Tag Return Models Allowing for Harvest and Catch and Release: Evidence of Environmental and Management Impacts on Striped Bass Fishing and Natural Mortality Rates

• DOI: 10.1577/m06-089.1
• Publication Date: 2007-03-29T17:53:02Z
• Authors: Honghua Jiang; Kenneth H. Pollock; Cavell Brownie; John M. Hoenig; Robert J. Latour; Brian K. Wells; Joseph E. Hightower
• Keywords: Fish mortality; Morone saxatilis; Catch and release

Abstract Catch‐and‐release fisheries have become very important in the management of overexploited recreational fish stocks. Tag return studies, where tag is removed regardless disposition, been used to assess effectiveness restoration efforts for these fisheries. We extend instantaneous rate formulation models allow catch and release as well harvest. The key point our methods that, given an estimate reporting rate, fishing mortality ( F ) separated into two components: on harvested “mortality” tags (because are removed) released alive. total untagged sum s due harvest hooking suffered by Natural rates can also be estimated. Both age‐independent age‐dependent constructed, illustrated application data from a study striped bass Morone saxatilis Chesapeake Bay 1991 2003 Maryland Department Resources. By fitting natural with limited age year dependence, we demonstrate overall decrease provide evidence increase beginning late 1990s, when outbreak disease mycobacteriosis thought begun. Our results indicate that dependent; selectivity increases up 6, appear fully recruited fishery. There since 1995, regulations were relaxed.