Tips for safely releasing a fish

This is to try and ensure that the fish live to see and possibly fight another day.

Here are a few tips for releasing your catch with as little damage to the fish as possible.

1. Use hooks that will come out cleanly. Use barbless hooks, or regular hooks with the barb pinched closed. If you play the fish correctly you should not find this a big handicap.

2. Use a hook remover. These apply a twisting motion to remove hooks in the line of least resistance. Take care how you hold the fish if it is necessary to do so.

3. Use only fishing techniques that are likely to result in the hook being set in the jaw. You should be able to feel bites and should strike before the hook is swallowed down deep.

4. Landing a fish can be tiring for you. It is far more tiring and stressful for the fish. The battle can leave the fish in a weakened state. So don't make the battle longer than needs be. Use good, strong tackle that will enable you to bring the fish in quickly.

5. Landing nets can cause damage to the fish. Use only where the damage resulting from non-use is likely to be greater, for instance, in shallow, stony water. You can consider a fish landed once it is close enough to release, so begin doing so while fish are still in the water. Use landing stretchers instead of nets.

6. If you want to take a photo of you and the fish, do it quickly and carefully. Be prepared - the camera should be ready before you lift the fish out of the water. Hold the fish horizontally and with wet hands to not damage the protective layer of slime that coats the skin and scales. Keep fish off the ground and away from any surfaces that can damage the slime. Dry clothing is particularly bad news.
Never hold fish upside-down by the tail. This puts considerable stress on the internal organs that are already suffering with the body out of the water.

7. Never carry the fish with a hand inside the gills. This may be convenient for dead fish, but will quickly kill a live one.

8. Release fish with care. Hold the fish facing into flowing water, if possible, until it has recovered enough strength to swim off on its own.

Peter Chadwick via photodestination.co.za supplied these release tips.

(File Photo:Gallo Images)

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