Implementation and Evaluation of a Catch-and-Release Fishery for Paddlefish

Abstract

In 1995 and 1996, a mandatory catch‐and‐release fishery for paddlefish was conducted 2d/week during the 6‐week paddlefish snagging season at the Intake fishing site on the lower Yellowstone River, Montana. The fishery was monitored by trained fisheries personnel to ensure compliance and to obtain information on hooking mortality and angler attitudes. In 1995, snaggers expended 838 angler‐hours and caught and released 420 fish, or 0.5 fish/h. In all, 96 fish snagged, tagged, and released in 1995 were recaptured and either creeled or re‐released in 1995 or 1996. Sixty‐four (15.6%) of the fish inspected had one or more bleeding wounds beyond the hook puncture resulting from the snagging event. Some fish also had old wounds (4.7%) and arcshaped scars, the latter probably caused by boat propellers. In 1996, snaggers expended 589 angler‐hours and caught and released 127 fish, or 0.2 fish/h. Twenty‐one fish tagged during catch and release in 1996 were recaptured at Intake in 1996; 19 were creeled and 2 were re‐released. A total of 159 snaggers completed the brief written questionnaire on the catch‐and‐release snag fishery. The most common suggestions for improvement were the optional retention of fish and more days and hours for catch‐and‐release. Because of evidence of low hooking mortality and high snagger interest, continuation of catch‐and‐release is planned for future years.

Towards an improved understanding of angler tourism in northern Australia

“…Possession limits, if they are restrictive enough, provide the capacity to address the issue of gross accumulation of fish by recreational fishers and may act as a conservation measure that reduces the need for other existing or contemplated management regulations in a more equitable way (Recfishwest 2005). Scarnecchia & Stewart 1997) and species substitution (Hunt et al 2002), and would have to be accompanied by more stringent monitoring and enforcement of regulations. Given the very high recreational harvest of javelin grunter, a reduction of the possession limit may be effective even though it may encourage high-grading (e.g.…”

“…Given the very high recreational harvest of javelin grunter, a reduction of the possession limit may be effective even though it may encourage high-grading (e.g. Scarnecchia & Stewart 1997) and species substitution (Hunt et al 2002), and would have to be accompanied by more stringent monitoring and enforcement of regulations. Another approach would be to increase the minimum legal size limit for javelin grunter, which many survey respondents suggested.…”

Riverine and Reservoir Influences on Year Class Strength and Growth of Upper Great Plains Paddlefish

“…The most important fishing sites are at the Confluence (MR Rkm 2,544) in North Dakota and at Intake (YR Rkm 114) in Montana. Additional details about the snag fishery as well as socioeconomic characteristics of the anglers are documented elsewhere (Scarnecchia et al, 1996a;Scarnecchia and Stewart, 1996, 1997a, 1997bScarnecchia et al, 2008).…”

Montana's comprehensive fish and wildlife conservation strategy

“…• Habitat modifications such as dams prevent movement to spawning and feeding areas, alter flow regimes, turbidity, and temperature, and reduce food supply (Scarnecchia et al 1996b;Holton 2003). Most fish of this stock rear in Lake Sakakawea, a Missouri River mainstem reservoir in North Dakota (Fredericks and Scarnecchia 1997;Scarnecchia et al 1997), and ascend the two rivers (mainly the Yellowstone) into Montana in spring to spawn (Firehammer 2004). Upriver distribution is more westerly in years of higher discharge.…”

“…Management Historical information on the Yellowstone-Sakakawea stock and fisheries in the Yellowstone River is provided in Robinson (1966), Rehwinkel (1978, and a series of Federal Aid reports (e.g., Stewart 1984) as summarized in the Montana-North Dakota Paddlefish Management Plan (1995) and Scarnecchia and Stewart (1996). Socio-economic information on the anglers is provided in Scarnecchia et al (1996), and Scarnecchia and Stewart (1997). Recent harvest data is summarized in a series of Federal Aid reports (e.g., Riggs 1999).…”