Mortality Large vs. Small??

[numbskull]

Originally Posted by BigFish

I see statistics on mortality for released schoolies and many folks believe many of those C & R schoolies die within hours of being released! How many believe that the large or "Trophy" fish being released survive or is the mortality rate of these larger fish alot higher due to the length of the battle???

Larry, if you have seen statistics you would know that the mortality rate for released bass is estimated 8%......less on plug caught fish. 8% is a far cry from "many" so why would you propagate this tired rationalization to kill fish? There are kids alive today who might buy your plugs someday.........if we leave them something to fish for.

What people "believe" has more to do with threads like this than actual facts.

Here are some facts.....

usquehanna Flats Catch-and-Release Fishery
The rising popularity of catch-and-release fishing lead to the development of catch-and-release fishery in the upper portion of Chesapeake Bay known as the Susquehanna Flats. This activity developed despite regulations that prohibit catching or attempting to catch striped bass in areas designated as spawning rivers and areas during the period March 1 through May 31. A workgroup comprised of stakeholders was formed by the Fisheries Service to investigate what might be done to provide better recreational fishing opportunities in those areas without impacting the spawning stock or the reproductive ability of striped bass. The workgroup recommended that the Fisheries Service design and conduct a study that would determine the mortality of striped bass associated with catch-and-release fishing on the Susquehanna Flats.
Over a five week period in April and May 1998, three 2-day trials were conducted on the Flats. Participating anglers were instructed to use single hooked artificial lures. Fish were marked as deep or shallow hooked, transported and held for three days as in the other striped bass studies.
Two size groups of fish were sought for these experiments: less than 24 inches and greater than 24 inches. This size delineation was selected because mortality data for striped bass greater than 24 inches caught at low water temperatures in fresh water did not exist in the scientific literature.
The results showed that water temperature greatly influenced release mortality of striped bass caught on the Flats. Mortality was 0.15% at temperatures of 57-59°F, 4.2% at 61-62°F and 16.4% at 64-71°F. There was no difference in mortality between large (>24") and small (<24") striped bass at these low temperatures. More than 95% of the fish caught on the flats in this study were small males.