FreeFishCatch and release done right
Simple habits that give released fish the best chance of survival: playing, landing, unhooking, photographing and reviving.
Releasing fish helps keep good fisheries good, but only if the fish survives. Fisheries research generally shows that most fish released with good handling survive, while rough handling, long fights, and time out of the water can kill fish even when they swim away looking fine. These habits make a real difference.
Before you cast
- Use the right gear for the fish. Line and rods that are too light lead to long fights that exhaust fish. Match your tackle to the species.
- Consider barbless hooks, or pinch the barbs down with pliers. They come out faster and cause less damage, and you will land nearly as many fish if you keep the line tight.
- Prefer single hooks on lures when practical, and circle hooks for bait fishing. Circle hooks tend to hook fish in the corner of the mouth rather than in the throat.
- Have your tools ready: pliers or a hook remover, line cutters, and a rubber or coated net.
Playing the fish
Land fish reasonably quickly. A long fight builds up lactic acid and exhausts the fish, which makes recovery harder, especially in warm water. Set your drag correctly and keep steady pressure.
Landing
- Use a rubber or coated mesh net. Knotted nylon nets remove more of the protective slime and can damage fins and eyes.
- Keep the fish in the water if you can unhook it there.
- Never drag fish onto rocks, sand or the boat deck.
Handling
- Wet your hands before touching a fish. Dry hands and towels strip off the slime coat that protects fish from infection.
- Don't squeeze. Hold fish gently, and never put your fingers in or near the gills.
- Support big fish horizontally, with one hand under the belly. Hanging a heavy fish vertically by the jaw or gill plate can injure it.
- Keep it brief. A good rule of thumb is to hold your breath while the fish is out of the water. When you need a breath, so does the fish.
Unhooking
- Use pliers or a hook remover to back the hook out the way it went in.
- If a fish is hooked deeply in the throat or stomach, cut the line as close to the hook as you can and leave the hook in. Studies have found that many deeply hooked fish released this way survive better than when the hook is pulled out.
- Treble hooks: work one point free at a time, or cut the hook with cutters if needed.
Photos
Have your camera ready before you lift the fish. Keep it over the water so it lands in the water if it slips, support its body, and snap a few quick photos. Then put it back. A great photo is not worth a dead fish.
Reviving and releasing
- Hold the fish gently upright in the water, facing into a gentle current, or move it slowly forward so water passes over its gills. Don't move it back and forth.
- Let it swim away under its own power when it is ready.
- In rivers, release fish in slower water, not into a strong current.
Special situations
Warm water
Fish are more stressed when water is warm because warm water holds less oxygen. In the heat of summer, fish early in the day, shorten fights, keep fish in the water, and consider giving cold-water species such as trout a break when water temperatures are high.
Deep water and barotrauma
Fish pulled up from deep water (often deeper than about 30 feet) can suffer barotrauma: swelling from expanding gas, which may cause the fish to float and be unable to swim back down. Signs include a bloated belly, bulging eyes or the stomach pushed out of the mouth. Some states recommend or require descending devices that return fish to depth. Follow your state agency's guidance, and avoid fishing very deep for fish you plan to release.
Winter
In freezing air, fish gills and eyes can freeze quickly. Keep fish in the water or return them within seconds.
Keeping fish is fine too
Keeping legal fish to eat is part of fishing, and it is often good for fish populations, especially smaller panfish in lakes where they are overabundant. Follow the size and bag limits, keep only what you will use, and put your fish on ice right away. See how to find your local regulations.