Stlhead,

So far there is no scientific report. Why is that necessary if enough is already known about fish health and response to stressors like hooking and scale loss? Do you really need a scientific report that details the ramifications of submersing your head under water for 6 minutes to know that it isn't good for you?

Hooking location is the first determinate of mortality in hook and line fishing. If the fish is hooked in a gill, gill arch, or eye, it's way more likely to die than if it's hooked anywhere else. How much science do you need for such a simple determination?

Playing time doesn't matter so much unless the water is warm, and lactic acid reaches lethal levels.

Scale loss is the next determinate of mortality. Scale and slime loss exposes a fish's skin to infection. Salmon and steelhead have loose scales in saltwater and when they are fresh run into freshwater. Knotted polypropolene nets cause far more scale loss than knotless and rubber nets. Significantly higher post-release survival is a reasonable expectation. How much higher? I don't know. That would take a study, although it wouldn't have to be especially scientific.

Lifting fish out of water doesn't do the fish any favor, but neither does hooking and catching it in the first place. The no fish out of water regulation serves primarily to motivate the cretins among the angler population - and there are many - to not kick their catch up on the sand bar and let it roll around while they unhook it and hold it up for their hero shot photos, and drop the wiggling critter back on the sand, before finally releasing it. Sandbar contact causes scale loss and leads to higher mortality.

It's funny how so many want to see more common sense applied to fisheries management, but need a scientific report in order to understand the rationale behind common sense regulations designed to improve survival of released fish.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.