Catch and release

Proper Catch & Release

Submitted by ACE at localfishing.net.

If you are the kind of person that likes to catch and release fish all day, take note.

The slime coat on most fish is very fragile. Clear breaks or scrapes of the slime coat are usually fatal. This coating protects the fish like our skin does us, from infection and decay. In aquariums, fresh water fish get what is called “Ick”. This forms as tiny white tendrils that progressively form a ball of fungus. As this fungus invades the fishes body, the wound invites attacks from other fishes.

Worse still is to damage the scales themselves.

If you must handle fish, cup your hands and keep them wet. A firm grasp destroys the slime coat and will kill the fish. Putting the fish on the deck or on the rocks condemns it, even when promptly released.

If you can release the fish without touching it at all, it will live to bite again another day. Use needle nose pliers to grasp the hook. Use single hook jigs and grasp the jig itself. Hold the hook upside down and give it a shake while holding the fish over the water. Multiple hook punctures increase the odds of infection. If these wounds occur to the exterior surface of the fish it will be fatal. Oh sure, the fish will look frisky and fine when you release it, it will slowly die.

Consider a long time favorite of halibut fishermen, beaker hooks. The point bends inward giving the same, corner of the mouth hook set, but with a slightly different , more elongated hook profile.

Trout fishermen who still use small treble hooks with dough bait like Power-bait are killing every fish. Try small circle hooks and you won’t hook them in their guts or gills.

Bass anglers have long been the best at safely releasing fish by lipping them. Don’t try it with the toothy fish in the ocean. Larger size Calico Bass will tear up your thumb.

Personally, I only catch what I’m going to eat. Fish really doesn’t freeze well at all. Each day in the freezer diminishes the unexcelled fresh fish taste. Go more often and concentrate on eating fresh fish.

Learning to relax and slow down a little while fishing is good too.
Kick back and enjoy the scenery. You’re not there to kill every fish in the ocean. Leave a few there for next time. You’ll end up being a much bigger hero in your own eyes if you do.