Summary:
Study after study has shown that the majority of fish species can survive being caught and released if they are released properly. With most states now having laws requiring you to catch and release during some time of the year there is a strong need to learn to release your catch in a way that will insure its greatest chance of survival.
Here are some tips to help improve your fish's chance of survival once released back into the water.
Land your fish quickly if possib...
Study after study has shown that the majority of fish species can survive being caught and released if they are released properly. With most states now having laws requiring you to catch and release during some time of the year there is a strong need to learn to release your catch in a way that will insure its greatest chance of survival.
Here are some tips to help improve your fish's chance of survival once released back into the water.
Land your fish quickly if possible
The longer you fight the fish, the more energy the fish will use and will lesson his chance of survival. Also a weak and stressed fish is more vulnerable to predators and is also less able to fight off infection.
There is one exception to this and that is when you are fishing in very deep water. A fish caught in deep water needs time to adjust to the pressure changes as he is being reeled up to the boat or his air bladder will expand and he will not be able to swim back down to the deeper water. If the bladder does expand, puncture a small hole with a 12-gauge hypodermic needle if possible to release the air out of the bladder. If a needle is not available use the tip of a clean ice pick. Some light massaging might be helpful to get the air out of the bladder. Just remember to keep the hole as small as possible, the air will go out quickly and the hole will heal in a short time.
Hooks
If you are using treble hooks, try removing some of the hooks so the damage to the fish is less. You can cut off one or two of the hooks or some anglers take the treble off and replace it with a single hook. Also try using circle hooks if you are using live bait. Just remember to not "set the hook" as much as you would with other hooks. When you get a bite just lift the rod tip to tighten the line up and start reeling, the hook will set itself in the corner of the fish's mouth