60 Years Old and I'm Still Amazed!!

[mjk86]

Bill, where does that 10% mortality rate data come from? I can assure you that I do not mortally injure anywhere near 10% of the fish I catch.

Certain pros on TV may throw their fish high in the air but that does not happen in my boat. Donna and I ... or whoever my guest may be that day ... take every precaution to ensure the healthy release of our fish. Donna has dang near a surgeon's kit in her fishing bag that helps us delicately remove hooks in vital areas.

I'm not saying all C&R folks are that careful with their catch, but some of us certainly are.

And as I've said many times before, I'm not hatin' anyone except terrorists, people who abuse children or animals, etc. Legal fish eaters can do as they wish, but myself and many others on this forum will not remain silent on our commitment to C&R because some people think that whatever is legal must be OK for the future of the fishery.

Ill try to find the study. Actual c/r mortality was as low as 1 percent for perfectly hooked fish brought in quickly and released immediately. The range was like 1-3 percent average as some fish are handled worse/fight too hard or too long/ improperly hooked fish. Gut hooked fish for obvious reasons had a very high mortality rate.

[Chief Grey Bear]

Ill try to find the study. Actual c/r mortality was as low as 1 percent for perfectly hooked fish brought in quickly and released immediately. The range was like 1-3 percent average as some fish are handled worse/fight too hard or too long/ improperly hooked fish. Gut hooked fish for obvious reasons had a very high mortality rate.

And it raises exponentially on tournament fish.