Catch and release is no longer a popular fad but an important part of preserving the future of fishing. This is not an attempt to convince you that you should put all of your fish back. But if you are not going to eat it or mount a trophy, then you should take care when handling them.
When you handle them with care they have an excellent chance of living to fight again.
More on Catch and Release.
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If it's possible, try to release the fish without lifting it from the water. Keep a pair of needle nose pliers or some other kind of hook remover handy. This will minimize the time the fish is out of water. If you are fishing for fun, try flattening the barb on the hook. This will help in the hook removal and does not greatly increase the chance of losing fish. If the fish swallows the hook, just cut the line as close to the hook as possible and release it. The hook will rust out fairly soon without causing to much damage. If the fish is bleeding from the gills or deep in the gullet, then chances are it will die. Better to take that one home for a meal. The fish has a better chance at survival if you use a rubber net instead of the mesh nets. The rubber won't remove as much of the fishes' protective slime. Add something to your livewell like Catch and Release or a little rock salt to help the fish recover from it's stress. In the hot summer, I like to keep my livewell a little cooler. I don't buy bagged ice because most of that stuff has chlorine in it and chlorine kills fish. Pour some water into a five gallon pail, and add some Catch and Release. This will remove the harmful chlorine from the water. Start filling up some smaller containers like the waxed cardboard milk containers or margarine containers and put them in the freezer. When you put them in your livewell, not only will it cool the water but as it melts it will add the Catch and Release automatically. |
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