Influence of Ice Angler Culling Practices on Bluegill Physiological Stress Responses and Mortality

Decreasing bag limits is a management mechanism for enhancing size structure of Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus. However, restrictive can promote culling, where an angler returns live fish to the water in exchange another. Little known about effect culling on ice-angled fishes. Our objective was compare effects confinement methods (reference, ice well, and bucket) holding durations (0, 1, 2, or 5 h) changes quality parameters (dissolved oxygen, pH, carbon dioxide, temperature) stress physiology (blood glucose plasma cortisol), reflex responses (reflex action mortality predictor [RAMP] scores), while angling. In February 2018, 182 Bluegills were angled through randomly assigned method duration. blood levels higher both than reference at 2-h 5-h durations. had buckets wells 1 2 h, but they h. Water temperature warmer all durations, cooler ambient lake temperature. Bucket pH well RAMP scores similar across methods, elevated individuals held 24-h assessment. Two mortalities occurred wells. results suggest that duration angling result altered concentrations, temperatures, concentrations might not mortality. Consequently, practices may be compatible with negate intended benefits reduced limits.