Anybody get their On The Water yet? - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

MakoMike · 03-22-2006, 11:17 AM

SM,
Yes I did. The studies that showed the mortality from hanging fish byt he mouth came out of Australia, and I provided a website address for them. I actually talked to the guy who did the study to get the facts.

Max Power · 03-22-2006, 03:50 PM

For a long time now I have over heard many people who are critical of fish tagging as they say it contributes to the fish mortality rate. So Mike I was curious as to if the study found any corralation between the tagging of fish and mortality? If not what is you expert oppinion on the subject?

Backbeach Jake · 03-22-2006, 05:15 PM

Good article, just what was needed before the season begins. It's amazing the rough handling you see out there. Good job!

MakoMike · 03-23-2006, 07:48 AM

Max,
The Aussies didn't study that. But my opinion is that, if the tagging is doen correctly and quickly, it should not increase the mortality of the fish. Having said that, I do think that things like the ALS tags do increase mortality, since most of the guys doing the tagging don't 1) do it quickly and 2) learn how to do it properly.

Flaptail · 03-23-2006, 08:40 AM

Mike, it was well written. I have to say though that I find, what with all the years I have been fishing, that a study by the Australians, which might fit a lot of species, has real knowledge of the anatomical make-up of a Striped Bass. The Striper is a fish desgined for rough conditions. I have caught them over mussell beds where they were scraping the things off of the bottom making thier lower jaws red and their undeside as well, they crush seas clams and I have caught them as they were rolling over rocks along the Elizabeths temporarily out of the water stranded on the rock itself while chasing a plug. I have a friend, who on Martha's Vineyard has caught tagged, photographed and released fish, one very large one included and has, a year to the day later, re-caught the very same fish alive and well.

On the flats of Barnstable we catch and realease bass by the hundreds. Shallow water and crystal clear where you can see each and every fish. We lip gaff the bigger ones and lip the smaller ones with our hands each and ervery time we fish there. Wouldn't we see a lot of dead fish if every one released did as the Aussie's report, meaning die?

I am not trying to demean your article, it's that I beleive that bass are much more resistant to the riggors of being handled than the Aussie study would leave us to believe they would be. It's a species by species thing.

Flaptail · 03-23-2006, 08:41 AM

It should have read "no real Knowledge".

MakoMike · 03-24-2006, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flaptail

Mike, it was well written. I have to say though that I find, what with all the years I have been fishing, that a study by the Australians, which might fit a lot of species, has real knowledge of the anatomical make-up of a Striped Bass. The Striper is a fish desgined for rough conditions. I have caught them over mussell beds where they were scraping the things off of the bottom making thier lower jaws red and their undeside as well, they crush seas clams and I have caught them as they were rolling over rocks along the Elizabeths temporarily out of the water stranded on the rock itself while chasing a plug. I have a friend, who on Martha's Vineyard has caught tagged, photographed and released fish, one very large one included and has, a year to the day later, re-caught the very same fish alive and well.

On the flats of Barnstable we catch and realease bass by the hundreds. Shallow water and crystal clear where you can see each and every fish. We lip gaff the bigger ones and lip the smaller ones with our hands each and ervery time we fish there. Wouldn't we see a lot of dead fish if every one released did as the Aussie's report, meaning die?

I am not trying to demean your article, it's that I beleive that bass are much more resistant to the riggors of being handled than the Aussie study would leave us to believe they would be. It's a species by species thing.

I don't think that there is much doubt that some species are more resilient than others. I also think that there isn't much doubt as to the effects of gravity.

The fact that you didn't see dead stripers around doesn't IMHO count for much, since the fish would not die immediately, it could take days, maybe ever weeks for the fish to dies from internal injuries. For example, if a fish's stomach gets twisted and it can't eat, how long will it take to starve to death.

Flaptail · 03-24-2006, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MakoMike

I don't think that there is much doubt that some species are more resilient than others. I also think that there isn't much doubt as to the effects of gravity.

The fact that you didn't see dead stripers around doesn't IMHO count for much, since the fish would not die immediately, it could take days, maybe ever weeks for the fish to dies from internal injuries. For example, if a fish's stomach gets twisted and it can't eat, how long will it take to starve to death.

Thats a good point but I think that with the amount of fish we catch and I see being caught and released there would be large numbers of floaters and/or wash ups even after weeks or starvation. As you say it's a species thing. Trout I would tend to believe it would do harm as in codfish etc. Bass are are kind of naturally equipped for existing in a rough tough world what with scales as hard and a really good musculoskeletal structure. Well, I respect your opinion, I disagree on the bass aspect though.

Max Power · 03-23-2006, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MakoMike

Max,
The Aussies didn't study that. But my opinion is that, if the tagging is doen correctly and quickly, it should not increase the mortality of the fish. Having said that, I do think that things like the ALS tags do increase mortality, since most of the guys doing the tagging don't 1) do it quickly and 2) learn how to do it properly.

Thanks for the reply Mike