flathead survival after release

[Jeremy]

a few guys from the various SEQ sportfishing clubs assisted the DPI with a flathead survival projects a few weeks ago down at Jumpinpin. Flathead were caught on lure or bait, tagged and held on board in a live well until the DPI boat arrived and transferred them to a large holding tank on the mother ship, and then they were transported to Sea World and held for 5 days. This included several flathead under 40 cm, but I don't think there were any over 70 cm caught for this project.

Just got some data back now. Of the 169 fish caught, only 3.5% died. That is a 96.5% survival rate! No correlation between type of hook used, or hook location and mortality. Remember that there is alot more fish handling in this case than what would normally be the case if you just released your flathead at the boat.

I think we can now be pretty confident that almost all released flathead will survive (except those released into the esky!).

Jeremy

[joeT]

Thats great news.

So what did they do with the remaining fish that survived? Released at a spot x?

[agnes_jack]

Thats an excellent result!!
They are a tough species, good to know it's really worth while letting the big girls go, I could only imagine the survival rate to be as good or better on the big fish.
This year has been incredible for the amount of big flatties around in this area, I assume this is because of the big uns getting thrown back for the last 2 years. We've had several reports of fish over the 1m mark, and oodles above 800mm. The most consistant year for big girls I have ever seen.

Good news, Regards, Tony

[JT]

Great news, good to see that the catch and release that we do isn't wasted on a species that has a high mortality rate after release. We have also seen an increase in bigger fish, just seeing some of the reports here bare that out.
Be nice to see a metre + flatty caught in the Classic, I think that would be a first in 12 years for that comp.
Looks like I might need to fish the deep hole near Sea World on the first day of the Classic

John

[blaze]

A simular test was done by the marintine college in launceston tassie by a guy for his thesis.
The fish were captured and held in a holding tank for 3 weeks( from memory)
The results were about the same, the study was done to see how many shed tags and why, the mortality rate between tagged and untagged (about the same)
When they were released there were quite a few recaptures within days of being released.
I posted a summary of results on this site about 2 years ago.
Pleasing to see simular results
Still reckon its a good idea to put a few in the esky (we put in ovens so they dont freeze, LOL)
cheers
blaze

[Daintreeboy]

As good as the research is, I bet these guys looked after the fish really well and are the top notch fishermen. I'm guessing this stat is best case scenario. I'd like to see real world studies on these fish on top of this research to see the difference. It would be interesting to see and we'd learn a thing or two ourselves about the best way top release fish. Still, a good result.
Cheers, Mark.

[basserman]

mark they did a simaler study down here on bream snapper and flathead (i think that was it) and they had normal everyday anglers do this and not done with a club and showed pretty much the same results
still had deaths but not as many as first thought there would have been

[straddie]

Years ago during an overnighter decided to pull anchor and move into a safe anchorage for a few hours snooze, mate was a little keen getting the anchor up before the lines were all in and started to drift into the shallows. Big flatty hit the last line and was scull dragged into the boat and quickly dropped into the ice box without the usual knife between the eyes trying to avoid running aground.

4 or 5 hours later decide to clean the catch and the flathead flicks its tail it was still alive, so doesn't come as a great surprise they are so resiliant when caught and released. Felt like an ... not having dispatched it and have never kept one since.

[Daintreeboy]

cool. I think the research is a good done but additionally they could do both sorts of testing. good to see the average fisho that releases is getting such good survival rates.
Cheers, Mark.

[sandgroper]

Thats awesome! You'll make lefty_greens day now Jeremy. If thats the survival rate for flathead could you use that across the board for many other types of species? Wouldn't the survival rate of reef fish in deeper water be far less survival rate?

[JT]

I think the way the flatties were treated during the recent DPI study would be worst case. These fish were caught by the fishos, held in tanks, transfered to the DPI tender, held in a tank, transefered to the DPI mother ship, held in a tank, then transfered to Seaworld, I can't imagine that your average rec fisher person could treat them any worse than that. I think in a real life situation that the survival rate would be closer to 99%.

Just my opinion though.

Cheers

John

[DICER]

the keywords are "almost all fish released will survive"

...the ones released and recaught, and eaten by yours truly will not.....

It's great they are doing good reseach.

[Jeremy]

Thats awesome! You'll make lefty_greens day now Jeremy. If thats the survival rate for flathead could you use that across the board for many other types of species? Wouldn't the survival rate of reef fish in deeper water be far less survival rate?

I don't think these results can be applied to all fish. The barotrauma caused to fish in deeper water would significantly reduce survival you would think.

I have heard that the bream caught in the ABT bream classics and kept alive in live wells and then holding tanks have an very high survival.

Jeremy

[sandgroper]

Ok kool, thanks for the reply Jeremy. Keep that in mind.

Cheers Mick