Conservation

The Gold Coast Lady Anglers partner with The Sportfishing Conservancy whose mission is "Recognizing that with privilege comes obligaton" and working on maintaining our beautiful resources.





News Item: Toss Back Tackle
(Category: Conservation Techniques)
Posted by TC
Wed Nov 03 2010, 02:22PM

The concept of Conservation and Catch and Release fishing is not new to this sport. It has been practiced and preached for years now, but in these most recent years it seems to be a more accepted mindset among both fresh and saltwater anglers.  The Sportfishing Conservancy has created a" Toss Back Tackle" kit. As the name implies, is consists of tackle for both private and sportfishing boats that we recommend you have at your disposal to help facilitate a successful Catch and Release program of your own.

Recent studies show that we can practice safe and effective Catch and Release techniques that will optimize our angling success and reduce the mortality among released fish thus increasing our angling opportunities. When looking at fish mortality (how often fish die), two key factors come into play; hook location and physical stress suffered by fish.  With this in mind, The Sportfishing Conservancy recommends the following "tools", along with an explanation of why we recommend them.

"Toss Back Tackle"

Circle Hooks - As mentioned above, hook placement on a fish significantly effects how that fish will recover.  In a recent study on "Catch and Release Effectiveness", researchers found that a fish hooked deep in the gut or gills had a high mortality of at least 35%, compared to a lip hooked fish whose mortality was less than 5%, often less than 1%.  The use of a circle hook dramatically reduces the chance that a fish will be hooked in the gut or gills. The mechanics behind the circle hook, when used correctly almost always results in a hook-set in the corner or lip of a fish's mouth.

Circle Hook      "J" Hook

Heavy fishing line- Studies have also shown that the less time a fish is fought on hook and line, the less stress its body experiences. Fishing with light line usually results in a longer fight, which in turn causes more physical stress on the fish, making it more difficult for the fish to recover. Heavier line allows the angler to get the fish to the boat or shore more quickly, which in turns means less stress and a more successful release. As we all know, sometimes fish won't bite the heavier line and we are forced to drop down in line strength, but whenever possible, and especially when practicing C&R, we recommend using the heaviest fish line within reason for whichever species you are targeting.

Landing Equipment and Handling - The usual practice of catching a fish results in the angler gaffing, netting, or holding the fish to remove a hook. Obviously if the fish is gaffed it is implied that the fish will be kept for consumption as the chance of survival at that point is slim to none. The other two methods can also result in a higher mortality, even if our intention is to release the fish. As far as nets go, the standard fishing net is made of a type of knotted nylon that easily wipes away the fish slime or coat. Without this coat, the fish is prone to infection and therefore has a lower chance at survival. A good alternative is a fine, knotless mesh net which has a much softer coating that does not affect the slime coat on the fish as much as a standard net.  These mesh nets are also less likely to tangle and easier to get a hook out of.  The mesh net allows for an easier and safer release of a captured fish.  

Another option is a product called a Boga Grip.  This device uses a clamp-like mechanism to "grab" a fish by the lower jaw. The angler can then remove a hook, weigh the fish, measure the fish, or use it to successfully revive the fish. All of this can be done without having to touch the fish at all, which in turn protects the fishes slime coat.

Standard Fishing         Fish Friendly Knotless            Boga Grip  

Net Material                  Mesh Net

Fish Elevator- The Sportfishing Conservancy, alongside West Marine has created a "Fish Elevator". This modified milk crate is rigged with weights and rope and used to send a fish back down to a proper depth (usually only 30ft) where the fish is able to decompress. The elevator is then pulled back up and the fish is successfully released. A video of this Fish Elevator can be seen on www.SportCon.org .  This is a safe and effective way to release a fish with minimal handling and stress on the fish.

  Example of "Fish Elevator"

Artificial vs. Live Bait- According to the study on Catch and Release Effectiveness and Mortality, artificial baits resulted in far less gut hooked fish than live baits did.  The majority of fish (of a variety of different salt and fresh water species) caught using artificial baits (plastics, plugs, jigs, etc) were lip hooked which resulted in easier release and increased survival of the fish. Fish caught using live bait, but with a circle hook were also hooked in the lip or corner of the mouth the majority of the time.  An angler can give a fish the best chance at survival if artificial baits are used or if circle hooks are used for live bait fishing.

Along with these tools, common sense and education go along way in becoming a successful catch and release angler.  Learn the local regulations about size and bag limits, and if you don't "need" full limits, only take what you need.  If you are fishing on a sportfishing boat and don't want to keep full limits, explain this to the crew and tell them that they will still be compensated for your catch, whether it is filleted or released.  Spread the word about catch and release and conservation. Take a child and introduce them to the concept. They will then learn from the beginning that conservation is an important part of fishing and carry that with them. Use your camera to create those memories. 

If you have questions about our Toss Back Tackle kit or would like to see these products at a local club meeting, contact our Conservation Officer Jenny Armstrong. Jenny is also available to speak at club meetings about The Sportfishing Conservancy and a variety of other topics. She can be reached at Jenny@sportcon.org or (949)813-7831. 

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