Date: 12/5/07
Contact: C. Doug Nielsen
Phone: (702) 486-5127, ext. 3500

CATCH AND RELEASE FISHING

With the growing interest in conservation, many anglers have adopted the practice of catch-and-release fishing. This practice involves catching a fish and then releasing it, in a timely and controlled manner, back into the water where it was caught. The key to successful catch-and-release fishing is doing so in a manner that gives released fish the greatest opportunity for survival, otherwise, the practice is nothing more than window dressing.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife offers the following guidelines for giving a released fish the greatest chance of survival.

It’s hard to imagine using a fish hook with no barbs, but the first step in catch-and-release fishing is using barbless hooks. Without the barb, it’s much easier to remove the hook from a fish’s mouth. While barbless hooks can be purchased, they also can be easily made by bending a barb over with a pair of pliers. Bait fishing with a treble hook is not the way to go.

One of the fun aspects of fishing is playing the fish, but playing a fish to exhaustion will almost ensure a released fish will die. That’s probably not a real issue if you plan on eating your fish, but if you plan on releasing it, land your fish as quickly as possible. When you land your fish, use a fine-mesh landing net. Doing so will prevent the fish from thrashing on the shore and make landing the fish much easier.

Fish are covered with a mucus coating that provides them with a level of bacterial protection. To protect that coating, it’s important to keep your fish in the water as much as possible. It’s also a good idea to wet your hands and net before handling the fish. Avoid touching or putting your fingers inside the gill slits. Hold the fish by placing one hand under the fish near its head and the other hand near its tail.

Once you have control of the fish, use hemostats or needle-nose pliers to remove the hook. This will help to protect your hands from hook-related injuries and is much easier on the fish than sticking your fingers in its mouth. If necessary, cut the line or the hook itself. This can be very beneficial if a fish is hooked deep.

To release a fish, hold it upright in the water and allow it to swim away under its own power. If the fish is bleeding from the mouth or gills due to your actions, you’ll need to keep working on your catch-and-release skills.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) protects, restores and manages fish and wildlife, and promotes fishing, hunting, and boating safety. NDOW’s wildlife and habitat conservation efforts are primarily funded by sportsmen’s license and conservation fees and a federal surcharge on hunting and fishing gear. Support wildlife and habitat conservation in Nevada by purchasing a hunting, fishing, or combination license. For more information, visit www.ndow.org.