Releasing Fish To Live Another Day

If you release your fish please practice these Catch and Release Methods 

By Ed Lombardo 

If handled properly, fish have an excellent chance of survival after they are released.

·         Bring the fish in as quickly as possible. Do not play the fish to exhaustion.

·         Unhook the fish in quiet water such as an eddy or slow spot. Do not drag the fish across land.

·         If you must handle the fish, always make sure your hands are wet (fish have a protective mucous film sensitive to dry human hands).

·         The best way to hold a fish (with wet hands) is one hand around the tail section and the other beneath the belly just behind the pectoral fins. Never, ever grab or hold a fish through the gills unless it is already dead.

·         If you want a photo of the fish, make sure the photographer is ready before you handle the fish. Make it quick, keep the fish in the water with it's head below the surface, count to three then lift the fish with both hands snap a piture and then quickly put the fish back below the surface. If more than one shoot is to be taken between snaps I always say" give it a drink, give it a drink" meaning, place the fish back below the water.  And try not to place the fish on the ground when taking a picture.

·         Never just throw a fish back into the water. If a fish becomes passive, it is probably close to exhaustion. Gently remove the hook within calm water, and then lightly cradle the fish with your hands to see what it does. If it struggles to keep itself upright, hold the fish around its tail and beneath its belly while pointing it against the current. You should notice the gills opening and closing due to the rush of water. This is like giving a fish mouth to mouth resuscitation. When the fish has recovered it should swim away on its own.

·         Hooks and lures typically have barbs. With small pliers you can pinch down the barbs. Without barbs hook removal is easier and less traumatic to the fish and perhaps yourself. Remember, barbs where invented to keep bait on the hook, I always use barbless hooks for both freshwater and saltwater flyfishing .   

·         Spinning lures typically have three hooks called treble hooks. With wire cutters you can snip off one of the hooks or snap one off with some pliers. Two hooks are still very effective and, once again, easier to remove and less traumatic.