Short-Term Hooking Mortality of Weakfish Caught on Single-Barb Hooks

Abstract

Weakfish Cynoscion regalis support an important recreational fishery in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Several state fishery management agencies have imposed size and creel limits in an attempt to reduce weakfish fishing mortality. Despite these management measures, few data are available for the estimation of angling mortality following the catch and release of sublegal fish. We used sport-fishing tackle to capture 90 weakfish (300–453 mm total length) in Great South Bay, New York, during August–September 1995. All animals were caught with single barbed hooks (size 1/0) on either natural baits or artificial lures. We recorded bait type (natural or artificial) for each capture event. Mean short-term mortality was estimated at 2.6%, with a 95% confidence interval of 0.6–7.0%. Mortality did not differ significantly between fish caught on natural baits and those caught on artificial lures. The results suggest that inadvertent angling mortality of weakfish is quite low and unlikely to inhibit stock rebuilding efforts in the mid-Atlantic region.