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Great discussion here. I posed the question of anal blowouts to our former RI Principle Marine Biologist known locally as Dr Tautog. Here is his paraphrased response:
((I have long believed that tautog taken from deep water (?80+ft) have a difficult time making it back to the bottom in good shape. no hard evidence, and certainly have released many togs, that, in my mind were visibly stressed from coming up (especially) fast, both large and small, that seemingly take off to the bottom. Some of which however, only to resurface many yards away....and then suffer the wrath of hungry gulls. You will get tremendous argument from many tog men about what I believe can and does happen, so there you go, the quandary.
Considering the still questionable condition of our local stock (RI), if you are limiting out on the smaller legal size fish, don't continue looking for that trophy as that fish, especially if female, could contribute greatly the following spring during the spawn. Why place undo strain on an animal just for a trophy, especially if fishing deep water.))
I'm encouraged that many of you are already practicing C&R with larger tog. If this discussion gets some of you thinking about selective harvest... that is all I sought by starting it.
Thanks for the input.
DZ
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