11-11-2006, 01:50 AM
[cool][#0000ff]It is impossible to make any rash generalizations or to come up with any exact ratios. There are too many variables. FISH is a generic term that encompasses many different species. Some are tougher than others. Some fish within the same species are tougher than their schoolmates.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Some of the other factors are water temperature, length of time of the "fight", how deeply hooked and method of hook removal, method of handling (netting, gaffing, lipping, leaving in the water, etc.), length of time out of water before returning, attention given to reviving a stressed fish...and probably a bunch of others.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]You hear all kinds of "theories" and hearsay statistics. What it boils down to is that there is bound to be SOME mortality, no matter how carefully you handle and release a fish. But, with some species...handled poorly (gut hooked, etc.) the ratio can be 90 percent mortality. Other species...quickly released with little injury or stress...may have a 99 percent survival rate.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Some of the other factors are water temperature, length of time of the "fight", how deeply hooked and method of hook removal, method of handling (netting, gaffing, lipping, leaving in the water, etc.), length of time out of water before returning, attention given to reviving a stressed fish...and probably a bunch of others.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]You hear all kinds of "theories" and hearsay statistics. What it boils down to is that there is bound to be SOME mortality, no matter how carefully you handle and release a fish. But, with some species...handled poorly (gut hooked, etc.) the ratio can be 90 percent mortality. Other species...quickly released with little injury or stress...may have a 99 percent survival rate.[/#0000ff]
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