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Fishing for black bass during the breeding season is a hotly debated topic in France, with, roughly speaking, two distinct camps opposing each other: the fundamentalists and those who couldn't care less. On a personal level, I could be considered a fundamentalist. Unfortunately, there are no national regulations governing bass fishing at this time of year. Only certain AAPPMAs and departmental federations have a policy of protecting black bass at this time of year. We can only congratulate them, especially as the results are there and anglers are very satisfied.
Personally, I don't think it's absurd, or even logical, to give a species a break during its breeding season. This is the case for pike and trout, which are heritage species par excellence and therefore better protected by the Environment Code and the Fishing Act. Indeed, like other exotic species introduced into France, the bass also suffers from discrimination due to its origins... Our poor Yankee has a lot to worry about every time the fishing season opens!
Science in all this?
Capture and stress
What's more, because of the male's defensive behavior to protect the nest and then the fry, bass are particularly vulnerable at this time. In addition to the obvious problem of spawning ground harvesting, which condemns the spawner and its entire clutch, the simple fact of catching fish on the nest will generate stress, as the male perceives this intrusion as a threat.
Added to the defensive stimulus is the fatigue and stress of capture (if capture occurs at all, of course). Although in 90% of cases a black bass returns to its nest after capture and release, it will be weakened and less likely to defend its nest against predators. Indeed, capture will generate behavioral and physiological changes in the captured individual.
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In fish, stress can be quantified by measuring cortisol and adrenaline levels in the blood. This is a direct measure of capture stress. It has been shown that a quick fight followed by brief exposure to the air can limit the peak of stress and fatigue. So if you accidentally catch a black-bass, handle it with care to limit your impact on its guarding abilities.
The opportunism of egg-eating fish
Among the other direct effects of capture on egg-laying this time, video studies have shown the opportunism of egg-eaters who pounce on the nest when the male is captured. In this way, for a few minutes they can enjoy an all-you-can-eat buffet, lowering the egg-laying survival rate. This is all the more important each time the male is captured, as it often happens that a fish on the nest is caught several times, increasing its fatigue and stress each time.
Nest and fry abandonment
The fatigue and stress resulting from these events can lead to nest abandonment or even death of the bass if it has been mishandled and caught repeatedly. Furthermore, it has been observed that stressed males tend to abandon the ball of fry earlier than males in good condition, thus lowering the survival rate of their offspring. The intensity and duration of fry defense are therefore clearly influenced by the stresses suffered by the fish, whether predation or fishing.
"Parental effect and transgenerational transmission
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And that's not all... Because the stressed parent will transmit a non-genetic transgenerational message, via the "parental effect". This generally results in a negative alteration of juvenile growth and survival rates. However, the indirect effect of broodstock fishing on juvenile rearing is still insufficiently documented, as the number of factors involved is very high, and such experiments require specific conditions to take place.
Black bass in France
Added to this is our French context, with small environments and fragile populations. It therefore seems important to offer them a little peace and quiet at this time of year (April-May-June), in order to maximize reproductive survival rates and perpetuate our populations.
The mortality rate during the egg-juvenile period is over 99.98%. Eventually, a nest will probably produce only 2 or 3 fish capable of reproduction. The extremely low chances of survival can therefore be wiped out by fishing pressure. The day we have enough bass, perhaps these purely ethical questions won't make so much sense, as they do in many countries. Nevertheless, even in the USA, where the context is very different, more and more anglers are choosing to stop nest fishing out of respect for these magnificent fish.
Bass repro, an ideal time for observation
It's a superb time to observe the courtship and defense of the nest. Sometimes you just have to put the rod down, take out the camera and enjoy this spectacle of nature! All the more so as bass have the advantage of being a species that can be fished all year round, so you might as well go and tease our trout and pike, whose public fishing has just opened up.
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If you're interested in black bass and would like to get involved with this species, I can only recommend the Black-Bass France association and its group of enthusiasts!
