Size Selectivity, Injury, Handling Time, and Determinants of Initial Hooking Mortality in Recreational Angling for Northern Pike: The Influence of Type and Size of Bait

Abstract

Abstract.-We examined the relationship between bait and lure size and type and body size, injury, and handling time for northern pike Esox lucius, an important recreational fisheries resource in much of North America and Europe. Bait type and size were significantly related to the size of fish captured and hooking location. Hooking in critical locations (i.e., gills, gullet) was more likely to occur with natural bait, soft plastic shads and jigs, and spoons than with spinners and wobblers (i.e., plugs). Small baits (,75 mm) were more likely to hook the fish in the gills and less likely to hook the fish in the upper jaw than larger baits. It took longer to remove hooks from gills than from other hooking locations. Frequency of bleeding was related to depth of hooking but was unrelated to fish size, bait type, bait size, or fishing method. Initial mortality of northern pike was low (mean 6 95% confidence interval ¼ 2.4 6 1.5%), and hooking mortality was significantly related to the level of bleeding as a proxy for severity of injury. Results of this study suggest that using large artificial lures and large natural baits can effectively reduce the incidence of hooking small northern pike (i.e., those that are sublegal in some jurisdictions). However, the use of natural bait can also result in a higher incidence of deep hooking, which in turn increases the likelihood of injury and bleeding. This study revealed the complexity associated with using bait and lure restrictions to complement standard harvest regulations in northern pike recreational fisheries.

Management of pikeperch stocking in Lake Balaton: effect of season, area, fish size and method of release on the rate and distribution of recaptures

“…This relationship is in line with the size-selectivity of angling methods of piscivorous fishes (i.e. gape-limited catchability by both live prey fish and lures; Arlinghaus et al, 2008;Specziár, 2011) and that the smaller a pikeperch is at release the more time it needs to grow into angling gears.…”

Behavioural and fitness consequences of direct and indirect non-lethal disturbances in a catch-and-release northern pike (Esox lucius) fishery

“…We simulated a total catch-and-release fishery from boats powered by 12 V electric motors. The gear used for fishing was intended to reflect common tackle used by pike anglers and is described in detail in Arlinghaus et al (2008b). On the disturbed side, angling took place between 26 May and 31 August, 2005 and on both lake sides from 1 September to 28 October, 2005.…”

“…Consequently, the behaviour and fitness of fish might be influenced through indirect angler-induced disturbance stimuli (hereafter called indirect disturbance), but no study exists testing for such indirect effects. The objective of this study was to analyze the impact of direct and indirect disturbances from non-lethal recreational angling activities on the behaviour and growth of fish using northern pike (Esox lucius) as a model of an important target species for recreational fishing in North America and much of Europe (Paukert et al, 2001;Arlinghaus and Mehner, 2004;Arlinghaus et al, 2008aArlinghaus et al, , 2008b. Using telemetry techniques we determined the extent of behavioural alterations in terms of habitat choice and swimming activity and how these alterations were reflected in growth rate depression as a correlate of fitness.…”

Citizen science data suggest a novel rig improves landing rate and reduces injury and handling time in recreational angling with artificial lures in Baltic pike (Esox lucius)

“…We standardized the lure size of the two lure types we used as the lure size is known to 166 affect deep hooking (Arlinghaus et al 2008a). We chose lengths of 17 ± 3 cm, which is a known 167 size that increases the likelihood of catching mainly legal-sized pike (Arlinghaus et al 2008a) - 168 and strongly reduces to almost zero the bycatch from perch (Perca fluviatilis) and seatrout 169 (Salmo trutta) (Arlinghaus et al 2008a. We used the same lure types but rigged either 170 with a normal-mount with large hooks (henceforth normal-rig) (1) or a release-rig with small 171 hooks (2) (Fig.…”

“…Size of fish landed 208 was however not recorded in order to minimize damage to the fish, burden on the anglers and 209 due to concerns in comparability of the measurements. Also it is known in pike fishing that lure 210 size determines pike size (Arlinghaus et al 2008a) and lure size was controlled. Fishing was 211 done through all seasons except periods where the water was iced over or the pike were 212 protected (April, 1 to May, 15 of each study year).…”