CATCH–PHOTO–RELEASE TOURNAMENTS ON THE RISE

It’s the start of fishing tournament season, and the DNR is reminding tournament organizers that an immediate release method, known as catch-photo-release, can be used for competitive fishing events.

Fishing tournaments typically use one of two formats, either catch-hold-release or catch-photo-release.

• Catch–hold–release is a more traditional tournament format, where fish are transported in the angler’s possession to an onshore weigh-in location, and eventually released back into the water.

• Catch–photo–release (also known as immediate release tournaments) consist of tournament participants measuring and weighing their catch on their boats using bump boards and weigh scales, uploading a photo to a mobile app, and immediately releasing the fish back into the water.

The catch-photo-release tournament format has become an increasingly popular practice in both local and national tournaments. In Wisconsin, the number of bass and walleye tournaments using the immediate release format has increased from an average of six per year between 2010-2015, to more than 30 per year from 2015 to 2020.

Both tournament organizers and participants support this type of tournament format. This year, one local tournament, the Sturgeon Bay Bass Tournament, is set to become one of the largest Wisconsin fishing tournaments to use the immediate release format.

Why Switch?

Not only are catch-photo-release tournaments better for the resource, but they also allow for greater competition among tournament participants since they aren’t limited by size or bag limits. This format can also help to reduce controversies surrounding catch-hold-release methods and alleviate concerns about crowds gathering for these events during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Additionally, catch-photo-release tournaments can benefit local fish populations by:

• Minimizing the stress on fish, especially during spawning, nesting and warm water periods

• Keeping fish in their own “backyards”

• Minimizing disease transmission

Keep in mind that most fishing tournaments are required to hold a tournament permit. For help implementing the immediate release method into your permitted tournament, please contact your county’s DNR fisheries biologist.

You can find a list of the 2021 permitted fishing tournaments here.