Vincent,
Here are my references pertaining to this subject. As the references
show, there are many factors that influence survival- Water temperature,
type of gear, fishing depth, playing time of fish etc.
Although some research has shown that barbless hooks provide little
benefit to the short-term catch and release survival rates, I believe that
single-barbless hooks should be used in all catch and release waters, as
well as those that contain threatened or endangered fish. This
proclamation comes from my experience with the extra time and damage
incurred to fish while removing barbed hooks. PINCH DOWN THOSE BARBS and
keep a tight line!
Bendock, T. and M. Alexandersdottir (1993). "Hooking mortality of chinook
salmon released in the Kenai River, Alaska." North American Journal of
Fisheries Management 13(3): 540-549.
Short-term (5-d) mortality of chinook salmon Oncorhynchus
tshawytscha caught and released in the Kenai River was assessed with
radio-telemetry. From 1989 to 1991, 446 adult chinook salmon were tagged
with radio transmitters in four experiments. Overall hooking mortality
averaged 7.6% and ranged from 10.6% in 1989 to 4.1% in 1991. Mortality was
highest for small males ( lt 750 mm mid-eye length) compared with large
males and all females. Wound location and bleeding were the factors
principally associated with mortality. Survival of chinook salmon that
were hooked in the gills or were bleeding was significantly reduced;
however, the frequency of these injuries was small in all experiments.
Most mortalities occurred within 72 h of release. These results support
the use of hook-and -release regulations in similar freshwater chinook
salmon fisheries to reduce sportfishing mortality effectively and achieve
spawning escapement goals.
Dedual, M. (1996). "Observed mortality of rainbow trout caught by
different angling techniques in Lake Taupo, New Zealand." North American
Journal of Fisheries Management 16(2): 357-363.
Angling mortality was assessed for Lake Taupo wild rainbow trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss caught by four different trolling techniques and
released. Observed cumulative mortalities 48-53 h after hooking were 15.3%
for downrigger, 14.0% for wire line, 7.8% for lead line, and 2.2% for
harling. Both immediate and delayed mortalities for each method are
discussed. Ninety-three percent of the total mortality occurred within 26
h after release. Hooking injuries, playing time, transit time, depth at
capture, and fish length were not significant causes of mortality.
Potential sources of bias in mortality rate estimates are discussed.
Gjernes, T., A. R. Kronlund, et al. (1993). "Mortality of chinook and coho
salmon in their first year of ocean life following catch and release by
anglers." North American Journal of Fisheries Management 13(3): 524-539.
The mortality of chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha and coho
salmon O. kisutch in their first year of ocean life following catch and
release by anglers was examined. Five factors were recorded for each
landed fish: species, hook type, barb type, injury location, and
mortality. For the first time, a recursive causal model was used to
analyze hooking mortality data. The data suggest that hooking mortality is
better described by a two -stage process than by traditional logistic
models. Injury location is affected by hook type and barb type in the
first stage, and mortality is affected by injury location and species in
the second stage. Overall estimated mortality following release from
sportfishing gear was approximately 30% for chinook salmon and 14% for
coho salmon.
Lawson, P. W. and D. B. Sampson (1996). "Gear-related mortality in
selective fisheries for ocean salmon." North American Journal of Fisheries
Management 16(3): 512-520.
In ocean fisheries for Pacific salmon Oncorhynchus spp., there can
be several forms of gear-related mortality. Much research effort has been
directed at estimating mortality rates for salmon that are hooked and then
released. Also potentially important but not easily measured is mortality
of fish that escape from the hook before being brought to the boat or fish
that are removed from the hook by predators, so-called "drop offs." In
selective fisheries in which some hatchery-bred fish are marked for
retention and unmarked fish legally must be released, the actual mortality
rate suffered by unmarked fish depends on the harvest rate for the marked
fish, the accuracy of mark recognition, and the proportion of marked and
unmarked fish when fishing begins. This paper develops a model for
evaluating gear-related mortality in selective fisheries and explores the
potential importance of several sources of mortality. Mortality rates for
unmarked fish are generally lower than the apparent harvest rates but
increase rapidly as harvest rates increase. In the overall mortality of
unmarked fish, drop-off mortality could be as important as hook-and
-release mortality.
