To preserve the environment and the population of the fish, it is recommended that you don’t kill more fish than can be consumed by your family in the next day or two. If you do practice catch-and-release most if not all the time, please handle the fish as little as possible.

 

The fish’s body has a slimy protective coating, which can be damaged by excessive handling or equipment. Incorrect handling damages fish and reduces their chance of survival after release. A fish out of water cannot live for more than three or four minutes because of brain damage caused by lack of oxygen. An exhausted fish played too long may not recover.

 

If a fish is to be released, the hook should be removed while the fish is still in the water. You need to decide whether to remove the hook or not, depending on the potential damage that may be caused to the fish.

 

- If the fish is hooked in the jaw or mouth, remove the hook as cleanly as possible using a hook remover or small long-nosed pliers, or use thumb and forefinger, by shaking and backing the hook out.

 

- If the fish is hooked deeper in the mouth or in the stomach through having swallowed the bait, do not try to pull or twist the hook out. Leave the hook where it is and cut the line as close as possible to the hook. The hook will rust or fall out in a short time.

 

A few things to keep in mind when releasing the fish:

 

- Use a net without knotted mesh.

 

- Retrieve fish as quickly as possible. An overplayed fish may become to weak to recover.

 

- Do not use dry hands. This disturbs the layer of mucus that covers the fish to protect it from fungus diseases.  Instead, use wet hands or a wet cloth, and a minimum of handling to ensure they have a good chance of survival.

 

- Do not put the fish on dry surface. Wet the surface before you place the fish.

 

- Before release, hold the fish gently and move the fish back and forth through the water to force water through its gill, facing into the current until it is able to swim normally

 

- Keep the fish in the water as much as possible. Out of water, a fish suffocates and can be injured.

 

- Touch the fish as little as possible when removing the hook. Keep fingers, pliers, etc., away from its gills and eyes. Don’t squeeze or let it flop on the ground. To calm the fish, hold it gently around the middle and upside down to remove hook.