Quote Originally Posted by SouthernWake View Post
Targeting spawning fish is certainly a factor in my opinion as even if they survive their desire/ability to spawn after stressed is diminished.

but let’s look at catch and release:
From memory they use a 8% mortality on released fish inshore (much higher offshore or nearshore based on barotrauma)
8% mortality on the high of 3million released fish comes out to 240k fish killed, roughly the same as harvested that same year.
This is why DNR (and others should as well) is pushing best handling practices to bring that percentage down as low as possible.

Thanks, you answered my question before I asked (mortality rate on released fish )

I will say this, I have ditched my boga grip for a net and try to handle them lot better than years back

In fact got chastised on SCD when had some pics of nice reds we released on boga. Have to admit made me think about it


Do appreciate all the information, wife and I fixing head out of IOP in about hour