C&R Ethics

[ahlandco]

I was in the Gorge over the weekend and hooked into a brown on a dry fly. In the process of landing it the fish jumped into a very shallow part of the river on some rocks.

When it was in my net, I saw that the fish had been foul hooked and (separate from the foul hook which was only in its back) sustained a substantial injury to its face/nose/head from the rocks. I removed the (barbless) hook and thought about what to do.

Since the area is catch & release (not like I have a creel or anything anyway) I wasn't sure what the right thing to do was -- so I made sure it could at least swim away and released it back into the river.

As soon as I did that I questioned my judgement and actually have been feeling really bad about the whole thing since.

So here's the question: If you land a significantly injured fish (and you're either in a c&r area or practice c&r on principle) -- do you release and leave its fate in hands of mother nature -- or are you merciful and kill it and perhaps enjoy a tasty trout dinner?

And I guess the second part of that is -- if you're in a c&r area and you decide to keep the injured fish and you're caught with it in your possession -- is there any way to explain away the situation to a ranger?

 

[ahlandco]

I posted this in the NY State section but figured I'd also be interested in getting some NJ takes on this scenario as well...obviously the whole thing is really eating away at me.

--

I was in the (Neversink) Gorge over the weekend and hooked into a brown on a dry fly. In the process of landing it the fish jumped into a very shallow part of the river on some rocks.

When it was in my net, I saw that the fish had been foul hooked and (separate from the foul hook which was only in its back) sustained a substantial injury to its face/nose/head from the rocks. I removed the (barbless) hook and thought about what to do.

Since the area is catch & release (not like I have a creel or anything anyway) I wasn't sure what the right thing to do was -- so I made sure it could at least swim away and released it back into the river.

As soon as I did that I questioned my judgement and actually have been feeling really bad about the whole thing since.

So here's the question: If you land a significantly injured fish (and you're either in a c&r area or practice c&r on principle) -- do you release and leave its fate in hands of mother nature -- or are you merciful and kill it and perhaps enjoy a tasty trout dinner?

 

[coolkyle]

If it's a C&R area, put it back. Your good-natured trout loving self won't feel so good when you get a ticket. It sucks, but if the fish dies a slow death, well that's fish mortality and it happens sometimes even if it's not a gory scene. If it's legal and you eat fish, keep the damn thing. Put it on a stick in the water to keep the meat good and put it in a plastic bag when you leave. Pick up some ice if it's a long drive home.

 

[jamiep]

I was in the Gorge over the weekend and hooked into a brown on a dry fly. In the process of landing it the fish jumped into a very shallow part of the river on some rocks.

When it was in my net, I saw that the fish had been foul hooked and (separate from the foul hook which was only in its back) sustained a substantial injury to its face/nose/head from the rocks. I removed the (barbless) hook and thought about what to do.

Since the area is catch & release (not like I have a creel or anything anyway) I wasn't sure what the right thing to do was -- so I made sure it could at least swim away and released it back into the river.

As soon as I did that I questioned my judgement and actually have been feeling really bad about the whole thing since.

So here's the question: If you land a significantly injured fish (and you're either in a c&r area or practice c&r on principle) -- do you release and leave its fate in hands of mother nature -- or are you merciful and kill it and perhaps enjoy a tasty trout dinner?

And I guess the second part of that is -- if you're in a c&r area and you decide to keep the injured fish and you're caught with it in your possession -- is there any way to explain away the situation to a ranger?

Lets say you kill the fish right.A ranger hikes in and walks up to you.
You have a dead bashed up brown trout.His wife husband whatever bust his or her balls that morning or whatever the case maybe.He or she decides to bust your balls what if he does not belive your story writes you a ticket or whatever it is that they do ( my lack of expereince with rangers).Would you feel even better.

I would have done exactly what you did.Mother nature has a great way of taking care of things.Maybe the beautiful brown you caught heals and becomes a great big brown strong and feisty.
You just have given some other fisherman-women the chance to maybe catch there first or last wild brown trout.
SO in my opinion you did the right thing i would've done the same thing

 

[Wbranch]

Fly fishing is, no matter how we chose to rationalize it, is a blood sport. Therefore there will always be instances, through no fault of your own, where a trout either engulfs the fly deeply enough to become impaled in it's gills and begin bleeding, or in your case, do something goofy like jumping out of the water and landing on rocks causing itself serious bodily damage.

If it is a C&R No Kill area you are breaking the letter of the law and risk a summons if you decide a mercy killing is necessary. Try explaining your compassion for the wounded trout to the conservation officier who is writing you a $50 ticket for killing the trout. If these situations disturb you I'd suggest not fishing C&R water and concentrate your efforts on open regulation water.

