Catch and release done well
Releasing a fish is not the same as the fish surviving. The minutes between the hook-set and the swim-away decide the outcome, and a few consistent habits noticeably improve a released fish’s chances.
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Prepare before the fish is in
Good release starts before you hook up. Pinch down your barbs or use barbless hooks, keep forceps or pliers within reach, and have a soft, knotless rubber net ready. Decide in advance that fish you intend to release will stay in or just above the water.
Handling at the net
- Wet your hands before touching a fish. Dry hands and dry surfaces remove the protective slime layer that guards against infection.
- Support the body horizontally; avoid holding a fish vertically by the jaw alone, which can strain it.
- Keep air exposure short. Treat time out of the water like holding your own breath — a few seconds, not a photo session.
- Avoid the gills and eyes. Never put fingers under the gill plates of a fish you plan to release.
Why slime matters: The slime coat is part of a fish’s first line of defence against disease. Handling with wet hands or a wet rubber net helps keep that protection intact.
Removing the hook
Back the hook out the way it went in, using forceps for a clean grip. A barbless or pinched-barb hook slides free with far less damage. If a fish is hooked deeply and the hook cannot be removed easily, cutting the line close to the hook often leaves the fish better off than prolonged probing.
Reviving and releasing
If a fish is tired, hold it upright in the water, facing into a gentle current or moving it slowly forward so water passes over its gills. Release it only when it can hold itself upright and swims off under its own power. A fish that rolls or floats needs more time.
- Minimise the fight time so the fish is less exhausted.
- Keep it wet and support its weight.
- Remove the hook quickly with the right tool.
- Let it recover until it swims away on its own.
These habits pair naturally with the right tools from Gear Basics and with fishing inside the seasons and limits covered in Seasons & Species Planning.