Prohibit the Practice of Snagging Salmon in Chicago
Prohibit the Practice of Snagging Salmon in Chicago
The Issue
Snagging is a method of fishing that does not require enticing a bite from a fish using bait or an artificial lure. It involves casting a heavily-weighted treble hook into the water, and then the “angler” yanks the hook through the water in an effort to bury the treble hooks into any fish that might be in the vicinity.
On the surface, snagging salmon seems like a good way to rid the waters of spawning salmon that will eventually die, but there are significant downsides.
Ethical anglers who practice selective harvest of fish or catch and release are alarmed by the collateral damage snagging does to other species of game fish. Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Lake Trout, Rainbow Trout, largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Common Carp, to name a few. All of these species have proliferated in Lake Michigan and have been able to do so by common sense size and creel limits.
Snagging however, does not follow such size and creel limits, as it is completely random. A treble hook yanked through the water does not know what fish it is running into, which species or what size, and therein lies the problem. A non-salmonoid fish which is snagged cannot be returned in a healthy manner to the water as they have most likely sustained a serious flesh wound and will likely die from infection. Immature salmon which do not spawn and die, but would return to the lake to grow, follow the mature fish into the harbors and are also hooked in the side, head or belly.
Fishing by snagging is an archaic method of harvesting salmon, it is completely indiscriminate and does immeasurable damage to the ecosystem. It foments conflict within the fishing community as snagging is often practiced in areas where it is prohibited, angering and endangering other anglers who are following the law.
We urge you to sign the petition requesting our legislators to bring an end to snagging in Lake Michigan waters of Illinois. Thank you for your much needed support.
Please reach out for further information or questions to the C.A.S.T Team direct at :
Chicago.anti.snagging.team@gmail.com
602
The Issue
Snagging is a method of fishing that does not require enticing a bite from a fish using bait or an artificial lure. It involves casting a heavily-weighted treble hook into the water, and then the “angler” yanks the hook through the water in an effort to bury the treble hooks into any fish that might be in the vicinity.
On the surface, snagging salmon seems like a good way to rid the waters of spawning salmon that will eventually die, but there are significant downsides.
Ethical anglers who practice selective harvest of fish or catch and release are alarmed by the collateral damage snagging does to other species of game fish. Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Lake Trout, Rainbow Trout, largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Common Carp, to name a few. All of these species have proliferated in Lake Michigan and have been able to do so by common sense size and creel limits.
Snagging however, does not follow such size and creel limits, as it is completely random. A treble hook yanked through the water does not know what fish it is running into, which species or what size, and therein lies the problem. A non-salmonoid fish which is snagged cannot be returned in a healthy manner to the water as they have most likely sustained a serious flesh wound and will likely die from infection. Immature salmon which do not spawn and die, but would return to the lake to grow, follow the mature fish into the harbors and are also hooked in the side, head or belly.
Fishing by snagging is an archaic method of harvesting salmon, it is completely indiscriminate and does immeasurable damage to the ecosystem. It foments conflict within the fishing community as snagging is often practiced in areas where it is prohibited, angering and endangering other anglers who are following the law.
We urge you to sign the petition requesting our legislators to bring an end to snagging in Lake Michigan waters of Illinois. Thank you for your much needed support.
Please reach out for further information or questions to the C.A.S.T Team direct at :
Chicago.anti.snagging.team@gmail.com
602
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Petition created on November 21, 2024