Deep Hooking and Postrelease Mortality of Two Australian Native Freshwater Fishes Angled from Rivers by using Natural Baits

Abstract

Deep hooking is one of the key causes of mortality among angled-and-released teleosts worldwide. We assessed the effects of natural baits and other variables on the frequency of deep hooking and postrelease mortality in two Australian native freshwater fishes that are classified as vulnerable or endangered: Golden Perch Macquaria ambigua and Freshwater Catfish Tandanus tandanus. Sixty-one angled Golden Perch were released and monitored in individual submersible cages at their capture location or were held in shore-based group tanks; of these fish, 97% were hooked with natural baits, 41% were deep hooked and had their lines cut, and 44% died. Of the Golden Perch that died, 70% were deep hooked, and hook location and two associated factors (hook removal and ease of handling) were identified as significant predictors of mortality. Mortality of Golden Perch was also significantly greater during the afternoon session on the first day of angling than during other sessions and days. In contrast, of the 98 Freshwater Catfish that were similarly angled with natural baits, only 9% ingested hooks and only 3% died, with no significant mortality factors identified. None of the control fish died. Interspecific differences in deep-hooking frequency are discussed in relation to the significant influences of time of day (both species), angler experience (Freshwater Catfish), and river reach (Golden Perch) and the likely differences in mouth morphology and feeding mechanisms. The results indicate that anglers should refrain from using natural baits when fishing for Golden Perch so as to minimize deep hooking and postrelease mortality, which will ultimately help conserve and manage these stocks.

The Postrelease Survival of Walleyes Following Ice‐Angling on Lake Nipissing, Ontario

“…Although previous research suggests that deeply hooked fish are at risk of death caused by critical damage to vital organs and blood loss (Alós ; Hall et al. ), the deeply hooked Walleyes in our study had a remarkably high survival rate (85%) and a low incidence of bleeding (10%). Minimal blood loss may be explained in part by the lowered metabolism of fish during cold temperatures and the correspondingly slower blood flow (Egginton ), and this could ultimately explain the observed high survival rates.…”

“…However, cutting the line was not an effective means to reduce mortality in deeply hooked Golden Perch Macquaria ambigua , which had just 24% survival (Hall et al. ). Consistent with the findings of Reeves and Bruesewitz (), there was no statistically significant difference in postrelease survival over 24 h for Lake Nipissing Walleyes, although cutting the line (11.1% mortality) resulted in a lower average mortality than hook removal (22.6%).…”

Sublethal effects of angling and release on golden perch Macquaria ambigua: implications for reproduction and fish health

“…Notwithstanding the negligible reproductive impacts, the few inadvertently deep‐hooked M. ambigua in the current study were more negatively affected overall than those that were mouth hooked, supporting previous post‐release mortality research on this species (Hall et al ., , ) and many other marine and freshwater teleosts (Bartholomew & Bohnsack, ; Arlinghaus et al ., ). Specifically, of the nine line‐cut, deep‐hooked M. ambigua , two died within 24 h and, although food in the digestive tract suggested all survivors were feeding, only a third ejected hooks and retained hooks caused considerable scarring to visceral organs.…”

Recapture Rates and Size Selectivity of Muskellunge by Anglers Within Two Minnesota Fisheries

“…) and other sport fish species (Meka ; Hall et al. ), postrelease mortality was assumed to be negligible in this study. Furthermore, fish that were initially captured by anglers were often recaptured by MNDNR staff, which reinforced the assumption that fish survived the angling process in this study.…”