Microfishing for Juvenile Bluegill: A Catch-and-Release Study on an Emerging Form of Recreational Angling

Microfishing is an emerging form of predominantly catch-and-release recreational angling with the main target being diverse small-bodied nongame fish species and the early life stages of traditional game fish. While there has been an apparent increase in interest in microfishing, little is known about its impacts on fish and fisheries. Here we compared the effects of two hook sizes (i.e., a size 22 hook and a somewhat larger, yet still smaller than normal, size 12 hook) on aspects of injury, handling, and mortality for juvenile Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus (size range of 69 to 141 mm; n = 54 for each hook size). Hook size was determined to have a significant influence upon injury and mortality. The smaller hooks resulted in longer handling time, more extensive tissue damage arising from challenges of hook removal, and higher levels of short-term mortality (n = 12, 22%) than the larger hooks (n = 2, 4%). Additional research is needed to develop best practices and management strategies for this emerging form of recreational angling on a wider range of species.

Automated summary

This study compared the effects of two different hook sizes on injury, handling, and mortality of juvenile Bluegill. The results showed that smaller hooks led to more extensive tissue damage and higher levels of short-term mortality.