Catch-and-Release Tips
By Bruce Joule, Department of Marine Resources

With the large numbers of "schoolie" striped bass and "snapper" blues around this season I have had many requests for information regarding safe catch and release skills. The following should provide many of the necessary details.

1. Be prepared to release a fish before it is hooked.
2. Use artificial lures whenever possible to reduce the chance of a swallowed hook.
3. Use strong enough tackle and bring the fish in quickly to reduce exhaustion.
4. Use barbless hooks or crimp the barb on a standard hook since these are much easier to remove from a fish than barbed hooks.
5. Replace treble hooks with single hooks to minimize wounding and ease hook removal.

B. HANDLING YOUR CATCH

1. Keep the fish in or over the water whenever possible.
2. Keep the fish from thrashing.
3. Control larger fish in the water by holding the leader with a glove, slipping a release gaff through the lower jaw, or by using a tailer.
4. If you must handle the fish:

• hold it with a wet glove or rag
  
• calm it by turning it on its back and/or covering its eyes
  
• ALWAYS avoid touching the gills and eyes
  
• AVOID removing scales or mucus
  
• return the fish to the water as quickly as possible
  

5. Protect yourself against personal injury by handling each species carefully.

C. REMOVING THE HOOK

1. Carefully, but QUICKLY, remove hooks inside the fish's mouth with a dehooker, hookout, needlenose pliers, or forceps.
2. Back the hook out the way it came in.
3. For fish hooked deeply in the gut or throat, cut the leader leaving a length equal to approximately half the fish's body hanging out of the mouth.

D. THE FINAL MOMENTS

1. Place the fish in the water gently supporting its midsection and tail until it swims away.
2. Resuscitate an exhausted fish by moving it back and forth or tow it alongside the boat to force water through its gills.
3. Cod, pollock, and haddock benefit greatly with a gentle tummy rub which releases air and allows for a quick descent.
4. Watch the fish to make sure it swims away. If it does not, recover the fish and try again.

E-mail Bruce Joule with news of your efforts.

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