How to safely catch and release a Fish

It is important to release fish you don’t keep back into the water successfully. These are the steps you should take to ensure the fish survives.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• circle hooks
• heavy tackle

1. Do not use stainless steel hooks. It will not rust away if you have to leave it in the fish. This could cause the fish to die from the injury it causes. Using non-stainless hooks will ensure they rust away and not cause any permanent damage to the fish.

2. Use circle hooks which are designed to hook a fish in the lip. This helps prevent “gut” hooking the fish and causing internal injury. They will on almost any kind of fish.

3. Barbed hooks should be used to keep bait from falling off, not as a way to ensure a good hook set. Flatten the barbs on hooks whenever possible.

4. The faster you get the fish to the boat or shore the better its chances of survival. In order to successfully fish on a catch-and-release basis you should use gear that will minimize the fight time. Use the strongest tackle possible to get the fish in faster. This will ensure the fish is strong enough to survive once released.

5. Once you have the fish, remove the hook as quickly as possible. The longer it takes to remove the hook, the less the chance of the fish surviving.

6. Once the hook is removed, release the fish back into the water as quickly as possible. Never throw a fish back. Gently cradle the fish in the water, until it moves off on its own.