Lee, W. C. and E. P. Bergersen (1996). "Influence of thermal and oxygen
stratification on lake trout hooking mortality." North American Journal of
Fisheries Management 16(1): 175-181.
We used dart tags and biotelemetry to determine the influence of
thermal and oxygen stratification on the mortality of larger take trout
Salvelinus namaycush ( gt 560 mm) that were hooked and released in Lake
Granby, Colorado, in 1990-1992. During August and September, suitable
thermal refuges ( lt 12 degree C) contained inadequate dissolved oxygen (3
mg/L) for lake trout. Mortality was 87.5% for the fish released during
this critical late-summer period, but only 11.7% for fish released when
the thermal refuge contained adequate dissolved oxygen ( gt 3 mg/L). We
recaptured 5.7% of fish marked in summer with dart tags and 10.1% of fish
tagged during the rest of the year. Higher mortality of fish tagged in
summer was probably caused by the lack of adequate dissolved oxygen in the
thermal refuge during late summer. We believe that slot length limits for
larger fish may not achieve management goals for Lake Granby because large
take trout have slow growth and high late-summer hooking mortality that
may negate the intended benefit of slot limits.
Muoneke, M. I. and W. M. Childress (1994). "Hooking mortality: A review
for recreational fisheries." Rev. Fish. Sci 2(2): 123-156.
Length-limit regulations and promotion of catch-and-release
fishing have become increasingly important management approaches for
recreational fisheries. We review studies on catch-and-release (hooking)
mortality gathered from the existing fisheries literature and from a
survey of fisheries management agencies in all 50 states, the U.S.
government, all Canadian provinces, and selected academic and research
institutions. We identified hooking mortality estimates for 32 taxa. Most
studies dealt with salmonids, centrarchids (especially black basses,
Micropterus spp.), and percids (especially walleye, Stizostedion vitreum).
Within and among species, differences in percent mortality were reported
in association with bait type (artificial vs. natural), hook type (number
of hooks, hook size, and barbs), season/temperature, water depth
(depressurization), anatomical location of hook wound, and individual
size. Although most hooking mortalities occur within 24 h, the use of
initial plus delayed mortality provides a more complete estimate of
mortality. Single hooks (especially when used in conjunction with natural
baits) resulted in higher mortalities than treble hooks. Environmental
conditions (notably high water temperature and low dissolved oxygen) are
important to overall mortality related to hooking, playing, and handling.
Mortalities were highly variable; occasionally exceeding 30% among red
drum (Sciaenops ocellatus), smallmouth bass (M. dolomieu), largemouth bass
(M. salmoides), cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki), and catfishes
(Ictaluridae), and 68% among spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus),
bluegills (Lepomis macrochirus), crappies, (Pomoxis spp.), striped bass
(Morone saxatilis), and coho salmon (O. kisutch). Lake trout (Salvelinus
namaycush) and pikes (Esocidae) had mortalities under 15%. The many
variables potentially affecting hooking mortality may make optimal
management of particular species and water bodies difficult using
regional-level (e.g., statewide) management regulations.
Orsi, J. A., A. C. Wertheimer, et al. (1993). "Influence of selected hook
and lure type on catch, size, and mortality of commercially troll-caught
chinook salmon." North American Journal of Fisheries Management 13(4):
709-722.
Circle and J hooks of two sizes, plugs of two sizes, hootchies,
and painted spoons were tested to determine their relationship to
hook-and-release mortality of chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha.
Fewer chinook salmon and adult coho salmon O. kisutch were caught with
circle hooks than with J hooks. Large J hooks caught more large chinook
salmon than did small J hooks, but the difference was not significant (P =
0.10). Large plugs caught significantly (P lt 0.05) larger chinook salmon
and fewer coho salmon and sublegal ( lt 66 cm fork length) chinook salmon
than other lures tested. Wound distribution on chinook salmon varied (P lt
0.05) with hook type; circle hooks lodged in the periphery of the mouth
more frequently than did J hooks. Results indicate that, in a directed
coho salmon troll fishery, the use of circle hooks could reduce incidental
mortality of chinook salmon but would substantially reduce coho salmon
catch rate. In a quota-limited chinook salmon fishery, large plugs could
be used to harvest larger fish selectively, thereby reducing encounters
with sublegal fish.
