The relationship between stock and catch and the effect of bait on catch as determined for a UK recreational catch and release fishery

Abstract

Twelve anglers fishing in a UK navigation canal for a total of 42 h caught 567 fish, mainly gudgeon, Gobio gobio (L.) (n=306) and roach, Rutilus rutilus (L.) (n=253) at an average catch rate of 13.4 fish angler‐h−1 or 128.5 g angler‐h−1. The species and size of fish caught were compared with the numbers determined by depletion estimates at six sections of canal using micromesh seine netting. Fifty four percent of fish caught in the net were < 60 mm FL. Gudgeon (60–99 mm) were over‐represented in the anglers' catches whilst roach (60–99 mm) were under‐represented. The size distribution of roach and gudgeon caught by anglers using two types of bait (small maggots and chironomid larvae) was examined and smaller fish were found to be caught using the latter.

The influence of type of natural bait on fish catches and hooking location in a mixed-species marine recreational fishery, with implications for management

“…This contrasted with an earlier report from freshwater fisheries by Smith (2002). Our finding of a divergent impact of bait type on CPUE and YPUE is a relevant result when managers want to promote the use of particular baits from a conservation standpoint.…”

“…The size-selectivity of different types of similar-sized natural baits has previously observed in recreational fisheries (Smith, 2002) in agreement with our findings and this constitutes an interesting new phenomenon. Previous research has mainly focused on the size of the bait (Orsi, 1987;Bjordal, 1992, 1995;Orsi et al, 1993;Wilde et al, 2003;Arlinghaus et al, 2008b) when looking at size-selectivity patterns in both recreational and commercial angling.…”

“…Indeed, shrimp selected for significantly larger sized fish, and this difference might represent food preferences by larger sized fish or be related to the different shape of the shrimp bait compared to the thinner worm bait, or both. Differences in catch rates and composition of the catch related to bait type have been previously observed both in recreational fisheries (Smith, 2002;Lowry et al, 2006) and hook-and-line commercial fisheries Bjordal, 1992, 1995;Woll et al, 2001), and our results conformed with this earlier research in a mixed-species marine recreational fishery.…”

“…Indeed, the influence of bait type on catch per unit effort and species composition of the catch has been reported from hook-andline commercial fisheries (Løkkeborg and Bjordal, 1992;Woll et al, 2001;Broadhurst and Hazin, 2001). In a recreational fishing context, Lowry et al (2006) found significant differences in catch rates and species composition related to bait type for the trailer-boat and gamefish-tournament fishery from New South Wales (SouthEast Australia), and Smith (2002) detected a relationship between the type of natural bait (either maggots or chironomids) and catch rates for a catch-and-release coarse freshwater fishery in the U.K. Interestingly, this last study also reported between-bait differences in the size distribution of the fish captured by similarly sized natural bait. Most available studies only studied the influence of size of bait on size of fish captured typically reporting positive correlations (Orsi, 1987;Payer et al, 1989;Orsi et al, 1993;Wilde et al, 2003;Arlinghaus et al, 2008b).…”

“…Based on the study by Smith (2002) it was hypothesized that the type of natural bait could significantly affect the species composition and the structure of the catch.…”