It's not MY DATA it is from numerous sources you can easily find on the web.
If fishing a tournament I stop when I have a fish that will compete and head for the scales since every ounce counts. Once I enter a fish I stop fishing until I can enter a fish again unless I need them for the table. The reason I stop is because I don't want to land a larger fish than I have already killed and entered. I eat striper so any fish I take home gets consumed unlike many catch and release fanatics that don't even eat stripers. I also stop fishing when I decide a fish is coming home because I want every fish out there to be in my future. I also NEVER fish light gear and never target undersized fish and anyone who has seen my gear can attest to the fact that ALL of my plugs have a single forward treble hook and my efficiency when landing a fish with my Century 1328 with a Saltiga 6000 loaded with 60# hollow ace and my spare spool loaded with jb hollow 80# will take any striper swimming. I also sacrifice distance and sink rate in order to reduce my impact on the stripers due to a prolonged fight, especually when fish are 3/4 of the way across the ditch and its an hour into a fast moving tide. Plugs that don't perform to my satisfaction with a single hook action wise are put a side until I get the chance to alter them. If I could post pictures of plugs that aren't in my rotation you would be amazed. I throw every plug I have including Strategic anglers (at $75 a pop) which are sitting home waiting for me to either sell them or throw from a boat.
I also NEVER target small fish that I can't take if they are mortally injured. Very rarely do I throw small plugs like an sp minow which once again has a single foward hook. All of the treble I currently use are 4x VMC 5/0 although I just got some mustad 7982HD 7/0 in order to reduce the likelihood a cow will use the exposed hooks to help dislodge the plug on the bottom. I am currently experimenting with steelon 120# leaders from the breakaway to the hook to ensure my fish aren't lost due to my 125 rosco split rings twisting or pulling open along with hook hangers pulling out of the plugs (Sebiles in particular). Another goal is to have the plug not be a source of leverage the fish can use to dislodge my hooks.
I use a Calcutta fish grip which makes handling the fish a breeze and causes less damage than any other fish grip I have seen. I also carry a 60# boga grip and check the tournament standings so I know what size it will take to compete before I make a cast.
I have been fishing the ditch for 40 years and have a pretty good eye for judging a fish that needs to be weighed on site or released immediately. The 30# boga fooled me once because it bottomed out and I thought the fish was larger.
I am also going to build a trough to measure fish up to 60" in order to enter them for catch and release in order to minimize the time necessary for photos to prove it's length. I am just trying to decide how to make it easy for transport (hinged or two piece) on my trike and yet sturdy enough to serve a long time. I have only entered one fish for c&r due to my concern for the additional stress and damage to their slime coat using a tape. I feel a trough will make the process efficient due to not having to reposition the fish or tape to take a photo.
I suppose the thrill is not the same for me due to the amount of time I fished throughout my life including being a mate fishing and living out of the Bourne marina. When there wasn't a charter or fishing on my folks 35 Viking or reconditoning boats I hit the ditch. I have tried it all except for salt water fly fishing (for personal reasons and I won't go into it in order to avoid a war with the fly guys).
You do what you want, but don't try and take my style of fishing and competing away while considering yourself above me or more conservation minded. Catch and release without limitations on gear and number and size of fish caught/entered still results in dead fish and in my case more than I kill and consume.
I know it's wordie but hopefully I have answered all of your questions
Will anyone answer these questions?
WHAT LIMITS DO CATCH AND RELEASE ANGLERS HAVE?
WHEN DO THEY STOP FISHING?
I seldom fish bait due to the lack of being able to minimize the likelihood of hooking an undersized fish. I also only use circle hooks if and when I fish bait. I have fished bait maybe 6 times in three years 98% eels 2% mackerel heads using the rest as chum. The heads eliminate the time spent on small fish and/or bluefish since neither is what I am after. I also don't fish eels to the point they are dead and give them another chance at life by releasing them to appease the fish gods.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device