Pauley, G. B. and G. L. Thomas (1993). "Mortality of anadromous coastal
cutthroat trout caught with artificial lures and natural bait." North
American Journal of Fisheries Management 13(2): 337-345.
The mortality of anadromous coastal cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus
clarki taken by anglers with worm-baited hooks of four different sizes,
spinners with single hooks, spinners with treble hooks, and spinners with
treble hooks baited with worms was investigated on the Stillaguamish and
Snohomish rivers in Washington. In all but two comparisons mortality of
cutthroat trout was greater (P < 0.05) from the four sizes of worm-baited
hooks (39.5-58.1%) than from the three different spinner treatments
(10.5-23.8%). The probability of killing fish was greater (P < 0.05) when
fish were hooked in either the gill (95.5%), tongue (66.7%), esophagus
(65.5%), or eye (53.8%) than in other anatomical locations. A group of
untagged fish that were caught on worm-baited hooks but hooked only in the
jaw or mouth were used as control fish to evaluate tagging mortality. The
mortality of the untagged group (7.4%) was not greater than the mortality
of fish caught on all terminal gear types and hooked in the upper or lower
jaw (5.8%), suggesting that mortality from tagging was not an important
factor. Mortality was positively related to bleeding at the time of
hooking. Hooking a fish in a critical anatomical part was the most
important factor causing subsequent mortality.
Persons, S. E. and S. A. Hirsch (1994). "Hooking mortality of lake trout
angled through ice by jigging and set -lining." North American Journal of
Fisheries Management 14(3): 664-668.
Hooking mortality was determined for 96 lake trout Salvelinus
namaycush caught through the ice by jigging and by set-lining with large
dead baits on Gunflint Lake, Cook County, Minnesota, in January 199 1. The
estimated mortality rate for all released lake trout was 24%; estimated
mortality rates for lake trout caught by set-lining and jigging were 32
and 9%, respectively. Hooking location strongly influenced lake trout
mortality. Mortalities of lake trout hooked in the gills or gut, inside
the mouth, or in the lip were 36, 29, and 0%, respectively. Seventy
percent of the lake trout caught by set-lining were hooked in the gills or
gut, compared with 9% of the lake trout caught by jigging. The lack of
mortality for lip -hooked lake trout suggested that capturing fish from
deep water (25-50 ft), handling in cold temperatures (-20 to 20 degree F),
fin-clipping, and cribbing had little-effect on mortality during the
study. High hooking mortality rates for lake trout taken by set-lining
suggested that the use of this fishing method should be restricted when
management strategies require the release of winter-caught lake trout.
Savitz, J., N. L. G. Bardygula, et al. (1995). "Survival of smaller sport
caught chinook, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (Walbaum), and coho, Oncorhynchus
kisutch (Walbaum), salmon from Lake Michigan and its management
implications." Fisheries Management and Ecology 2(1): 11-16.
The survival of small-sized ( lt 50.8 cm) chinook salmon,
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (Walbaum), and coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kitsutch
(Walbaum), caught by sport fishing was determined to assess the potential
for increasing the size limit for these fish. Fishermen were recently
catching smaller salmon than in the 1970s, but salmon growth rates had not
changed. To be an effective management option, the survival rate of hooked
and returned fish must be high. The overall survival rates were high: 76%
for chinook salmon and 70% for coho salmon. There was no significant
difference in survival of the coho salmon with size of hook used (P =
0.31). Any mortality among fish was generally acute; fish hooked deep in
the mouth or gills generally bled and died shortly after capture. Fish
hooked in the gills had a significantly greater mortality (P = 0.0002).
The overall high survival rate for these species was the result of a small
proportion of fish being hooked in the gills or deep in the mouth. Since
the survival rate of the salmon was high, the size limit could be
increased to allow smaller fish to grow to sizes preferred by sport
fishermen.
Schill, D. J. (1991). River and Stream Investigations: Statewide Data
Summary, Statewide Population Simulations/Bull Trout Aging and
Enumeration/Hagerman Bait-Hooking Study/Electrophoresis Sampling
Guidelines, Idaho Dept. of Fish and Game.
