Catch and Release fishing has become an excepted norm for many anglers. Fishing is a sport, but it has become less about survival and more about fun in recent decades. There is an issue of fish becoming depleted and many anglers are now employing the practice of catch and release fishing.
Let’s dive right in.
How to Do Catch and Release Fishing
Catch and release fishing is a great theory, but many people are doing it incorrectly and as a result many fish are dying.
A few steps should be followed when trying to catch and release a fish. Once you get the hang of how to do it correctly, you will be able to enjoy your hobby and keep the population of fish full in your favorite stream or lake.
The Hooks
The best place to start with catch and release fishing is with the hooks. A fish that has a hole through its mouth is going to be more likely to survive than a fish with a hole in its lung or gill.
If you happen to hook a fish in the gut, the best thing to do is to cut off the hook as much as you can then release the fish. Many times the hook will dissolve and the fish will spit it out. But they can also live with a rusted hook hanging from them.
No Tugging
When catch and release fishing whatever you do, do not tug on your line to pull a hook out or you will severely hurt the fish. If you are able to easily remove the hook, use a pair of needle nose pliers.
The process of pulling the hook out is easier if you remove the barbs from the hooks, but try not to wiggle while you pull the hook out.
Fish are obviously unable to survive outside of the water. Therefore, the longer that it takes you to release them, the more it becomes as if you are suffocating them.
Avoid Touching when Catch and Release Fishing
The way that a fish is gripped when out of the water will make a big difference. For instance, avoid touching a fish’s body with your bare hands.
The fish have a slimy protective coat that will be stripped off if you touch them with your hands. In catch and release fishing if you have to touch a fish, make sure that your hands are wet. You may want to wear gloves to protect your hands from cuts or permeating fish smells.
Play Out
Part of the fun in fishing is to “play out” the fish. The struggle can be what some anglers wait all day to do. Fish are like humans; when they “work out,” they build up lactic acid. When you are fighting a fish, they are fighting too.
Just like when someone works his or her body out and it feels sore, a fish experiences the same thing.
The build up of lactic acid can be toxic to a fish even days later. Therefore, if you are going to practice catch and release fishing, try to keep the struggle to a minimum.
Fish Flop
Try not to let a fish flop around when you catch them. A fish that flops around can bruise or damage its internal organs, causing them to die later from the injuries that are incurred. You can also revive a fish if you need to do so when catch and release fishing.
A fish is likely to run out of oxygen and pass out, so to speak.
In order to revive a fish, you place the fish in the water with their belly down and gently grasp their tail. Start to slowly move their tail back and forth until they give you the signal that they are ready to take off into the water.
Repeat the Process
Sometimes you will need to repeat the process more than once, but don’t let a fish go until they are ready. A fish that is not ready to swim could get carried away and swept into rocks or the embankment and cause serious injury.
Ready to Go Catch and Release Fishing
More than anything, when you are practicing catch and release fishing, have everything ready to go. Make sure that your camera, pliers, and gloves are in reaching distance. Try to take the precautions necessary to preserve the fish and one of America’s favorite pastimes.
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