Holding fish out of water not an issue - says study

[idahohuntr]

Unlike WDFW, IDFG collects data before making a decision on implementing regulations.  Not being able to take a wild fish out of the water for a photo is just one of many regs this state pushes without any factual basis...

https://www.idahopress.com/outdoors/a-fish-out-of-water-ok-for-a-minute/article_a43baa2d-de38-5458-b3f3-2d2aa81f5550.html

MOSCOW, Idaho —A University of Idaho study provides evidence that the practice by anglers of holding a fish out of water before releasing it has no impact on the fish’s survival or its ability to produce offspring, according to a U of I news release.

In the study, published this month in the North American Journal of Fisheries Management, researchers from U of I and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game caught more than 2,200 Yellowstone cutthroat trout over two years in a tributary of the South Fork of the Snake River in Idaho, a world-renowned fishery.

The researchers tagged the fish in the spring with tracking devices, took genetic samples, simulated angling and left some fish in the river while holding others out of the water for 30 and 60 seconds. The fish were then tracked to monitor their survival rates. The researchers returned to the same area in autumn to trap their offspring and determine the parentage of each fish through genetic analysis.

“We found that air exposure had no effect on short- or long-term survival, and no effect on reproductive success,” said Michael Quist, one of the study’s authors and an associate professor of fisheries management in U of I’s College of Natural Resources.

Curtis Roth, lead author of the study and a recent U of I master’s graduate, said the time intervals were chosen because they were consistent with how long anglers keep fish out of the water. An earlier study by the U of I researchers published in January 2018 in the journal Fisheries Research found more than 99 percent of anglers keep fish out of water for less than 60 seconds. The average was less than 20 seconds. Roth said researchers also focused on trout, a member of the salmonid family, because of its sensitivity.

“We chose salmonids for this study because they have lower tolerance of hypoxia — of being without oxygen. In theory, they would be the most likely to show an effect,” said Roth, who is now a fisheries biologist with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game in Salmon.

Salmonids include salmon, trout and steelhead, whose response to air exposure during catch-and-release fishing has been source of concern.

[full choke]

Hmmm. But I didn't see where they said in their research that they dropped them twice while trying to hold them, and then smooshed them down onto the rocks to keep them from squiggling, and then inadvertently used both hands to remove all slime, and lastly- slipped one finger up inside the gill plate.

That is usually what happens when someone takes a fish out of the water.

[splitshot]

I dont like stuff like this thread Cuz  some monkey reads it and holds fish out of the water and is blabbing on and on. I see it all the time. I like to keep the head in the water then gently lift the monster out of the water for a pic .seconds later the fish is released. My rule is as soon as the fish comes out of the water hold ur breath and when u r done or sooner put the fish back 4 good.  Mike w

[Bullkllr]

Hmmm. But I didn't see where they said in their research that they dropped them twice while trying to hold them, and then smooshed them down onto the rocks to keep them from squiggling, and then inadvertently used both hands to remove all slime, and lastly- slipped one finger up inside the gill plate.

That is usually what happens when someone takes a fish out of the water.

Pre-release full-coating of sand on both sides is my personal favorite.

[Antlershed]

Hmmm. But I didn't see where they said in their research that they dropped them twice while trying to hold them, and then smooshed them down onto the rocks to keep them from squiggling, and then inadvertently used both hands to remove all slime, and lastly- slipped one finger up inside the gill plate.

That is usually what happens when someone takes a fish out of the water.

You forgot about rolling them in the mud.

I believe simply holding them out of the water for a quick photo causes no harm, but when it’s allowed, you get hillbillies doing all of the above, so I am in favor of the law, even if it only deters a small percentage from still doing it. 

[Stein]

How about in the salt where you can get a ticket by taking it out to check species or count fins while in a small boat rocking in the waves?


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[spoonman]

I call bs, it most certainly does cause stress/harm! So let’s do a study on holding a person under water for a extended period of time and see what the results are!

[3dvapor]

Do we really need another law to do whats right.  The same hillbilly is still going to drag it through the sand and grab it through the gills law or no law.

[splitshot]

Spoon man has it. A way 2 reduce the hill Billy population. Dont worry they can't read this. Mike w

[Stein]

Agreed, forget science, let's compare fish to people and pass some more laws restricting something in hopes it accomplishes some unstated goal.

[j_h_nimrod]

Nice to hear that someone did some research to prove the fallacy of management policies based on opinions. I can see the err on side of caution, but this state takes it to the extreme and any facts against them makes me smile. This is the same state that thinks it is justified to spend billions to protect the only group of Orcas in the world that is in decline because of their failure to evolve from some innate snobbishness that will allow them to decline when there are not enough salmon, but plentiful stocks of superior, high energy (meals) seals and sealions to eat.

[idahohuntr]

Agreed, forget science, let's compare fish to people and pass some more laws restricting something in hopes it accomplishes some unstated goal.

I prefer data to speculation and guessing.  All this WA law does is penalize/harm law abiding citizens who are responsible in their handling of fish who would like to capture nice photos.  Clowns dropping fish on rocks in the sand don't read the regs to begin with. 

[j_h_nimrod]

Agreed, forget science, let's compare fish to people and pass some more laws restricting something in hopes it accomplishes some unstated goal.

I prefer data to speculation and guessing.  All this WA law does is penalize/harm law abiding citizens who are responsible in their handling of fish who would like to capture nice photos.  Clowns dropping fish on rocks in the sand don't read the regs to begin with.

[Limhangerslayer]

Agreed, forget science, let's compare fish to people and pass some more laws restricting something in hopes it accomplishes some unstated goal.

I prefer data to speculation and guessing.  All this WA law does is penalize/harm law abiding citizens who are responsible in their handling of fish who would like to capture nice photos.  Clowns dropping fish on rocks in the sand don't read the regs to begin with.

and then the game determent its a girl holding a wild steelhead out of the water for the cover page!😂

[huntnnw]

there was a study on the S fork of the Clearwater on steelhead the same as this and also came to the same conclusion