Job Performance Report. Period Covered: 1 March 1990
Existing fishery and population data were summarized for a variety of
Idaho wild trout fisheries. Simulations were used to describe the
potential stock structure of unexploited populations over a range of Idaho
growth; the effect of 12 regulations over a range of Idaho growth rates
were simulated. A pilot study was conducted to compare trout ages derived
from scales and otoliths, and three methods for estimating bull trout
densities and size structure were compared. A study was conducted at the
Hagerman State Fish Hatchery to evaluate a method of minimizing
bait-hooking mortality. Literature was reviewed and several genetics
experts were contacted to develop guidelines for electrophoresis sampling
in Idaho.
Schill, D. J. (1996). "Hooking mortality of bait-caught rainbow trout in
an Idaho trout stream and a hatchery: Implications for special-regulation
management." North American Journal of Fisheries Management 16(2):
348-356.
Mortality of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss caught and released
by anglers using number 8 worm-baited hooks was investigated during
1990-1991 at the Hagerman (Idaho) State Fish Hatchery and within a 2-km
segment of Badger Creek, Idaho. Cutting the line on deephooked rainbow
trout reduced postrelease mortality by 36% in the hatchery and 58% in the
wild during observations of 60 and 29-34 d, respectively. Seventy-four
percent of hatchery rainbow trout and 60% of wild rainbow trout that had
been hooked deeply and released by cutting the line shed hooks during the
same periods. There were no significant differences (P gt 0.05) in
condition factors among surviving control, light-hooked, and deep-hooked
hatchery rainbow trout. Seventeen percent of 281 wild rainbow trout on
Badger Creek were hooked in the gills or esophagus. Overall, hooking
mortality was estimated to be 16% for wild rainbow trout. No significant
differences in the incidence of deep hooking were observed between small (
lt 200 mm total length) and large ( gtoreq 200 mm) wild rainbow trout (P
gt 0.05). The frequency of deep hooking was associated with the type of
stream habitat where hooking occurred (P lt 0.02) and was higher for
catches on a "slack line" than a "tight line" (P lt 0.001). These data
suggest that stream locations where bait anglers actually catch fish and
the general habitat characteristics of a stream could influence
bait-related hooking mortality. Other factors that could influence the
compatibility of bait fishing and special-regulation fisheries for
salmonids include natural mortality rates, the degree of participationin
such fisheries by bait anglers, and the proportion of bait anglers that
cut the leader on ddep -hooked fish prior to release. Depending on
management goals, bait fishing may be compatible with special-regulation
fisheries for salmonids in more situations than is commonly believed.
Schill, D. J. and R. L. Scarpella (1997). "Barbed hook restrictions in
catch-and-release trout fisheries: A social issue." North American Journal
of Fisheries Management 17(4): 873-881.
We summarized results of past studies that directly compared
hooking mortality of resident (nonanadromous) salmonids caught and
released with barbed or barbless hooks. Barbed hooks produced lower
hooking mortality in two of four comparisons with flies and in three of
five comparisons with lures. Only 1 of 11 comparisons resulted in
statistically significant differences in hooking mortality. In that
instance, barbless baited hooks caused significantly less mortality than
barbed hooks, but experimented design concerns limited the utility of this
finding. Mean hooking mortality rates from past lure studies were slightly
higher for barbed hooks than barbless ones, but the opposite was true for
flies. For flies and lures combined, mean hooking mortality was 4.5% for
barbed hooks and 4.2% for barbless hooks. Combination of test statistics
from individual studies by gear type via meta-analysis yielded
nonsignificant results for barbed versus barbless flies, lures, or flies
and lures combined. We conclude that the use of barbed or barbless flies
or lures plays no role in subsequent mortality of trout caught and
released by anglers. Because natural mortality rates for wild trout in
streams commonly range from 30% to 65% annually, a 0.3% mean difference in
hooking mortality for the two hook types is irrelevant at the population
level, even when fish are subjected to repeated capture. Based on existing
mortality studies, there is no biological basis for barbed hook
restrictions in artificial fly and lure fisheries for resident trout.
