Catch and Release Best Practices: A Science-Backed Guide

Catch and release has evolved from a conservation philosophy to a cornerstone of modern fisheries management. When done properly, releasing fish allows them to survive, reproduce, and provide fishing opportunities for years to come. When done poorly, it can be more harmful than harvest.

The difference between a fish that swims away healthy and one that dies hours later often comes down to handling techniques. Research shows that with proper methods, survival rates can exceed 95% for most species—but improper handling can reduce survival to less than 50%. Understanding the science behind catch and release empowers anglers to make a real conservation impact.

Why Practice Catch and Release?

The benefits of catch and release extend far beyond individual conservation ethics:

• Population sustainability: Releasing fish maintains healthy breeding populations, especially for slow-growing species
• Trophy fisheries: Waters with high release rates consistently produce larger average fish
• Genetic diversity: Keeping trophy genetics in the gene pool benefits entire populations
• Extended opportunities: The same fish can provide excitement for multiple anglers over many years
• Mandatory compliance: Many waters and species now require catch and release by regulation

Some species are particularly well-suited to catch and release. Bass, for example, have high survival rates when handled properly and aren't prized as table fare. Other species—like billfish and sturgeon—are almost exclusively catch-and-release fisheries due to conservation concerns.

The Fight: Minimizing Exhaustion

Catch and release begins the moment a fish takes your hook. An exhausting fight produces lactic acid buildup, depletes oxygen reserves, and can cause delayed mortality even after a seemingly successful release.

Use Appropriate Tackle

Match your tackle to your target species:

• Heavy enough to land fish quickly: Ultra-light tackle is fun but extends fight times dangerously
• Strong enough to prevent break-offs: Fish swimming away with hooks and line suffer higher mortality
• Quality drag systems: Smooth drags reduce stress during the fight

A 5-pound bass on 8-pound test can be landed in 30 seconds. The same fish on 2-pound test might take 5 minutes, dramatically increasing stress and lactic acid buildup. Choose tackle that balances sport with conservation.

Fight Fish Efficiently

• Keep constant pressure—don't give fish rest periods to dig deeper or run
• Work fish toward you rather than letting them fight at distance
• Use net or landing device when fish first reaches boat/shore
• In warm water, land fish even more quickly as oxygen is depleted faster

The Landing: Gentle Handling Begins

How you bring a fish from water to hand critically affects survival:

Use Rubber or Knotless Nets

Traditional knotted nets damage fish slime coats and can injure eyes and gills. Rubber nets are gentler and allow fish to be unhooked while still in water. Keep net in water during unhooking whenever possible.

Wet Your Hands Before Touching Fish

The protective slime coat on fish skin is incredibly important:

• Prevents infection from bacteria and parasites
• Reduces friction for efficient swimming
• Maintains proper osmotic balance

Dry hands act like sandpaper, removing this critical layer. Always wet your hands thoroughly before handling any fish you plan to release.

Minimize Air Exposure

Research consistently shows that air exposure is one of the biggest factors in delayed mortality:

• Under 30 seconds: Minimal impact on survival for most species
• 30-60 seconds: Increased stress but acceptable for hardy species
• Over 60 seconds: Significantly reduced survival rates

Think of it this way: holding a fish out of water is like holding your breath. The bigger the fish and the warmer the water, the more critical oxygen becomes. Get your photos quickly or skip them entirely.

Proper Fish Handling Techniques

Support the Body Horizontally

Large fish should never be held vertically by the jaw alone:

• Horizontal support: One hand under the jaw, one hand supporting the belly near the tail
• Vertical holds: Acceptable only for smaller bass (under 3 pounds); larger fish can suffer jaw or spine damage
• Never lip-land heavy fish: Support weight during the entire landing process

For species without jaw grips (trout, walleye, pike), support the body behind the gills and at the tail. Never squeeze the body or insert fingers into gills.

Avoid the Gills

Gills are incredibly delicate and easily damaged:

• Never touch gill rakers or filaments
• Keep hands away from gill plates
• If hook is in gills, cut the line rather than trying to remove it

Gill damage is one of the leading causes of delayed mortality in released fish. Even minor bleeding from gills can prove fatal.

Don't Squeeze the Body

Firm grips can damage internal organs:

• Use minimal pressure to control the fish
• Support rather than squeeze
• Avoid gripping near vital organs (behind gills, belly area)

Hook Removal: Quick and Clean

Use the Right Tools

Essential tools for catch and release:

• Needle-nose pliers: For removing hooks from fish jaws
• Hook removers: Long-handled tools for reaching deep hooks
• Side cutters: For cutting hooks when removal would cause excessive damage
• Dehooking devices: Species-specific tools for trout, pike, etc.

When to Cut the Line

Sometimes the best option is to leave the hook:

• Hook is deep in throat or stomach
• Hook is embedded in gills
• Removal attempts are causing additional damage or bleeding
• Fish is exhausted and needs immediate release

Research shows that fish can survive with embedded hooks, especially stainless steel hooks which dissolve slower than traditional steel but cause less tissue damage. Trying to remove a deep hook often causes more harm than leaving it.

