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Catch-and-release fish handling

By NEIL TAYLOR
Published February 2, 2007

Getting things started

Every angler should have a plan of action for releasing fish. Keep these things in mind if you have no interest in keeping a fish or if, by law, you are required to release a fish:

-If you use artificial lures, use pliers to crush down the barbs of the hooks. This allows you to dislodge the hook or lure more easily, and it does less damage to the mouth of the fish. This is particularly important when using lures with treble hooks.

-If you're fishing with live bait, keep the line tight and tend to your rod. This will reduce "gut hooking" the fish. Circle hooks or "mosquito" style hooks also reduce gut hooking.

-If you do gut-hook a fish, clip the line as close to the hook as possible. Revive the fish and release it as quickly as possible. Unless it is a stainless steel hook, the fish's digestive juices and the salt water will eventually dissolve the hook.

-Use the appropriate equipment to land your targeted species in a reasonable amount of time. Use the appropriate drag setting to reduce fighting time. During a long fight, fish build up lactic acid, which makes it more difficult to revive the fish afterward.

-Avoid the use of landing nets. Nets can damage the slimy substance that covers a fish's skin. Removing the slime exposes the fish to diseases.

-If possible, leave the fish in the water while removing the hook, reviving and releasing the fish.

-A dehooking tool allows you to release the fish without touching it at all. Needle-nose pliers are also useful for certain dehooking situations. If you do have to touch the fish, wet your hands first.

-Minimize the time that the fish is out of the water. Start the revival process before any pictures are taken and leave the fish in the water until the camera is ready.

-Handle the fish gently. Avoid bouncing a fish on the deck of the boat, sea wall or dragging them across the sand to land them. Do not lift a large fish vertically by the grabbing the leader.

-Properly support the fish and lay it down with care. Support the fish horizontally for a picture, then quickly place it back in the water to revive it.

-Do not hold fish vertically by the jaws or put your hands in the gills. This can potentially cause damage to the internal organs and may dislocate the jaw.

Revival techniques

A fish that has been exhausted should be handled in the following manner:

-After removing the hook, face the fish into the current or slowly move the fish forward to run water through its gills. A snook can be handled with your thumb and forefinger in its lower lip during this process. Avoid erratic movements. It may be a slow process with a fish that is played out to exhaustion. When the fish is ready to swim away on its own, you will know it.

-Keep an eye on the fish after release. Sometimes you have to retrieve the fish again. A redfish will often go down and sulk on the bottom but be adequately revived. A snook demonstrating the same behavior is likely not adequately revived and will probably require more of your time.

-Water temperature can have an effect. Cooler water has more oxygen, and fish often revive faster. In summer, the lower oxygen content in the water makes this a longer process. Take whatever time is necessary so that the fish has its best chance at survival.

Neil Taylor, Times correspondent

[Last modified February 1, 2007, 11:53:33]