Displacement, season effect bass homing instincts

Out and About: Last summer, Merrie Cartwright, a graduate student in zoology at the University of Maine, conducted radiotelemetry studies on the movements of displaced largemouth bass in two Maine lakes. The results of her studies are important to sportsmen and fisheries scientists alike.

It’s no secret that bass fishing tournaments, which promote catch-and-release fishing, are increasing in popularity throughout Maine. Therefore, knowledge of the impacts of tournament fishing on distribution and reproduction of largemouth bass is essential to effective fishery management.

You’re probably aware that bass fishing tournaments often require removal of fish from their spawning grounds and “home” areas (displacement) for registration and release at distant locations. Cartwright’s studies, which were conducted during the spring spawning season and in late summer, hooked onto the matter of displacement and its effect on largemouth bass populations. The results are interesting.

The graduate student found that largemouth bass possessed homing instincts, which were influenced by season, displacement distance, and holding time. She also learned that larger fish displayed stronger homing instincts, as did spawning fish. Fifty-nine percent of the tagged spawning bass returned to their areas, compared with a 27-percent return after spawning season. Bass that did not return displayed consistent moving patterns and established home ranges similar to those of undisplaced fish.

“Thus,” Cartwright reported, “it seemed that decisive homing occurred and displacement in general influenced population distribution through the creation of new home ranges by nonhoming fish. Displacement also affected reproduction. Although returns were higher during spawning season, 41 percent of spawning fish did not return to the nest site, and an additional 18 percent exhibited return times that probably exceeded the time a nest would be viable in the absence of the guardian male.”

Obviously, displacement of largemouth bass during fishing tournaments can impact the spawning success and distribution of the species. I assume that smallmouth bass display similar tendencies. It’s safe to say, then, that reducing holding times and displacement distances will alleviate the problems. Accordingly, many tournament regulations now require anglers to record and release their bass in the areas where they were caught.

Speaking of bass, a letter from Doug Blanchard of Brewer refers to the presence of smallmouth bass in Beech Hill Pond in Otis. Blanchard, like many other fishermen, was suprised when he recently caught bass in the popular landlocked salmon and togue water.

Actually, the smallmouths showed up in Beech Hill several years ago as the result of “bait bucket” stocking – the unauthorized introduction of fish into inland waters by self-proclaimed fisheries biologists. The practice, which can devastate an existing fishery, is becoming a problem statewide. In fact, fisheries biologists say bait-bucket stocking is out of control in some areas of the state.

Amazing, isn’t it, how a rod or gun produces so many fisheries and wildlife-management “professionals.”

A letter from Ellsworth’s ubiquitous outdoorsman, Charlie Kelley, referred to netting of Atlantic salmon by Canada’s Indian tribes: “The recent buy-outs and reductions of commercial fishing in Greenland, along with reduced quotas of the Newfoundland commercial fisheries, are certainly a step in the right direction for Atlantic salmon. However, there is a much more eminent problem that should be firmly addressed if the resource is to benefit.

“Unless something is done to limit the so-called Native American Fishing Rights at the mouths of most Maritime rivers, it will be the Indians who are the benefactors and not the resource.

“Wally Palmer and I just returned from three days of late fishing on the Restigouche River and had good fishing considering the overall lack of salmon. I had a chance to speak with two lodge owners there and they stated the Indians were taking 30-40 percent of the early large female spawners from the river. When reviewing the catch-and-release records of the past several years, it is more than obvious less and less of these large females are reaching the upriver spawning areas.”

Charlie’s cast is well-placed, you can’t grow a garden without seeds.

If you’re interested in Atlantic salmon restoration to the Penobscot River, Aug. 25 is the date of the Board of Environmental Protection’s meeting to hear final comments on Bangor Hydro-Electric Co.’s proposed Basin Mills project. The 9:30 a.m. meeting will be held at Alfred’s Comfort Inn, 281 Civic Center Drive, in Augusta.

According to a decision made at the board’s Aug. 4 workshop, each of the parties involved would have 15 minutes to make their final statements. The order of the statements will be the same as during previous hearings: 1. Bangor Hydro; 2. Friends of Basin Mills; 3. Eastern Maine Development Corporation and Municipalities; 4. Conservation intervenors; 5. Penobscot Indian Nation.

Speak now or forever hold your peace.