 

[Fly Guy]

I agree with the other posters. If it's a catch and release area release it. In my area there a alot of Herons. They will eat the weaker fish faster that the healthy ones. Just my .02.

Jeremy

 

[Big_Spinner]

Hi,

Since I can't really be sure that the injury is fatal, I always release and give the fish a chance. IT is what I would want someone who caught me to do!!

Jim

 

[bkill]

Fish have an amazing ability to recover...Last night I caught a Brown that was missing half a gill plate along with some of its lip (looked like an old injury from a run in with a fisherman)...half its tail was gone and it had a huge scar on its side probably from a Heron....Other than his battle scars, he looked and fought like he was in good health...

Many years ago, I caught a fish in the Beaverkill No-Kill. The fish swallowed the hook and I tried everything to remove it but ended up cutting it off and leaving the fly in its gut and some blood from its gills...I spent a good 5 minutes keeping that fish from going belly up until he finally slowly swam away...I thought for sure that fish was going to die...3 days later, I caught a fish in the same area...You guessed it, same fish with my fly in his gut...This time I was able to remove both flies and he swam away....

All you can do as a fisherman, is try your best to get the fish back in the water as quick as possible..

 

[Corndog]

Release it. It's the only way for it to have a chance to recover. Trout are tougher than many give them credit for. Here are 2 pics of trout caught by guys here at NEFF that you would think wouldn't have survived.

Cdog

 

[EJL72281]

I think you did the right thing!! I used to feel the same way about this very same thing and I came to the conclusion that if you release a wounded fish it may die, but even if it does mother nature will take car of it. Insects, other fish, some mammals will eventually eat it and the cycle of nature is met. Yeah you may have caused a premature cycle, but just do your best and thats all you can do. I applaud your efforts and respect your sympthaty for nature, not to many people care anymore.

 

[GARYB]

In C & R sections all trout must be returned to the water, that's the law. Actually
I think it reads all "fish" which would include chubs, etc. You did the right and legal thing.

 

[RobM1981]

This is the best thread I've read in a long time. WBranch, thanks for reminding us (or just me) that this is indeed a blood sport. At some point I've gotten so obsessed with catch and release that I'd forgotten that.

And although nobody wants to mutilate these fish, it's great to see just how large they can become even hurt.

I'm working really hard to teach myself and my kids on how to "fish clean and release alive."

 

[ahlandco]

Thanks y'all -- your feedback is much appreciated. Actually, Corndog's photos are strangely the most reassuring. The second photo (no nose) is pretty close to what happened to the fish I caught.

I figured that in the end, it's better to be respectful of the Gorge and its wild trout than speculatively humane...plus mother nature DOES have a magical way of working things out either way.

Let's give that fish a couple years and keep our eyes out for a monster brown in the Gorge which is missing its nose.

 

[Corndog]

Fish have an amazing ability to recover...Last night I caught a Brown that was missing half a gill plate along with some of its lip (looked like an old injury from a run in with a fisherman)...half its tail was gone and it had a huge scar on its side probably from a Heron....Other than his battle scars, he looked and fought like he was in good health...

Many years ago, I caught a fish in the Beaverkill No-Kill. The fish swallowed the hook and I tried everything to remove it but ended up cutting it off and leaving the fly in its gut and some blood from its gills...I spent a good 5 minutes keeping that fish from going belly up until he finally slowly swam away...I thought for sure that fish was going to die...3 days later, I caught a fish in the same area...You guessed it, same fish with my fly in his gut...This time I was able to remove both flies and he swam away....

All you can do as a fisherman, is try your best to get the fish back in the water as quick as possible..

Just goes to show you how tough fish are.

This past winter I caught a large brownie in the Salmon River that had 2 lines coming out of it's mouth. Further inspection I found 2 hooks in it's gut. I was amazed that it was still feeding.

I've mentioned this before in a thread...I caught a large brookie in the Delaware near Milford a few years back that had a piece of mono coming out of it's butt. I gently pulled the mono and a hook around size 6 popped out. The brookie thanked me as I released her.

Cdog

 

[Corndog]

Thanks y'all -- your feedback is much appreciated. Actually, Corndog's photos are strangely the most reassuring. The second photo (no nose) is pretty close to what happened to the fish I caught.

I figured that in the end, it's better to be respectful of the Gorge and its wild trout than speculatively humane...plus mother nature DOES have a magical way of working things out either way.

Let's give that fish a couple years and keep our eyes out for a monster brown in the Gorge which is missing its nose.

You're very welcome and welcome aboard.

Actually the first photo is the property of jcstikfish and the second one (missing it's nose) belongs to kindanewbie77 .

Neither have been know to mutilate trout, chubs maybe, but never trout.

Cdog