Conservation & Ethics
1 min read
Catch and Release Best Practices
Handling, dehooking, and revival techniques
Table of Contents
## Proper Handling
Wet your hands before touching fish to protect their slime coat, which guards against infection. Support the fish horizontally — never hold a large fish vertically by the jaw. Minimize air exposure to under 30 seconds. Use a rubber-mesh landing net.
## Dehooking Techniques
Use long-nose pliers or a dehooking tool for quick hook removal. Barbless hooks or crimped barbs release fish faster with less tissue damage. If the hook is deeply swallowed, cut the line close — the hook will dissolve or be expelled naturally.
## Revival and Release
Hold the fish upright in the water, gently moving it forward to push water over the gills. In current, face the fish upstream. Wait until the fish kicks strongly before letting go. In warm water, avoid fighting fish to exhaustion — use adequate tackle to land them quickly.
Wet your hands before touching fish to protect their slime coat, which guards against infection. Support the fish horizontally — never hold a large fish vertically by the jaw. Minimize air exposure to under 30 seconds. Use a rubber-mesh landing net.
## Dehooking Techniques
Use long-nose pliers or a dehooking tool for quick hook removal. Barbless hooks or crimped barbs release fish faster with less tissue damage. If the hook is deeply swallowed, cut the line close — the hook will dissolve or be expelled naturally.
## Revival and Release
Hold the fish upright in the water, gently moving it forward to push water over the gills. In current, face the fish upstream. Wait until the fish kicks strongly before letting go. In warm water, avoid fighting fish to exhaustion — use adequate tackle to land them quickly.
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