Thread: Depth trauma and survival rates.

I posted in another thread about not releasing snapper caught from deeper waters 10-15m plus due to the diminishing returns of survival of the fish as the water they were pulled from gets deeper and was asked for some evidence.
This is not the study I had read but another by our western neighbors which while not exactly the same shows similar trends in survival vs depth of capture.

https://www.fishing.net.nz/default/a...ma%20study.pdf

I will see if I can find the other study too.

Not only snapper but Blue Cod, they are very vulnerable to handling and I personally believe we are killing more fish with the increase in the size limit from 30 -33cm , the amount of 31-32 cm fish being handled and returned has increased significantly over the last 3 years by my own standards, and as a diver I have seen first hand numerous cod returned "fit and well " dead or dieing on the seabed.

I personally believe we should take a feed and move on...catch and release fishing is a falsehood / feel good fairy tale. We expose fish to high levels of stress , fatuge and depth change as well as handling oxygen starvation etc..better to bin the first few and leave the rest than damage a number of fish ...

Only my personal view ..very much each to there own enjoyment!

I only add this ...will check my dive info..but the recommended assnent for a diver is 30 ft per minete That's 10 meters per minete.

Originally Posted by stingray

I personally believe we should take a feed and move on...catch and release fishing is a falsehood / feel good fairy tale. We expose fish to high levels of stress , fatuge and depth change as well as handling oxygen starvation etc..better to bin the first few and leave the rest than damage a number of fish ...

Totally agree. I used to do a lot of catch and release. I now think that was the wrong thing to do based on various experiences and reading around the subject. It’s not easy to admit you’re wrong and change what you do, but sadly, I think I just created a lot of shark food.

Trout releasing is the same, especially jigging, light gear helps with bringing them up slowly, but many die on releasing

I would also add that the limit is a limit, not a target. A lot of people seem to miss that. Go fishing, take what you need, stop when you have it. My little family only needs 2 or 3 decent pannies to keep us going until the next trip.

@Gibo I have not come across any data on kingfish survival rates.
Certainly some species of fish are capable of handling big and rapid depth changes in their day to day life while others are not.

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Originally Posted by Maca49

Trout releasing is the same, especially jigging, light gear helps with bringing them up slowly, but many die on releasing

Won a trip on Taupo once. A few of us went. Good skipper on the charter boat . I think I counted 8 dead undersize trout floating round the boat when we left

Didnt even get a feed. Said fuck this its crap... Never been back. They were just wasted not my cup of tea.

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

@Gibo I have not come across any data on kingfish survival rates.
Certainly some species of fish are capable of handling big and rapid depth changes in their day to day life while others are not.

My feeling is that kingfish are OK if handled carefully. This isn't based on anything scientific, but they are tough fish. When I'm diving, I see them rocket from 30 metres to the surface chasing bait fish with no worries. I have never seen a kingfish not release nicely, but I take good care of the fish. No gaffs, no flapping about in a deck, no deep hooking etc.

Have done little fishing but I did enjoy it. I avoid watching TV fishing programmes where they throw a fish back after putting it through a desperate fight for its life.

Originally Posted by stingray

I only add this ...will check my dive info..but the recommended assnent for a diver is 30 ft per minete That's 10 meters per minete.

Mute point, you are not a fish

Originally Posted by Gibo

Mute point, you are not a fish

Moot

No, that’s inappropriate in the current climate

Originally Posted by Gibo

Mute point, you are not a fish

agreed ...I should have used the other tables expansion of air from depth to surface ..ie the first 10-20 ft your air half etc etc reverse that and the greater the depth the more expantion ..the more internal damage ...

A nice change from venison....