Catch-and-Release Done Right: Best Practices for Fish Survival

Catch-and-release fishing has become a cornerstone of modern fisheries conservation — but it's only as effective as the release itself. A fish that's mishandled, exhausted, or released improperly may not survive, even if it swims away. If we're going to release fish, it's our responsibility to give them the best possible chance. Here's how to do it right, based on what fisheries research tells us.

Why Proper Release Technique Matters

Fish are more physiologically stressed by the catch process than many anglers realize. The fight causes a buildup of lactic acid in muscle tissue. Air exposure desiccates gill tissue. Squeezing a fish's body can damage internal organs. Even water temperature differentials between the fish's environment and air can cause shock. Studies on various species show that survival rates are closely tied to how long fish are out of the water and how they're handled.

Before the Fish Is Landed

  • Fight fish efficiently: A prolonged fight exhausts a fish far more than a quick one. Use appropriate tackle — don't use ultra-light gear on large fish if you intend to release them.
  • Use barbless hooks or crimp barbs: Barbless hooks cause significantly less tissue damage and make hook removal faster and easier. Many catch-and-release anglers make this switch permanently.
  • Have your release gear ready: Unhooking tool, net, and camera should all be within reach before you land the fish.

The Landing Phase

  • Use a rubberized or knotless net: Traditional knotted nylon nets strip protective slime coating from fish. Rubber-coated or knotless mesh nets cause far less damage.
  • Keep the fish in the water as much as possible: If you need to unhook or photograph the fish, minimize air time. A general guideline used by many anglers: if you can't hold your own breath while the fish is out of water, it's been out too long.
  • Wet your hands before touching the fish: Dry hands remove slime coat. The slime coat protects fish from infection and disease.

Handling the Fish

  1. Support the fish horizontally: Hold the fish gently with one hand under its belly and one near the tail. Never hold a fish vertically by the jaw for extended periods — the weight of the body can damage internal organs, especially in larger fish.
  2. Avoid squeezing: A gentle but secure grip is all that's needed. Don't death-grip the fish.
  3. Keep the fish low: If you're photographing the fish, crouch low to the water. Dropping a fish on the ground or on a hard boat deck can cause serious injury.
  4. Remove hooks quickly and carefully: Use long-nose pliers or a hook-removal tool. For deeply swallowed hooks, it's often better to cut the line close to the hook rather than digging it out — hooks will often dissolve or work free over time.

The Release

How you release the fish is just as important as how you handle it:

  • Hold the fish gently upright in the water, facing into any current
  • Allow it to rest and regain equilibrium — don't force it away from you
  • Move the fish gently forward and backward in the water to pass oxygenated water over the gills if it seems lethargic
  • Release your grip only when the fish begins to kick and swim with purpose
  • In very warm water, find the deepest, coolest, most oxygenated spot nearby for the release

Special Considerations

Deep-Water Fish (Barotrauma)

Fish caught from deep water often suffer from barotrauma — expansion of the swim bladder due to rapid pressure change. These fish may float upside down or belly-up at the surface. Using a venting tool or a descending device (which lowers the fish back to depth before releasing) can significantly improve survival rates for these species.

Warm Water Conditions

Warm water holds less dissolved oxygen and stresses fish more quickly. During summer heat, consider keeping fish and targeting them in the cooler early morning hours — or switching to harvest fishing where regulations allow, rather than practicing catch-and-release in conditions where survival rates drop significantly.

The Bigger Picture

Responsible catch-and-release is one of the most direct ways individual anglers contribute to healthy fisheries. Combined with respecting size and bag limits, supporting habitat conservation organizations, and speaking up for clean water policies, it's part of what it means to be a steward of the resource — not just a user of it.