Circle Hooks and Barbless Hooks

Hook design dramatically affects hooking location and removal ease:

• Circle hooks: Hook fish in the corner of the mouth 90% of the time, making removal easy and reducing mortality
• Barbless hooks: Remove cleanly with minimal tissue damage and faster release times
• De-barb your hooks: Use pliers to pinch down barbs on standard hooks

Many expert anglers now use circle hooks exclusively for live bait and have switched to barbless hooks for artificial lures. The slight decrease in hookup rates is offset by easier releases and higher survival rates.

Water Temperature Effects

Water temperature profoundly affects fish physiology and catch-and-release survival:

Warm Water (Above 75°F)

• Reduced oxygen: Warm water holds less dissolved oxygen
• Faster metabolism: Fish exhaust more quickly and need more oxygen to recover
• Higher stress: Recovery time increases dramatically
• Best practice: Fish early morning and evening when temps are coolest; release fish immediately with minimal handling

When water temperatures exceed 80°F, consider not fishing for species like trout and salmon, which are cold-water species. Warm-water species like bass can survive, but handling must be absolutely perfect.

Cold Water (Below 50°F)

• Fish recover more slowly but survive well with proper handling
• Extended revival times may be necessary
• Don't rush the release—ensure fish is fully recovered

Optimal Temperature Range

Most species have highest catch-and-release survival rates when water temps are in their optimal range:

• Bass, catfish, panfish: 68-75°F optimal
• Trout: 50-65°F optimal
• Walleye, pike: 55-70°F optimal

The Revival: Ensuring Successful Release

The release is the most critical moment. A fish that swims away quickly might still die hours later if not properly revived.

How to Revive a Fish

1. Hold upright in the water: Support the fish in a swimming position, facing into current if present
2. Move water through gills: Gently move the fish forward and backward to push water across gills
3. Watch for breathing: Gill plates should move rhythmically
4. Wait for strength: Fish should begin swimming on its own before release
5. Let it go naturally: Open your hands and let the fish swim away under its own power

Signs of Proper Revival

Don't release until you see these signs:

• Regular, strong gill movements
• Fish begins struggling to swim free from your hands
• Eyes are clear and responsive
• Fish maintains upright position without support

When Revival Isn't Working

Sometimes fish need extended revival time:

• Continue revival efforts for several minutes
• Move to cooler, more oxygenated water if possible
• Ensure water is moving through gills continuously
• In extreme cases, consider keeping the fish if legal (a dead fish doesn't help anyone)

Deep Water Releases: The Barotrauma Challenge

Fish caught in deep water (over 30 feet) often suffer from barotrauma—the expansion of gases in the swim bladder as pressure decreases. This can prevent fish from swimming back down after release.

Signs of Barotrauma

• Bloated appearance
• Inability to submerge
• Stomach protruding from mouth
• Eyes bulging from sockets

Solutions for Deep Water Releases

• Venting tools: Release gas from swim bladder (requires training and proper technique)
• Descender devices: Weighted clamps that take fish back to depth before release
• Quick descent: Lower fish in net or release device back to depth

Descender devices have become the gold standard for deep water releases, showing significantly higher survival rates than venting. Many fisheries now encourage or require descender use in deep water.

Putting It All Together: The Perfect Release

Here's the ideal catch-and-release process from hookset to release:

1. Use appropriate tackle to land fish quickly (under 2 minutes)
2. Have tools ready before fish arrives (pliers, net, camera)
3. Use rubber net and keep fish in water during unhooking if possible
4. Wet hands before touching fish
5. Support fish horizontally with minimal pressure
6. Remove hook quickly or cut line if hook is deep
7. Minimize air exposure to under 30 seconds total
8. Take quick photos if desired (10-second rule)
9. Revive in water until fish swims away strongly on its own
10. Watch the fish for a moment to ensure it descends normally

Special Considerations by Species

Trout and Salmon

• Extremely sensitive to warm water and handling
• Keep in water at all times when possible
• Use barbless hooks (required in many waters)
• Avoid fishing when water exceeds 68°F

Pike and Muskie

• Sharp teeth require special handling tools
• Long body needs horizontal support along entire length
• Use jaw spreaders for safe hook removal
• Never lift large fish by eye sockets (gill plate grips)

Billfish (Marlin, Sailfish)

• Keep in water—these fish are almost never landed on boat
• Cut leader at hook while fish is in water
• Circle hooks are standard and often required
• Revive by slowly moving boat forward with fish alongside

The Bottom Line

Catch and release is more than a conservation technique—it's a commitment to the future of fishing. Every fish that swims away healthy contributes to spawning, grows larger, and provides opportunities for other anglers. But catch and release only works when we follow science-backed best practices.

The techniques outlined here aren't suggestions—they're requirements for ethical angling. Use appropriate tackle, minimize handling and air exposure, support fish properly, and ensure full revival before release. These simple steps can mean the difference between a fish that survives to spawn for years and one that dies within hours.

We all share a responsibility for the fisheries we love. Practice perfect catch and release, and the waters you fish today will provide excitement for your children and grandchildren tomorrow.

Tight lines and healthy releases!