New England, and that is opposition to change. Regardless of why change is proposed or enacted, or what said change is in relation to, we lose our collective minds when we are told by someone else that we can no longer do something the way in which we have been doing it for years. For better or for worse, we like to do what we do how we do it, and we don’t like to be told otherwise. But when there is rather sound reasoning behind the change, such as the case is here, perhaps we need to take a step back, take a deep breath and consider what’s best. Heck, if it works for my 6-year-old son when he throws a temper tantrum, then perhaps it will work for all of us, too.
