STOCK OVERVIEW
Image: Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission 2024 Atlantic Striped Bass stock assessment
Addressing C&R Fishing Mortality
By understanding the factors that lead to mortality, we can take certain measures to increase the odds of survival. Deep hooking is the number one cause of post-release mortality. This occurs when a fish is able to fully swallow a hook, causing it to be hooked in its internal organs or gills. These fish are up to 6 times more likely to die after being released (Diodati and Richards, 1996). Deep hooking is much more likely to occur with natural bait. New circle hook regulations are designed to decrease the frequency of deep hooking bass. Artificial lures with multiple hooks, treble hooks, and barbs, can still cause damage to fish. Using single hooks without barbs on artificial lures is a great first step to limit damage to fish.
Beyond direct injury fish, the next most important issue is understanding the factors that lead to overstressing fish. These factors are all influenced by environmental conditions. Mortality increases significantly in warmer temperatures and low salinity environments (Bettoli and Osborner, 1995). Higher air temperature also contributes to post release mortality. Special considerations should be given to deciding to fish or how to treat fish on extremely warm days or in locations with lower salinity.
Lengthy fight times can lead to exhaustion as well as a build up of lactic acid, which can cause muscle failure and death (Tiedeman and Danylchuk, 2012).
Please review our Rules and Rec's page for more ways to help save a million bass.
HARDLINED - F3T Film
HARDLINED, is a 2021 Fly Fishing Film Tour video submission showcasing the urgent care required for Striped Bass restoration across the coast.
"Every year, a migration of epic proportions takes place along the Eastern Seaboard of America. From the Carolinas to Canada, anglers flock to the rocky coastlines, estuaries, rivers and inshore waters to target one of America’s most iconic gamefish- the Striped Bass. Despite its popularity and significance to the coastal communities in the Northeast, the fishery is once again in major jeopardy. The last time this happened, we witnessed one of the greatest conservation success stories of all time, restoring the stock to astronomical numbers. Today, the question on everyone’s mind- can we do it again?"
