Originally Posted By: Salman
Why do c&r fisheries go no bait all rubber? If the goal was saving fish I think I would rather have a fish swallow bait than rubber. At the end of the season how many fish are dying from stomachs full of rubber worms?


If the goal is to save fish from fishing mortality, then the solution is to prohibit fishing. We don't manage fishing seasons as an act of altruism for the fish. We manage fishing in order to benefit ourselves and at the same time, conserve the fish so that a population doesn't get "fished out."

The reason for restricting gear and methods is to reduce angling efficiency. If we are too efficient, we very well may over-fish a run or population. Prohibiting natural baits, requiring artificial bait, lures, or flies are all restrictions intended to reduce encounter rates with fish, thereby conserving a higher proportion of the fish population.

Even with artificial lures and barbless hooks, managers know that some level of incidental mortality will occur. However, the total mortality is much lower than in a kill fishery, and CNR seasons have proven over time to be consistent with fishery conservation goals.