There comes a time in every angler’s life where they have to ask, “How do I release a fish back into the water and ensures it survives?” Anglers are faced with needing to return a fish into its habitat due to season, size or local catch-and-release regulations. We’re here to help teach you steps on how to properly handle a fish after it’s been caught and how to release it in a conservative manner.
1. Plan ahead by having the right tackle and hooks for your target species.
2. Keeping the fish wet and held horizontally ensures it will stay in a calmer state since this is how they swim naturally through the water. Removing any fish from the water will cause them to suffocate, stress and cause internal injuries to themselves.
3. Always have wet hands or rubber gloves on. This maintains their slime coat, which helps them swim and protects them from catching any infections. Gently cradle the fish beneath its belly near the surface of the water.
4. Use a release tool like a dehooker, needle-nosed pliers, or hemostats if need be. Work quickly, efficiently and calmly while keeping the fish in the water or holding it upside down to relax the fish.
5. Let the fish recover before releasing it, but time is important! Release the fish head first to help push water through the mouth and gills. Make sure the fish is ventilating (the gills opening and closing) before you release it. If the fish is struggling to regain strength, face it into the current for fresh oxygen with one hand under its belly.
*Catching fish in deeper water can result in gases being dissolved in the blood stream causing the swim bladder to expand. This is called “barotrauma.” Most fish can survive this event if the proper catch-and-release procedures are followed such as recompression, venting and returning it to the depths in a timely fashion.*
Stay current with your state’s regulations and follow these actions to ensure a higher rate of survival for your catches! We want to keep our marine life safe and protected for future anglers in generations to come!
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