Catch and release can be successful during their slot season. And the size limit addresses the fact that the larger the fish, the more prone to dying during catch and release.

You have to read into the regs to see what management is trying to accomplish. In this case, they are looking to increase the number of quality fish. They are probably over stocking and creating a large amount of smaller fish that can be taken for food fair. They address the issue of summer catch and release issues by allowing any size to be taken. Most would probably throw back anything under 16 inches which would probably be OK, but it doesn't hurt if they don't. Then they protect the quality size fish during the slot season, while asking you not to release a trophy, as it probably wouldn't survive catch and release at any time.

As for Cumberland, my worry is with the over abundant bait population. I figured they would raise the size limit back up this fall but they didn't. I think Cumberland could use something similar to these regs, but the problem is culture change with the guides. They expect to send bags of fish home with every customer and that doesn't have to be the case.