Yup, fish mortality is not a problem when I’m on the water.

about the only thing I kill, is gasoline.

We are the ultimate conservationist!😆

No detailed quantitative study of release mortality in all that garbage.

Typical thesis work where a candidate researches what others did, and fills in the rest at the keyboard. Lot of estimates. Darn few, if any, hard numbers relating to tournament mortality.

I fish a couple relatively small lakes with HEAVY tournament pressure. I don't, and I don't know anyone that does, see a lot of dead fish. In fact the release areas are hot areas to fish. If release mortality is upwards of 75% in the summer, I know several small coves that would smell bad.

I lived on the Coosa 74 - 79 and know how good it was. If it's not as good now, it's not because of tournaments. It was easy then. I bet it's hard now. People want a scapegoat.

Catch and immediate release is politically correct. The goal is to eliminate all conventional tournaments. "Studies" will be developed to support that goal.