Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Since its inception in the 1970s, the catch-and-release ethic has become the standard for most black bass anglers. It has been so widely accepted that harvest rates for black bass in most Alabama reservoirs are less than 5%.
However, traditional black bass tournaments are an exception. They typically require competitors to retain their catch for a live weigh-in at the conclusion of the event. These bass are usually released following the event, often with live release rates approaching 100%.
Most competitors and tournament organizers make a valiant effort to ensure that these bass remain healthy while in their care. Unfortunately, an exhaustive list of scientific studies has shown that this does not adequately address the long-term mortality caused by the stress of confinement, handling, livewell agitation, excessive water temperatures, poor water quality, and disease transmission.
[Editor Note: Also see “Slot limit proposed for Alabama’s Coosa River lakes” regarding fish mortality.]
Even with excellent fish care protocols, mortality in the days following an event can range from 30% – 80%, depending on the predominant species and water temperature. Because the largest fish are being targeted, the size structure of the population is often affected. With that in mind, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources recommends that all competitive fishing tournaments utilize catch-weigh-release (CWR) or catch-measure-release (CMR) formats to minimize unnecessary mortality associated with competitive angling events.
These formats are currently being used successfully by kayak anglers and other conservation-minded bass clubs. There are a number of manufacturers of scales, measuring boards, and software that are designed specifically for CWR or CMR.
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