02-11-2013, 12:06 AM
I've done a little non-scientific research of my own on this subject. I tried bringing the perch up very slowly to try to determine how they adjust to the change in depth. It seemed to be possible to lessen the chance of the various internal organs expanding to fatal proportion, but the pace of the retrieve had to be painfully slow. I have also tried to determine the size of the perch once the hook is set. At Starvation this winter the average size of the perch results in about 90% of them being large enough to fillet. I use the smaller perch for chowder or coconut perch.
If I feel that a smaller perch is on my line, I slow the trip to the surface and then examine the fish. If the bladder is not expanded to close the throat area, I release the perch and use my ice scooper to get the fish on it's way back to the bottom. I have often been able to watch the fish's progress back to deeper water on my Showdown. I believe once the fish is down 10 to 15 feet, the pressure begins to lessen the stress on the fish and they can often survive. Again, I don't have any hard facts to back up my experiences but I believe it is possible to release a perch taken in deeper water.
I don't believe most fishermen would be inclined to take the time necessary to give the smaller perch the best chance at survival. At least at Starvation this winter there are not alot of very small perch showing up in my harvest. Even the smallest ones can be used for chowder or cut up for bait on the next trip.
Another thing to remember is that perch are very prolific and fishing pressure alone is seldom a limiting factor. Fishing mortality, consistent with the liberal bag limits are considered when regulations are established.
Bottom line, keep the small ones if you don't think it will survive. Leaving them scattered around on the ice for the birds and coyotes is not an appropriate use of the resources.....even though Wiley Coyote and Eddie Eagle may disagree.
Mike
[signature]
If I feel that a smaller perch is on my line, I slow the trip to the surface and then examine the fish. If the bladder is not expanded to close the throat area, I release the perch and use my ice scooper to get the fish on it's way back to the bottom. I have often been able to watch the fish's progress back to deeper water on my Showdown. I believe once the fish is down 10 to 15 feet, the pressure begins to lessen the stress on the fish and they can often survive. Again, I don't have any hard facts to back up my experiences but I believe it is possible to release a perch taken in deeper water.
I don't believe most fishermen would be inclined to take the time necessary to give the smaller perch the best chance at survival. At least at Starvation this winter there are not alot of very small perch showing up in my harvest. Even the smallest ones can be used for chowder or cut up for bait on the next trip.
Another thing to remember is that perch are very prolific and fishing pressure alone is seldom a limiting factor. Fishing mortality, consistent with the liberal bag limits are considered when regulations are established.
Bottom line, keep the small ones if you don't think it will survive. Leaving them scattered around on the ice for the birds and coyotes is not an appropriate use of the resources.....even though Wiley Coyote and Eddie Eagle may disagree.
Mike
[signature]