Beware when moving fish – even native bass
Fish Busters' Bulletin
Thursday, September 01, 2011
Media contact: Bob Wattendorf
How often have you caught a great fish and wished you could
release it somewhere special for you or a friend to catch again?
Catch-and-release has caught on, especially among bass anglers.
However, sometimes the release isn't immediate or the angler wants
to relocate it in a different lake or river.
Catch-photograph-release is a great way to collect memories. The
big thing to remember is this: Proper handling means keeping the
fish out of the water for as short a time as possible. Consider
holding your own breath while the fish is out of the water as a
gauge. If the fish is going in a livewell, remember to exchange the
water frequently and keep it cool.
When and where should you release your catch? First, if the law
requires a freshwater fish to be released in Florida, do so as
quickly and effectively as possible, but taking the necessary
measurements or a photo is permitted. Release it where you caught
it.
When a native fish is legal to take, it is your decision whether
you harvest it or release it. Generally speaking, size and creel
limits have been established so that harvesting these fish will
still allow sustaining the fish population. In certain
circumstances, such as where slot limits are specified, it is
especially helpful to remove the smaller fish (below the
slot). In theory, reducing the numbers of small fish reduces
competition, which allows the protected fish in the slot (for
instance 15 inches to 24 inches) to grow more quickly.
Nonnative fishes (other than peacock bass and triploid grass
carp) should be harvested. Most make good eating, and the best way
to transport them is on ice. They should not be released and
definitely should not be relocated.
Rules for relocating largemouth bass went into effect in July
2010. They affect anglers relocating bass and purchasing and
stocking bass in private ponds.
The reason for Rule 68-5.002 (see FLrules.org) is to protect
genetically pure Florida-strain largemouth bass, also called
Florida largemouth bass. Under this rule, only aquaculturists, or
fish farmers, whose fish have been genetically tested and
authenticated as pure Florida largemouth bass by the FWC are
allowed to possess or sell bass to customers for stocking south and
east of the Suwannee River. Two farms (Florida Fish Farms Inc.,
352-793-4224; and Shongaloo Fisheries, 352-468-1251) are registered
with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
and authorized to sell authenticated pure Florida largemouth
bass.
Largemouth bass produced out of state must be tested using
procedures approved by the FWC before they can be brought into
peninsular Florida. Intergrade or hybrid largemouth bass may only
be transported into the Florida Panhandle for stocking in private
waters west and north of the Suwannee River.
These rules were implemented following extensive genetic
research that identified even more refined differences with
largemouth bass stocks in Florida, which could relate to localized
adaptations that allow the fish to thrive in particular habitats
and climates. State-run hatcheries now actually use four specific
genetic conservation units to ensure that our hatcheries protect
these resources. But in an age of commercial hatcheries and anglers
transporting fish around the state in livewells, regulations were
necessary.
Release of impure Florida largemouth bass (with northern
largemouth bass genes) mainly occurs through stocking private ponds
and lakes, but they can end up in our rivers and lakes. This was
verified during the genetic analyses of bass populations in South
Florida that should have been "pure Florida" but were not. The
problem is that the two subspecies, northern largemouth bass and
Florida largemouth bass, readily interbreed, and stocking northern
largemouth is a real threat to pure Florida largemouth.
"Florida largemouth bass are adapted to Florida's subtropical
climate and typically spawn earlier in the year than northern
largemouth bass. If the northern subspecies or intergrade (i.e.,
hybrid) bass spawn with Florida largemouth, their offspring may
inherit genes that may reduce growth or survival, and other, less
obvious genetic traits," said Brandon Barthel, Ph.D., an FWC black
bass geneticist.
Anglers come to the Sunshine State from all over the world to
catch trophy Florida largemouth bass. The FWC is doing everything
possible to protect the genetic purity of this ecologically and
economically important subspecies of fish and to promote their wise
use and release. Anglers and concerned citizens can help.
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