Couple points on C&R, especially on pre-spawning fish. There has been very little work on the reasonably long-term effects of C&R. They tend to look at survival; did it live or die. If it lives, then it's all good.

We do have some data on the effects of C&R on egg survival and Rivryguy can chime in but we have brood stocked fish that were spawned; what was egg-fry survival versus (say) standard hatchery fish taken in the pond? But, for Atlantic Salmon there is data that a C&R'd female produces fewer smolts than an unfished female. IF this is true, then the escapement goal needs to be increased for a C&R fishery as more females would be needed to get the same number of smolts out. Makes for some interesting discussions.

Back when I began in Harvest was that WDF actively worked to keep fisheries away from FW areas where fish spawned. The Agency, at that time, was really not in favor of FW fisheries for salmon except in reasonably unique situations like LW sockeye and super-abundant pinks.

Especially in areas where natural escapement is important what is the downside of full closure when the fish are so stressed. A few additional spawners on top of comically low escapement goals?

To my mind the Co-managers show their true colors when they fish in conditions that are super stressful for the fish; showing that dead fish in the boat are more important than live fish on the grounds.