Restricting barbed hooks appears to be a social issue. Managers proposing
new special regulations to the angling public should consider the social
costs of implementing barbed hook restrictions that produce no
demonstrable biological gain.
Schisler, G. J. and E. P. Bergersen (1996). "Postrelease hooking mortality
of rainbow trout caught on scented artificial baits." North American
Journal of Fisheries Management 16(3): 570-578.
The postrelease mortality of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss
caught on scented artificial baits was compared with postrelease
mortalities of rainbow trout caught on traditional artificial flies. In
all, 457 fish were captured on flies, 505 on artificial baits fished
actively (ABA), and 511 on artificial baits fished passively (ABP) in five
replicate experiments. Water temperature, fish length, time played, time
out of water, hook location, leader treatment, and bleeding intensity were
recorded for each fish captured. Mortalities were recorded daily over a 3
-week holding period. Overall mortalities were 3.9% for fly-caught fish,
21.6% for fish caught on ABA, and 32.1% for fish caught on ABP.
Differential mortality among gear types resulted largely from differences
in the number of fish hooked in the gill arches or deep in the esophagus
(critically hooked) in each group. Overall, critical bookings were 3.9%
for the fly-caught group, 45.7% for the ABA group, and 78.3% for the ABP
group. The Akaike Information Criterion, a model selection procedure, was
used to develop a logistical regression model that best fit the mortality
data. Parameters that reduced mortality probability include using flies
rather than synthetic baits, hooking the fish in a noncritical location,
and cutting the leader on critically hooked fish. In addition, as fish
length increased, mortality probability decreased. Length of time played
and length of time out of water contributed to mortality, as did
increasing water temperatures and bleeding intensity.
Taylor, M. J. and K. R. White (1992). "A meta-analysis of hooking
mortality of nonanadromous trout." North American Journal of Fisheries
Management 12(4): 760-767.
The results of 18 studies of hooking mortality of nonanadromous
trout were integrated with meta-analysis. Studies were coded for all
variables suspected of having a relationship to rates of hooking
mortality. The analysis showed that trout caught on bait died at higher
rates than trout caught on artificial flies or lures, that fish caught on
barbed hooks had higher mortality rates than fish caught on barbless
hooks, that brown trout Salmo trutta had lower mortality rates than other
species of nonanadromous trout, and that wild trout died at higher rates
than hatchery-reared trout. Other variables, including size of hooks,
number of hooks, and water temperature, did not show a statistically
significant relationship to hooking mortality. The results of this review
should assist fisheries management agencies in refining and developing
policies regarding fisheries regulations.
Turek, S. M. and M. T. Brett (1997). "Comment: Trout mortality from baited
barbed and barbless hooks (and reply)." North American Journal of
Fisheries Management 17(3): 807.
Vincent, L. D., M. Alexandersdottir, et al. (1993). "Mortality of coho
salmon caught and released using sport tackle in the Little Susitna River,
Alaska." Fisheries Research Amsterdam 15(4): 339-356.
Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) were caught with sport gear in
the estuary of the Little Susitna River, southcentral Alaska (USA). Fish
were double marked and released. All coho salmon observed migrating
through a weir above the estuary and a portion caught in a sport fishery
below the weir were examined for marks. A second group of coho salmon were
caught using similar sport gear above the estuary. These fish were handled
and marked identically as the fish captured in the estuary, except that
they were held in a holding pen at the weir with an equal number of coho
salmon dip netted at the weir. Coho salmon which were caught and released
in the estuary suffered a significantly higher rate of mortality (69%)
than did either the coho salmon caught and held above the estuary (12%) or
those which were dip netted and held at the weir (1%). Factors that could
influence rates of hook-induced mortality were measured at the time of
hooking. Hook location, hook removal, and bleeding significantly affected
the measured mortality rate.
__________________________________________________________________________
Scott The members of this genus (Salvelinus-
Craig includes Bull trout & Dolly Varden)
are by far the most active and handsome
Practise of the trout, they live in the
Catch & Release coldest, cleanest and most secluded waters.
on Wild Salmonids
No higher praise can be given to a
http://www.eskimo.com/~craigs Salmonid than to say, it is a charr.
(Jordan and Evermann 1896)
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