Where Do Tournament-Released Bass Go?

Tournament Assessment

Pearson also monitored tournament participation and angler harvest. In 28 tournaments, competitive anglers represented 23 percent of the total fishing effort on these two waters, contributing 7 hours of fishing pressure per acre. According to the survey, 46 percent of all anglers and 39 percent of nontournament anglers targeted bass. Anglers caught 31,672 largemouth and 1,729 smallmouth bass from 8 to 24 inches in length (nine percent were illegal, under the 12-inch minimum length-limit). Although 6,710 largemouth bass were harvested, only 199 parties (nine percent) kept bass. Of anglers who kept bass, 45 percent kept just one, and seven percent took home four or more.

Tournament anglers did not account for a large share of fishing mortality. They harvested virtually none of the bass removed from the lakes and caught 27 percent of those released. Immediate mortality at tournaments observed in May and July was less than four percent. Data on delayed mortality and indirect deaths due to displacement and recapture were not collected. Most of the bass harvest occurred in summer by nontournament anglers.

According to Pearson: “Contrary to claims from tournament opponents, nonresident bass clubs did not flock to Wawasee and Syracuse lakes to avoid more restrictive fishing rules in other states, or to capitalize on less restrictive rules in Indiana.” Only two events involved out-of-state clubs.

Based on population estimates, catch-and-keep anglers harvested 34 percent of the 12- to 14-inch bass, 39 percent of the 14- to 18-inch bass, and 22 percent of the 18-inch and larger bass in the two lakes. Despite the prevalent catch-and-release ethic, this harvest was still moderately high. In essence, the “releasers” were helping the “keepers” take a few fish under a rather liberal 12-inch size limit.

A majority of the anglers interviewed did not think tournaments hurt fishing. But the largest group of anglers (36 percent) who considered tournaments harmful were anglers fishing for species other than bass.

Pearson’s studies are the strongest to date suggesting that moving bass to unknown areas following tournaments and the practice of fishing multiple but connected lakes from a single weigh-in point disorients released bass. It may cause them to wander if they’re unfamiliar with the new location. It also can reduce survival of released bass.

These findings, along with other information, indicate that delayed post-tournament mortalities can range from 20 to more than 40 percent when typical livewell and weigh-in procedures are employed in warmer months. Even the best livewell techniques yield a 10 percent delayed mortality rate following weigh-and-release contests. This estimate doesn’t account for mortalities associated with displacement and loss of a home range, which may occur months after a tournament.

Other studies suggest that immediate catch and release is much better for fish. Hopefully, more tournament groups will seek ways to eliminate the need to haul bass in livewells and instead substitute photo- or partner-verification of the length of each catch followed by an immediate release. While active, the Bass’n-Gal tournament trail successfully tried measure and release. Now, the Honey Hole circuit is using measure and release for slot-limit lakes, verifying catches with rulers, daily markers, and cameras. This is a move in the right direction.

*Ralph Manns, Rockwall, Texas, is a fishery scientist and angling authority who has contributed features and columns to In-Fisherman for almost two decades.

References: Blake, L. M 1981. Movement of tournament caught and released bass. N. Y. Fish & Game Journal 28(1): 115-117.

Richardson-Heft, C. A., A. A. Heft, L. Fewlass, and S. T. Brandt. 2000. Movement of largemouth bass in Northern Chesapeake Bay: Relevance to sportfish tournaments. No. Amer. J. Fish. Mngt. 20(2):493-501.

Pearson, J. 1998. Largemouth bass population characteristics and movement in Wawasee and Syracuse lakes. Indiana Dept. Nat. Res., Div. Fish. Wldlf. Project 95391, Indianapolis.