Of course there is always a possibility of mortality any time you are fishing at any time of the year. None of us are God in that respect. We can intend to catch and release bass, or any fish, and get the fish deep and lose it. But with respect to striped bass, they do very much suffer from a condition that affects a few species of fish and reptiles. To be perfectly honest most creatures suffer from the condition, including humans. The difference is, with stripers (and other various species) the condition is fatal. We see football players on the side lines sucking in pure oxygen. The reason is because they have exerted themselves to a point where their body goes into defense mode and starts producing lactic acid. We've all experienced it. This is what causes our muscles to become achy and slow to respond and the mind goes a little blurry. It's the que from the body that we need to slow down. With stripers, this lactic acid production causes total paralysis. Many times they simple drift to the floor at die. The condition is much more prevalent the bigger the fish is/the less DO (dissolved oxygen) in the water/the more stressed the fish is. The DO decreases in the warmer the water is and the longer it is warm. The less dense the water, the less DO it can hold. This condition is not prevalent in water below 70 degrees (haven't looked it up for a while so someone correct me if my number is off).
So to answer your question, our concern with warm water catch and release is rooted deeply within scientific fact. And no one is saying anyone is wrong for doing what is well within the regulations. It's just that some fisherman do not realize they could be killing fish when they are catch and releasing. If they knew, they probably would adjust and all we are doing is making people aware of the situation. Stripers are a put and take in Cumberland. They are put there for two reasons. 1) to help regulate the bait population. 2)to be fished for and taken home for table fare. Anyone that wants to fish for them should. All we are saying is understand the actual risks when doing so. And no one wanted to single anyone out or accuse anyone of doing anything they shouldn't be doing. StriperNut is fishing for them regularly. He understands the risks. If he didn't, we'd be more than happy to point them out to him.. LOL