Outdoors: Proper catch and release of red drum of utmost importance

It has become the in thing to do.

Anglers from near and far head to South Carolina’s coast in September and October to enjoy the thrill of catching a majestic red drum when the fish are in spawning mode.

Plenty of local anglers get in on the action, too, when the large adult reds return from the ocean to show up at area jetties, inlet channels, near-shore bottom spots and along the beach.

Here, the anglers greet them – knowing they must be released – but still wanting to have a great angling experience with a big, powerful fish and then taking advantage of the obligatory photo op.

Facebook and other social media is filled with photos of anglers holding a large red drum before releasing the fish.

With autumn here, bait is abundant and the reds are easy to catch on live or cut shrimp, menhaden or mullet on a simple Carolina rig.

Most commonly called bull reds, these adult red drum are among the few that have survived anglers, bottlenose dolphin and sharks in the estuaries to make it past South Carolina’s slot limit of 15 to 23 inches, earning the privilege to join the spawning stock.

While catching a bull red is exhilarating, the importance of properly releasing these fish can’t be over-emphasized.

Robert Wiggers of Charleston is a fisheries biologist with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and also a longtime recreational saltwater fisherman along the Palmetto State coast.

“To me, personally, I don’t even fish for them,” Wiggers said. “ I’d rather catch 10-15 smaller reds than catch one (large spawning fish) to potentially have it die because it wasn’t released properly. Properly releasing them is just an ethical angling practice. It just ensures the future of the population.’’

By the time red drum make it through the slot limit, they are around 3 years old. At 3-4 years old and at 28 inches, the males reach sexual maturity. The all-important females are a little older and longer – about 33 inches – when they reach sexual maturity.

Most of the bull reds currently being caught are between 35 and 45 inches long but can reach 50 inches or more. A 35-inch fish is about 7 years old, but just getting started in the spawning stock.

“These fish live at least up to 40 years old,” said Wiggers, who is also heavily involved in the South Carolina Marine Game Fish Tagging Program. “Size-wise, you don’t see many over 50 inches. They get to a certain size and they just start putting on bulk. A 35-pound fish in the 40-45 inch range is probably 25-30 years old.”

While it’s important to help both male and female fish survive being caught, protecting the females, which release millions and millions of eggs, is especially critical. Wiggers notes that less than one percent of the eggs make it to become juvenile red drum in the estuaries.

Determining whether the fish is male or female is difficult. The males make their patented drumming noise and the females don’t.

“Those large (female) fish contribute so much more than a smaller female,” Wiggers said. “Unless the fish is drumming you don’t know whether it’s a male or female. Always assume what you’ve got is an old female fish.”

Catching and releasing the fish in an ethical manner starts with the tackle.

“It’s really important,” Wiggers said. “These fish fight almost to the death. If you know you’re going after big red drum, use appropriate tackle, use heavy tackle (to reduce the fight time).”

Once the fish is to the boat, leaving it in the water to unhook and release it is preferable, albeit unrealistic in this age of social media.

“If you’re taking pictures, support the fish’s whole weight, don’t just hold it in a vertical position,” Wiggers said. “That’s not good for the fish. Never grab the fish in the gills.”

Next, gently place the fish back in the water to start the release process.

“You’re holding the tail with one hand and the other hand (under) the stomach supporting it,” Wiggers said. “Keep the fish upright. You can move it back and forth but it’s more effective to let the water flow across its mouth and gills. Some (fish) can take 10-15 minutes (to revive). They’re ready when their tail can get out of your hand.”

Putting the motor in gear to boost the water flow across the fish’s gills is helpful. It is imperative the angler work with the fish to ensure it swims off on its own. If a released fish goes belly up and floats away, pull the anchor, if necessary, and continue attempting to revive it.

Wiggers has a suggestion for anglers fishing from a boat with high gunwales.

“If you’re fishing from a boat where the gunwales are too high to reach the fish in the water , the best thing to do is toss it … so it makes a perfect nose dive into the water, as opposed to where the fish lands on its side and can hurt its internal organs,” Wiggers said.

These incredible, old red drum provide the future of the species that is so greatly enjoyed by anglers in the estuaries along our Palmetto State coast. When releasing them, please do your part to allow them to survive and provide generations of red drum for the future.

Yellowfin/Yamaha Fall Brawl King Classic

This long-running king mackerel tournament will be held October 9-11 out of Ocean Isle Fishing Center. For more information on the tournament, call 910-575-3474 or visit www.OIFC.com.

Waccamaw Audubon Society

The organization’s next meeting will be held Oct. 8 at Christ The Servant Lutheran Church, located at 2105 U.S. 501 in Conway. Refreshments will be served at 6 p.m. with the meeting starting at 6:30 p.m.

Walker Golder of Audubon North Carolina, Director of the North Carolina Coast and Marshes Program, will be the speaker.

Gregg Holshouser: 843-651-9028, wholshouser@sc.rr.com

This story was originally published September 25, 2015 at 3:58 PM with the headline "Outdoors: Proper catch and release of red drum of utmost importance."