Releasing Fish Alive

In order to successfully return a fish to the water the angler must keep the level of stress a fish experiences to a minimal.  Stress can be caused by several factors.
 

  • lack of oxygen
  • removal of protective slime
  • hooking injuries
  • temperature shock
  • other poor fish handling techniques

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    Unless you are fishing a tournament or you've caught yourself a picture fish you are best off grabbing the hook while the fish remains in the water and shaking it to release the fish. This way you never touch the fish and remove it's protective slime coating.  If the fish is deeply hooked, grab the fish by the lip and use a pair of needle nose pliers to remove the hook.

    Keeping fish alive in a live well during tournaments

    If you are fishing a tournament on a hot day you need to give special care to the fish to help reduce the stress they experience while in the live well.  Here are a few tips that will help you keep your bass alive for a successful release.
     
  • Use ice made from non chlorinated water to help keep the water cool - make sure you don't cool the water too much or you risk shocking the bass.
  • Rock salt or aquarium salt will help reduce stress - make sure NOT to use regular table salt - the iodine it contains is toxic to fish.
  • Add some quinoline - quinoline is available at aquarium shops - it is a tranquilizer that helps keep the fish calm - just make sure you don't overdose your catch! Read

    •   the label carefully!

    Special Regulations for Smallmouth??

    Smallmouth Bass fishing has reached an all time level of popularity.  This, along with the increase in the quality of tackle now available has put a tremendous amount of pressure on the existing smallmouth populations.  Add in the pollution factor, competition with both native and non-native species, and a reduce forage base and it becomes obvious that we need to put in place special regulations to help protect our beloved smallmouth.

    The National Smallmouth Alliance was formed in 1988 in order to help protect the smallmouth bass.  Other conservation groups like Trout Unlimited have been successful in lobbying state fish & game departments to enact special regulations to help protect resources. It's time smallmouth anglers stand up and fight for the smallmouth.
     

    What type of regulations help??

    Across the country certain states have used a variety of special regulations to help protect species.  Catch & release waters have been highly effective in producing bigger and more numerous fish. Other effective measures have included artificial only waters as well as special "slot limits."  Slot limits are an effective way to allow minimal harvest while protecting fish which fall within the limits.

    In Texas, 3 different slot limits have been enacted for protection of largemouth bass - they are as follows:

    SLOT LENGTH LIMITS

         There are three slot limits currently being used in Texas fisheries management:
         * The 14 to 18-inch slot length limit has been used to protect medium size bass from over harvest on reservoirs where growth rates are slow to average.

         * The 14 to 21-inch slot length limit can be used to protect a larger size class of bass on reservoirs where growth rates are above average. This is a popular
         regulation where trophy bass management is desired. Only one fish per day larger than 21 inches may be harvested on reservoirs governed by this regulation.

         * The 14 to 24-inch slot further limits the harvest of large bass and likewise increases the chances for production of trophy fish. This limit currently is in effect on
         only one reservoir, Fayette County northeast of La Grange. However, plans are in the works to for to be implemented on Lake Fork.

         There also has been talk a "trophy bass tag" for Lake Fork lunkers. The tags would be included on all Texas fishing licenses. Anglers who catch and retain a fish
         longer than 24 inches from Fork would have to fill out all information on the tag and place it on the fish. The tag later could be sent to TPWD officials and a second
         tag would be sent to the angler.

    Also, catch & release only has been enacted on three reservoirs in Texas.   This regulation is used to manage strictly for trophy bass or to rebuild bass populations depleted by over fishing or catastrophic events. Above average growth rates are a must and recruitment should be low to moderate.

    Hopefully, sometime in the very near future New Hampshire Fish & Game will adopt some special regulations for smallmouth (and largemouth too!)

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