More and more anglers are practicing catch and release. The idea is that a fish is too valuable a resource to be caught only once. But catch and release is only effective if the fish is released back into the water alive and able to resume its natural life. Many well-intended anglers kill fish they intended to keep alive.
The late Lefty Kreh, a fly-fishing guru, told me once that he saw one of our local fishermen who had hooked up with a big tarpon on a fly rod in the Florida Keys. The angler was fighting the giant fish as Lefty’s boat passed by. Several hours later, Kreh returned, and the angler was still fighting the tarpon.
Lefty’s advice? In order to practice catch and release, it is critical to put enough pressure on the fish that you tire him quickly. Work the fish from side to side and make him fight against the rod and line. I have also witnessed fly fishermen using microscopic leader material that would snap in an instant. To land the fish, they had to fight it until it was totally spent. This often stresses the hapless fish to the point of death. Make sure your equipment is strong enough to land the fish as quickly as possible.
Another extremely valuable tip in releasing fish safely is to wet your hands. Never touch a fish that you want to release with dry hands. All fish have an exterior coating, slime if you will, that is a defense mechanism against disease and bacteria. Dry hands remove that slime, which can be fatal to the fish. Wet your hands first before ever touching a fish.
A pair of forceps or fishing pliers is an essential tool for the catch and release angler. It allows for quick extraction of the hook, especially if it’s deep in the mouth. When a fish has swallowed the hook completely, don’t try to remove it. Simply snip the line as close to the hook as possible and let the fish go. Most hooks rust quickly, dissolve and the fish can recuperate.
Nets are also important when plying catch and release tactics. Most fishing guides now use rubber nets rather than twine nets, which can be difficult to untangle when hooks become snarled in the netting. While trying to get the hook or hooks dislodged from the net, the fish can easily perish.
And don’t try to win the Nobel Prize for photography while snapping dozens of pictures of your prized fish. Take a couple of quick shots and get the fish back in the water, ASAP.
When trying to revive a fish in the water, face the fish upstream in a gentle current and move it back and forth letting water pass through the gills until the fish can swim on its own, then release it.
Finally, if you catch a trophy fish and would like to have it mounted, consider a fiberglass reproduction. Measure the fish in length and girth, take a picture for coloration and have the taxidermist duplicate the fish rather than kill it. Fiberglass mounts last longer than a natural fish when mounted and often appear more realistic.
Finally, if you practice catch and release, do it correctly.
