06-10-2014, 02:33 AM
"Though legal, I personally don't agree with catch and release when using bait. I believe it is more like catch and kill. I heard one of them say, "Hey this time the hook only caught him in the side of the mouth!" like it was a very rare occurrence. I wonder how many fish die with "catch and release" bait fishing?"
Fishing with bait isn't always a death sentence for the fish we pursue. How one is rigged, what one is fishing with, the type of hook being used, and whether or not one is paying attention to their line / lines all come into play.
Two different examples;
Power Bait on a treble hook. I'm certain there is a much higher mortality rate when the guts are pulled out during the hook set and while fighting the fish. Generally the line is being still fished.
Finesse Fishing with a crawler tipped jig head or pulling a worm harness through the water. Neither tactic deep hooks fish unless you are dead sticking it. Most are lip / jaw hooked and eager to be released once reeled in.
I think the issue of mortality lies more in the hands of the angler. How long the fish is out of the water, was the fish overplayed, abused during the hook removal process, photographing process too long, etc.
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Fishing with bait isn't always a death sentence for the fish we pursue. How one is rigged, what one is fishing with, the type of hook being used, and whether or not one is paying attention to their line / lines all come into play.
Two different examples;
Power Bait on a treble hook. I'm certain there is a much higher mortality rate when the guts are pulled out during the hook set and while fighting the fish. Generally the line is being still fished.
Finesse Fishing with a crawler tipped jig head or pulling a worm harness through the water. Neither tactic deep hooks fish unless you are dead sticking it. Most are lip / jaw hooked and eager to be released once reeled in.
I think the issue of mortality lies more in the hands of the angler. How long the fish is out of the water, was the fish overplayed, abused during the hook removal process, photographing process too long, etc.
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