The Study

Graduate student Cory Bauerlien of Coastal Carolina University (CCU; advisor Derek Crane, PhD), along with help from the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR), released 45 Muskellunge surgically implanted with radio tags in the James River, VA in the early spring of 2020. We will be tracking all 45 fish across the summer months when water temperatures exceed 80F to evaluate the effects that warm water catch-and-release fishing may have on the population. Another 50 fish were tagged in the 2021 season, 25 in Buchanan and 25 in Lynchburg.

We, along with local anglers, will attempt to catch half of the tagged fish on rod and reel during the warm water period. Fish that are caught and released during the warm water period will be closely monitored for several days to determine whether an individual has survived or died from being caught and released.

Further research

CCU and the Virginia DWR are collaborating to wrap up a 4-year capture-recapture and tag-return study to estimate growth, abundance, and catch-and-release exploitation of Muskellunge in the James River, VA. Estimates of seasonal exploitation from the tagging study will be used in conjunction with estimates of summer catch-and-release mortality from the telemetry study to estimate the population-level effects of catch-and-release angling on James River Muskellunge.

Angler Pictures

Contact information

If you have further questions about the James River, VA Muskellunge catch-and-release mortality study, please feel free to email/call:
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Cory Bauerlien ([email protected], 443-974-6171)
​Dr. Derek Crane ([email protected], 843-349-4065)
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Thank you to everyone for your interest and continued support!