Every once in a while, I get to send something good.  The data is not mine,
I'm only the reporter, but I think you'll agree that it's better than
anything we expected.

A recent study found that 98 percent of snook caught by biologists and
volunteer anglers throughout Florida survived catch and release.  Of the 11
snook that died, nine of them had been caught on live bait, supporting
studies which show that fish caught on artificial lures generally survive
the encounter better.

Biologists who tracked 8 acoustically tagged sailfish captured by
conventional angling techniques found that seven survived.  The one that
died had eye damage form the hook and was eaten by a shark.

Researchers working with sonic tagged tarpon in Boca Grande (west coast of
Florida) found that 26 of the 27 hook and line caught fish survived.

Scientists studying bonefish held in a large pond in the Florida Keys found
that 96 percent of the fish survived multiple capture.  Five bonefish that
died had each been caught 5 to 10 times, leading the scientists to surmise
that bonefish released in the wild probably have an even higher survival
rate.

A study of spotted sea trout caught and held in net pens in Tampa Bay had a
95 percent survival rate overall.  Hook position and water temperature were
the significant contributing factors to mortality.

Lee