Dr. Bettoli response "catch & immediate release"

MadBomber · Sep 17, 2007

<div dir="ltr" align="left">Mr. Witt:</div><div dir="ltr" align="left"> </div><div dir="ltr" align="left">My class enjoyed discussing your questions and working as a group to answer them to the best of their ability (and in the short amount of time I gave them to work on this task).</div><div dir="ltr" align="left"> </div><div dir="ltr" align="left">Their responses are in the attached Word document; if you have trouble opening it up, let me know and I'll resend it in another format.</div><div dir="ltr" align="left">Sincerely,</div><div dir="ltr" align="left"> </div><div dir="ltr" align="left">Phil </div><div dir="ltr" align="left"></div><div dir="ltr" align="left"> Biol 6150: Reservoir Fisheries Management Class

Tennessee Tech University

 Class Responses to Questions Posed by Alan Witt in an email to Phil Bettoli 9/10/07

 Are there any studies that show the effects of “catch & immediate release”?

 Comprehensive reviews of the literature on catch-and-release of black bass have been published. All fish will undergo a stress response when they are hooked and released; the severity of stress is influenced by environmental conditions (such as temperature, capture depth, and dissolved oxygen concentrations), fishing gear and methods (bait and hook type, landing time, handling time, extent of any bleeding) and the characteristics of the fish (age and length). Largemouth bass in good condition that are caught, landed quickly, and released almost immediately will experience low hooking mortality. Mortality becomes an issue if the fish is bleeding from a hooking wound, or captured in deep water. 



 What are the dangers associated with angling black bass in deep water?



 The primary danger to black basses angled in deep water is increased stress due to greater landing times and barotrauma. Barotrauma brought on by the expansion of gases in the swim bladder is the result of a rapid reduction in water pressure. This can occur in black bass captured as shallow as 16 feet and is common in bass captured in deeper waters. Injuries from barotrauma can include bulging eyes, internal bleeding, and everted stomachs (caused by the air bladder expanding behind it). In one study, researchers observed largemouth bass floating for more than six hours, which exposed those fish to high water temperatures, increased risk of predation or illegal harvest, and injury (from boat collisions). 

 What are the effects of “bleeding the air bladder” with a hypodermic needle?

Many studies on the effects of puncturing the air bladder have concluded that “fizzing” fish did not adversely affect their survival; in fact, it can improve survival if carefully performed. The practice is commonplace in many recreational marine fisheries where reef fishes (groupers, snappers, etc) are hauled up from very deep waters. One laboratory study concluded that needle deflation of the air bladder could increase survival of black bass that experienced barotrauma. However, the lack of field evidence supporting needle deflation as a method for increasing black bass survival has led the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency to discourage the practice. Performed improperly, this procedure could result in punctured internal organs and an increased risk of mortality. Suggested Technical Readings (next page)

 

Bartholomew and Bohnsack. 2005. A review of catch-and-release angling mortality with implications for no-take reserves. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries 15:129-154.

 Cooke et al. 2002. Physiological impacts of catch-and-release angling practices on largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. American Fisheries Society Symposium 31: 489-512.

 Davie and Kopf. 2006. Physiology, behavior and welfare of fish during recreational fishing and after release. New Zealand Veterinary Journal, 54(4): 161-172. - Access online at http://csusap.csu.edu.au/~pdavie/pdf/Davie%20and%20Kopf%202006%20%20Welfare.pdf

Feathers and Knable. 1983. Effects of depressurization upon largemouth bass. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 3: 86-90.

 

 Keniry et al. 1996. Effects of decompression and puncturing the gas bladder on survival of tagged yellow perch. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 16: 201-206.

 Muoneke and Childress. 1994. Hooking Mortality: A review for recreational fisheries. Reviews in Fisheries Science 2(2): 123-156.

 Shasteen and Sheehan. 1997. Laboratory evaluation of artificial swim bladder deflation in largemouth bass: potential benefits for catch-and-release fisheries. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 17: 32-37.

 

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Fuzzy · Sep 17, 2007

Loving the info Madbomber, thanks for posting. I recently had a 4lber die real quick on me, made me sick to my stomach Growing up in upstate NY, we always "fizzed" fish because thats what we always did. I already am looking for an oxygen system for tournaments thanks to the good Doctors info.

Fuzz

EricM · Sep 17, 2007

Thanks again, MB. Great to keep learning new things!

DHaun · Sep 17, 2007

Great work MadBomber - Thanks emoThumbsup

MadBomber · Sep 18, 2007

I really appreciate Dr. Bettoli's willingness to respond to our questions. Sometimes we get into discussions that really need an expert opinion.

I'm hoping he will continue to be a resource for us.

Fishin Fool · Sep 18, 2007

Thank you for your work and postings Allan. You also need to let the good Doc know that he has a big group of people here actually reading his and the student's findings and that we appreciate them very much.

BackOnTheWater · Sep 18, 2007

Fishin Fool - 9/18/2007 8:55 AM

Thank you for your work and postings Allan. You also need to let the good Doc know that he has a big group of people here actually reading his and the student's findings and that we appreciate them very much.

What he said...

Fat Albert · Sep 18, 2007

Madbomber, you are the man...I am so glad the good Dr. responded and it looks as if the dialog will continue...this is a good thing. "you done good" .... FA

EricM · Sep 18, 2007

There's a nice article in this issue of In Fisherman on the subject of c&r and paper tournaments. Interesting reading!

Dr. Bettoli response "catch & immediate release"

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