Catch and release?

[LOVBASS117]

I have to right a report for school about "catch and release"
(my subject) and I was wondering how many people on here really catch and release the right way can you guys tell me the steps you guys take?
thanks hunter.
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[nkunz]

I have a tool (available cheap at Sportsman's Warehouse). It looks like a plastic pistol. You hook the wire that protrudes from the barrel onto your line and slide it down to the bend in the hook and pull the trigger. That reverses the hook and the fish falls off. You never touch the fish and it is only out of the water for seconds. In the event the fish is too large to lift out of the water by the line you just perform the same function with the fish laying in the water. You still don't touch the fish and the added bonus is the fish isn't removed from the water at all. The only divantage is it only works with single hooks, but since that is what I fish with 99% of the time, no problem. I fish primarily with flies and fish is seldom hooked any where but in the mouth so there is rarely any serious harm to the fish. However, on very rare occasions the fish is overly aggressive and ends up hooked in the gills. When that happens the fish is invited home for dinner. The tool will also work when bait fishing provided barbless hooks are used. Even when the fish swallows the hook it is removed so quickly and easily that very little damage occurs.
I would like to read your report when you finish. You can pm it to me if you don't want to post it.
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[fishnate]

I hope this doesn't turn into a big arguement thread. This topic tends to bring out the worst in some folks.

For what it's worth, this is HOW I DO IT, NOT HOW ANYONE ELSE MUST DO IT. Just don't want to be misunderstood.

I only release fish that are hooked shallow in the mouth not in the gills or throat and isn't bleeding badly. Typically that means by using artificial lures, but not always, since I often hook fish in the lip even when using bait and they too can be released unharmed. Sometime I use barbless but not always. It deffinately is easier on the fish.

I also fight the fish quickly in relation to their size and strength. Unhook them quickly often while still in the water, ALWAYS with wet hands to protect the slime layer. Get them back in the water within 30 seconds.

I try never to drop the fish in the dirt (damages the slime layer increasing the chance of infections) or leave them lying on the ice for more than a few seconds (it freezes their skin and blood increasing mortality).

I don't fish in waters when/where the water temperature is too warm to support a healthy release per the species available.

When taking a photo I try to support the fish with two hands for fish longer than about 14" or 15" and I stay close to the water in case the fish flips out of my grasp. If I'm alone I may lay the fish in wet grass or in the shallows or I don't take a photo.

If I weigh a fish I do it in a net (so I don't damage the gills) then deduct the weight of the net.

That's how I do it. The DWR used to have catch and release tips in the Fishing Guide Book and I'm sure you can search it on the web for other ideas. Good luck on the report.
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[Deadeye008]

There are lots of different ways people do it but the main idea is to remove the hook from the fish in the least harmful way while keeping the fish in the water and handling it as little as possible. Using barbless, single hooks facilitates the removal process greatly and harms the fish less. It also facilitates the fish getting off the hook prematurely though...
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[bassrods]

There is no one way of handling each type of fish or how to release it..
Some like bass you can hold by the lower lip..
Others like trout are much harder to handle and release so they will live..

You may want to brake the types of fish down and do each type and way of handling for the release..
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[flygoddess]

Good point Bassrods.

I stick with the basics....barbless hooks so easy to remove without squeezing the fish. Wet hands, no towel, no glove, just wet hands. Rubberized nets.
If lift it out of the water, I hold my breath. If warm conditions I try not to remove the fish from the water or a quick snap shot, back in the water.
Circle hooks, when possible.
Like Bassrod said, Bass by the lower lip, trout, cradle their belly, not by the gills or the tail.
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[snoopypole]

some do it the write way and some do it the rong way....
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[flygoddess]

[quote snoopypole]some do it the write way and some do it the rong way....[/quote]


Now that sounds like a report "I" would right (or write) up[]
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[FishSlayer2112]

[quote snoopypole]some do it the write way and some do it the rong way....[/quote]

Beat me to it.


But seriously, when you get it all done, post your rough draft, and we'll help you get an A on that baby.
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[N.E.T.O.]

Regardless of how a fish is released, some will die.

Sometimes it's not the handling of the fish that kills it, it's the fight.

Mortality is part of this game.

Flyfishing, jigging and most bass lures (and trolling) are usually better methods to use when trying to release fish unharmed, as usually these lures tend to hook the fish in the lip, before the fish has a chance to swallow it.

Baitfishing is usually not a very good method to fish with if you are intending to release fish unharmed as the fish usually swallows the hook.

Lots of people say that a fish will "pass" a treble hook (usually used with power bait or other dough baits) with no problem, but I think that would almost kill me, let alone a fish.

I catch lots of fish at Strawberry while jigging that have a cut fishing line coming out of their throats. I've gutted a lot of fish in my day and I either find very fresh swallowed hooks inside, or nothing. This tells me that generally speaking, fish that swallow hooks usually die. I have yet to ever find a semi-dissolved hook inside of a fish.

Also, out on Strawberry, which has a slot limit and you have to release MOST of the fish that are caught, I see a lot of "floaters", which are released fish that die. If one floats close enough to my boat that I can net it, I do, just to see if I can see how it died. (and promptly "let it go" again afterwards to avoid a citation) Usually these floaters have a cut fishing line coming out of their throats, or they are bleeding profusely from their gills (or they are NOT bleeding anymore because they bled out, and the gill was damaged).

If you read up on lakes that have slot limits, catch and release only regulations, etc., and look deeply into the reasoning, rules and regulations of that body of water, you will usually find that the bioligists factor in a mortality percentage for fish that are released, or in other words, a percentage of fish that they assume will likely die.

