Catch‐and‐Release Angling Effects on Lake Sturgeon in Wisconsin, USA.

This article focuses on evaluating the physiological effects and discard mortality associated with catch-and-release angling of Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) in Wisconsin, USA. Through controlled angling of 96 individuals across four river systems, the study found that physiological stress indicators such as blood lactate and glucose levels increased with fight duration and time out of water, respectively, and that higher water temperatures were linked to greater reflex impairment and longer recovery times. Acoustic telemetry monitoring of 15 tagged sturgeon over two weeks post-release revealed no evidence of delayed mortality. The findings suggest that while catch-and-release angling induces short-term stress responses in Lake Sturgeon, discard mortality appears low, though management should consider seasonal aggregations, water temperature, and catch rates to mitigate potential population-level impacts on this long-lived, low-productivity species.