Bait and Temperature Effects on Striped Bass Hooking Mortality in Freshwater

Abstract

We compiled results of published and unpublished studies of hooking mortality for striped bass Morone saxatilis that were conducted in freshwater. We used logistic regression to model the effects of bait type and water temperature on mortality of 1,275 striped bass. Both factors were significant predictors (P < 0.0001) of hooking mortality. Striped bass hooking mortality was greater in fish captured with natural baits than with artificial baits and was positively related to water temperature. These results allow prediction of striped bass hooking mortality based on bait type and water temperature. For a smaller data set that also included total lengths of fish captured, we used logistic regression to model hooking mortality as a function of bait type, water temperature, and total length for 549 fish. There were significant bait and temperature effects (P < 0.0001), but there was no evidence (P = 0.2994) that striped bass hooking mortality was size dependent.