Survival of wild Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) after catch and release angling in three Irish rivers

The practice of catch and release (C&R) in salmon rod fisheries has become increasingly common due to the widespread decline in salmon abundance in the North Atlantic over the past two decades. Many Irish Atlantic salmon rivers are only open for catch and release (C&R) angling since a change in salmon management in 2006. Success of Atlantic salmon surviving to contribute to the spawning stock following C&R was studied in three rivers. In total, 76 fish were tagged with radio transmitters post C&R angling. Survival to spawning was greater for fly caught (98%) than lure caught fish (55%). Hence, survival after C&R was dependent on gear type. Hook location may have influenced C&R mortality in the lure captured fish. All fish bleeding at the hook wound or hooked in the throat died. Simultaneous hooking in the upper and lower mouth may also have contributed to reduced survival. There was an overall net upstream movement post release with many salmon moving more than 10 km upstream. Results demonstrated that, when conducted using proper guidelines, survival of salmon after C&R can be high. Opening rivers to C&R angling can be successful as a tool to provide information on salmon stock status while not significantly impacting on salmon survival.