I think one is walking a fine line on wastage if a hatchery fish is bonked and thrown back. Such an action also can reflect unfavorably on the sport fishing community. Unfortunately, the RCW on wastage leaves the question open in my mind as the wildlife has to have a minimum value of $20 before waste occurs.
In my mind, it's a value judgement on whether or not the fish is actually being "wasted".... is it? It is merely being recycled back into the natural economy.... which is exactly what would happen to it if it had not been caught.
Except in this situation you prevent that hatchery fish from polluting the native population of wild spawners. These genetically inferior fish are reproductive misfits that not only displace wild spawners. They also have the undisputed ability to waste the reproductive potential of natives when they hybridize with wild spawners. If someone released a booted-out hatchery buck that later managed to spawn with three wild hens, it would essentially have the same effect as bonking the same three wild hens.
That's a tragedy well worth "wasting" $20 worth of hatchery trash to prevent.
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"Let every angler who loves to fish think what it would mean to him to find the fish were gone." (Zane Grey)
"If you don't kill them, they will spawn." (Carcassman)
The Keen Eye MDLong Live the Kings!
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