Sustainable Fishing
Catch-and-Release Fishing Tips
An estimated 60 million Americans and Canadians enjoy recreational fishing each year. It’s a great outdoor bonding activity for kids, friends and family. And fishing license fees are a critical source of funding for wildlife conservation.
If you’re not fishing for dinner, do your part to keep fish populations healthy by ensuring any animals you catch are safely released so they can continue to serve their role in the ecosystem.
Any fish targeted for catch-and-release should be reeled in quickly and handled properly so both you and the fish stay safe. Here’s how:
Gear
Use rods, reels and line strong enough to reel in the targeted fish. Drags should be set at 20-25% of the line’s breaking strength. A five-pound pink salmon can be reeled in using a light rod and reel loaded with 20-pound line. When we fished for giant sturgeon to tag them for research, we used 200-pound test line matched with big-game reels and heavy-action rods so we could bring even 300-pound fish to the boat within 15 minutes.
If you’re baits or lures are fishing in water more than 30-feet deep, make sure to have a descender device that can safely lower fish back to depth and reverse any barotrauma they may have suffered on the way up. In the Salish Sea, there are two types of bottom-dwelling rockfish protected under the Endangered Species Act. To join us on a search for local rockfish, watch Operation Babyfish
Buy barbless hooks or use pliers to crimp the barbs on any hooks used for catch-and-release fishing. Check local regulations for your targeted species; you may be required to use circle hooks.
Use non-stainless steel or bronze hooks and do not try to remove the hook if the fish swallows it. The fish will have much better chance of survival if you cut the line as close to the hook as possible.
Handling Fish
Reel the fish in as quickly as possible. Longer fights cause blood chemistry changes that can injure or kill the fish or make it more vulnerable to predators. If the fish is exhausted from the fight, gently hold it so water is flowing through its mouth and gills. Wait until the fish begins to swim before releasing.
Never remove large fish from the water; there’s a good chance you, your crew and the fish could be injured. Only touch fish with wet hands so you don’t disturb their protective coating.
Small fish can be gently lifted from the water by supporting their bodies at multiple points. Do not hold fish vertically for a picture or you may damage their internal organs. Do not touch the fish’s eyes or gills or hold it up by the gill covers. Place it back in the water as quickly as possible.
Do not gaff fish intended for release. If you use a net, make sure to wet it before the fish enters and then release the fish from inside the net instead of lifting it out of the water.
Be prepared for a fish to struggle if you’re holding it! Your hands will be wet and the fish is slimy. If you’re not supporting it correctly, you may get jabbed with a sharp spine or bitten, and if they fish falls into the boat or on the shore it will likely get injured.
Happy fishing!
The science behind the recommendations:
A Review of Catch-and-Release Angling Mortality with Implications for No-take Reserves
Juvenile sturgeons exhibit low physiological responses to exercise