Re: Reducing Recreational Mortality
 

the best way to reduce rec mortality is to lower the min size and let people KEEP SOME FISH then go home. instead of picking through 50 shorts to get 2 keepers. Raritan bay is paved with fish that are 2" to short, get thrown back and turn into crab food.

Re: Reducing Recreational Mortality
 

Bigger gaps and longer J hook shanks. I have tried both to prevent gut hooking. It still happens.

But wider gap does seem to reduce, but not eliminate deeply swallowed hooks.

Re: Reducing Recreational Mortality
 

You don't seem to read very well.

Re: Reducing Recreational Mortality
 

Bunker Dunker nailed it.

"If they "recreational" don't contribute so much to the mortality then we "commercial" get to harvest more". I put that in quotes so I'm not accused of thinking that way.

Hook/line is a "cleaner" way to harvest fish that produces a product in better shape and doesn't destroy bottom habitat(or every other fish that gets into the nets).

But it seems that fighting for the resource will always go on...

Re: Reducing Recreational Mortality
 

I cain't read like I used ta could.