Mortality for larger fish like Sturgeon and large Lake Trout can be minimized by using equipment that will minimize the fight time.

When I fish, I obey all the laws that pertain to that body of water but I know that regardless of how careful I am, assuming that I am releasing the fish the right way, there are still some fish that will die. It's part of the game.

I am not one of those that gets mad at people for using treble hooks or bait to fish with. They bought their license, and they are allowed to fish within the law just like me. It's their choice to use methods that are more or less mortal. The biologists also realize this and is factored into the slot limits and biological plan for any given body of water (usually!)

To answer your question directly, a lot of the steps that you take to correctly release a fish, are steps that are done before the fish is ever caught. Fishing with the correct gear. Minimizing the fight time. Not fishing when the water is too warm, etc. Once the fish is caught, minimizing it's time out of the water and avoiding direct contact are a couple of the best methods to use, but again, sometimes, no matter how careful you are...fish die.

Hope this helps.
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[fishnate]

[quote N.E.T.O.]I've gutted a lot of fish in my day and I either find very fresh swallowed hooks inside, or nothing. This tells me that generally speaking, fish that swallow hooks usually die.[/quote]

I'm thinking the knife blade may have played a role in the death of most of those fish[:p][][laugh]
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[N.E.T.O.]

True! I can't recall one single fish that I gutted that I was able to release afterwards! []
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[TylerKunz]

Depends on how your fishing... Fly fishing just like FG said wet your hands pop the the hook out, snap a quick pic and put it back in a quick as you can. Dont put your fingers through the gill while holding it, if you do plan on trout for supper. Not much else you can do... Also if your using powerbait and treble hooks they will 99% of the time swallow the hook and if you try to take it out you will rip out the guts. If you don't plan on keeping it cut the line about a foot about the mouth and supposedly the trout will work it out. I don't know if that's true it not. Also I have noticed a lot of fly shops don't sell barbless flies? At least sportsmans and fish tech don't...
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[flygoddess]

[quote TylerKunz]Depends on how your fishing... Fly fishing just like FG said wet your hands pop the the hook out, snap a quick pic and put it back in a quick as you can. Dont put your fingers through the gill while holding it, if you do plan on trout for supper. Not much else you can do... Also if your using powerbait and treble hooks they will 99% of the time swallow the hook and if you try to take it out you will rip out the guts. If you don't plan on keeping it cut the line about a foot about the mouth and supposedly the trout will work it out. I don't know if that's true it not. Also I have noticed a lot of fly shops don't sell barbless flies? At least sportsmans and fish tech don't...[/quote]


I think that is because, not everyone (unfortunately) fishes barbless and those that wish to can squish the barbs. I prefer that as it leaves a little bump. Nice feature if you tie a trailer off the bend of the lead hook.
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[TylerKunz]

Ya I would love to have more barbless flies... It would help a lot to hone my skills.
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[mike4cobra]

I release carp by bashing em in the head till they let go of my hook.... [fishin]
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[gstott]

I fight the fish as quickly as possible and use a rubber net to land it (or sometimes I leave the fish in the water and remove the hook with a hemostat). If I must handle a fish, I wet my hands first. Bass I generally hold by the lip, unless they are larger fish, in which case I try supporting them with two hands. If I want a pic, I hold the fish in the water with one hand while I get the camera ready with the other, then take a couple of quick shots before releasing the fish. I don't fish bait except on the rare occasion that I chase catfish, in which case I use circle hooks. Trout I only purposefully chase with flies, though they occasionally attack my bass lures.
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Carp C & R? Doesn't that stand for Cut and Release? Note: the fish in the picture below was handled a bit roughly and may not have survived.[/#0000ff]

[inline "CUT AND RELEASE.jpg"]
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[CoyoteSpinner]

[quote FishSlayer2112][quote snoopypole]some do it the write way and some do it the rong way....[/quote]

Beat me to it.

But seriously, when you get it all done, post your rough draft, and we'll help you get an A on that baby.[/quote]

Ping. Write on.

Me thinks it depends on who's advice is taken - might get an F instead of an A if you listen to . . .

But seriously - glad we haven't moved over to debate class! Good advices so fars.

I think Bassrods hit on a biggie. Yeah - there's all the general handling to consider - time, wet, not dropped or frozen, hook placement - removal a biggie, but type of fish - that's a big factor.


Panfish-fishing - I try to be nice to em all, but a wounded small panfish released will likely make some bigger friends in a quick hurry. The bigger ones usually don't get a chance to get away.
Small fish - it's easy to lift the line, grab the hook with pliers, twist, shake em off.

Bass are tuff, Trout are wimps. You can look at a trout sideways, and it'll go belly up. Bass can handle live-wells, and still be released. As said some a slimy and squiggely, others you can just lip 'em, while toothy ones you wouldn't dare lip, or YOU get a gnarly shred. A good grab spot is below the chin, but not by the gill - some gills are darn sharp and pokey!

Now you get into the cats and carp - and those suckers can take a licking and keep on swimming. Carp especially are notoriously indestructible.

Big big fish are another story. You can't gently cradle a 30lb Mac in your hand, or a 40" TigerMusky. Big fish - you can't or shouldn't hold them vertical by a line, even if your line IS that tough! Big fish need support - and their guts get squished up if held vertical. Also bigger fish - likely a bigger, longer fight - need resuscitation before reentry. A period to catch a breather - got rocked, then released.

Good luck. Hope you get to include some "field studies" on your paper prep.