Fish Handling Techniques for Effective Catch-and-Release

Minimizing air exposure may be one  of the single most important factors in limiting post-release mortality.
Ideally, fish should be released without removing them from the water.
· Single, barbless and/or circle hooks
can help reduce handling time and
air exposure.
· Handle the fish as quickly (under 30 seconds) and as little as possible. Use
a wet cloth glove or wet hand to prevent damage to the fish's protective
mucus coating.
· Once a fish is landed, be careful not to let it flop around as this can lead to
bruising and other injuries.
· Do not hold or support a fish's weight by the gills, gill cover or the eyes. If
a fish must be held, hold it in a horizontal position, with one hand placed
under the forward belly area and the other hand gently around the tail
area. This will help minimize damage to the fish's spine and internal
organs.
· If a fish is hooked in a vital area such as the gullet, gill or eye, consider
keeping the fish if regulations allow it, as post-release survival of these fish
is greatly reduced.
· If you must release a deeply hooked fish, consider cutting the line close to
the hook and follow proper release techniques.
· Hold a fish horizontal in the water until it is fully revived and swims away
on its own. Move the fish in an S-shaped pattern to run water through its
gills.
· If you must release fish that have been retained in a livewell, proper
livewell management is crucial to ensure good fish survival. Stress from
prolonged confinement and low dissolved oxygen levels from overcrowding
and/or warm water can result in higher mortality rates. Limit the number
of fish in a well-aerated livewell to 0.1 kg of fish per litre of water or
roughly one pound of fish per gallon of water. Limiting retention time of
fish in a livewell can also help to reduce stress and improve post-release
mortality.
· Use common sense when releasing fish. If a fish is bleeding or cannot be
revived, count that fish towards your limit, if regulations allow it