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I could agree with his summary in "My View" comments:
First, I've yet to see a fishery that isn't improved by a shift to catch and release (trout, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, tarpon, snook, bluefish, etc.), so you have to wonder why anyone is antsy about a trend that seems so positive.
Second, I don't see bait-fishing as appropriate for catch-and-release. Maryland now requires bait fishermen to use circle hooks when fishing the Susquehanna Flats for rock, and studies show they're less likely to be lethal. Nonetheless, bait fishing and catch-and-release don't compute. Why kill worms to annoy fish you're going to throw back, anyway? So who is using worms?
Third, limiting the number of rods for trolling is a good idea not just in the preseason but in the regular season as well. Boats trolling 18-20 rods, using planer boards to carry outlying lines 100 feet to either side of the vessel, are a hazard to navigation and an insult to sportsmanship. Why not just drag a net?
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