Big Hunting Creek, Fredrick Co. MD, 05/06/2009

[nativebrownie]

Jack,

I have enjoyed the exchange on this issue. Very much. If it is assumed that time out of the water is not detrimental to the well being of a played fish, then we just end in disagreement. Which is just fine.

As I said before, this forum is a lively, healthy forum representing a gifted area for all trout enthusiasts. Personally, I think it is great that we can all post, reply, and share from all of this.
Thanks again.

NB

 

[JackM]

We both know that time out of the water is detrimental, but the question is how detrimental. I think it depends on how long it was out of the water and I don't think one can determine that from the pictures, nor should we assume it was an inordinately long time.

 

[nativebrownie]

Then we will continue to disagree. Since we both now agree that time out of the water is detrimental to a played fish. Since most (Maryland to be specific) C&R State Codes that I know of state "that fish must be returned unharmed" and most that I know of state "returned immediately," then any time out of the water is in violation of that code. And posed pictures within a C&R area is "time out of the water." Therefore, harming fish as we both agree.

Your pointed remarks about "shaming a poster" and "my assumptions," are off the mark to the topic under discussion. The poster and I have already shared remarks of respect and understanding. That was real fine.

Under your position no fish can ever be harmed because we don't seem to ever "know anything for certain." And every pic posted of a fish on the bank of a C&R area is just fine because we are assuming everything. We do not know how much time and we are assuming - and we are questioning and thinking and discussing...

If time out of the water harms a played fish (as we both agree), then under the C&R code we are not returning the fish unharmed. It must be harmed..(especially if the angler chooses to pose a fish for a choreographed pic)...

And it is definitely in violation of the spirit of C&R...

Now, I will leave now. Jack, I totally respect your role and efforts with this fine forum. You have/and will exercise (that is your choice)the right of answering this post - that is part of discussion. I will read and consider your words and those of any poster, but I am finished as to my exchange on the issue of posed pictures, C&R, and mortality rates in our increasingly endangered streams.

Enjoy a fine season... all...

 

[salvelinus]

In my experience a fish out of water and on the ground will flop around trying to get back in the water, possibly injuring itself. If it just lays there for "the picture" then it is probably exhausted, gasping for oxygen, and should be returned to the water immediately. How long can you live without oxygen and not suffer permanent damage to your organs?

I recently discussed this issue of picture taking with a PFBC employee. Here is his reply to my question about picture taking being bad for the fish.

"You are correct, and in a big way. There is at least one scientific research paper that I read on the very subject of holding trout out of the water just to remove a hook. Stess and delayed mortalities were much higher than I would have thought. I don't recall the exact details, but it reemphasized for me that when possible I should remove the hook from trout as often as I can with the fish in the water or else be darn quick about it if I lift the fish above the water."

So why jeopardize a fish for a lousy picture?