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NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE
Catch and Release
Quick Reference Card
Why Release Fish?
| 1. |
After being caught, fish may need to be released
because of size, season, or catch restrictions. |
| 2. |
Stressed fish populations need your help to
recover. |
| 3. |
Catch-and-release fishing can be a way to help
conserve a valuable resource. |
| 4. |
A personal commitment to conservation can add
satisfaction to your fishing experience. |
| 5. |
The future of sportfishing is in your hands.
Pass it on! |
How to Begin
| 1. |
Use hooks that are barbless and made from metals
that rust quickly. |
| 2. |
Always keep release tools handy, such as
needle-nose pliers, hemostats, or "hookouts." |
| 3. |
Set the hook as soon as possible to prevent a
fish from swallowing the bait. |
| 4. |
Make a decision to release a fish as soon as it
is hooked. |
| 5. |
Land your catch quickly; don't play it to
exhaustion. However, bring a fish up slowly from deep water so it can adjust to the
pressure change. |
Handling Your Catch
| 1. |
Leave the fish in the water (if possible) and
don't handle it. Use a tool to remove the hook or cut the leader. |
| 2. |
When you must handle a fish:
-use a wet glove or wet rag to hold it
-avoid holding the fish by the gills or eyes
-turn a fish on its back or cover its eyes with a wet towel to calm it
-protect the scales and mucous membranes
-return the fish to water as quickly as possible |
| 3. |
Keep the fish from thrashing against objects |
| 4. |
Do not net your catch unless you cannot control
it any other way. |
| 5. |
If a net is necessary, keep the netted fish in
the water. Also rubberized nets cause less chaffing. |
| 6. |
Protect against personal injury by careful
handling. |
Removing the Hook
| 1. |
Cut the leader close to the mouth if a fish has
been hooked deeply or if the hook can't be removed quickly. |
| 2. |
Back the hook out the opposite way it went in. |
| 3. |
Use release tools to work the hook and protect
your hands. |
| 4. |
For larger fish in the water, slip a gaff around
the leader and slide it down the hook. Lift the gaff upward as you pull downward on
the leader |
| 5. |
Do not jerk or pop a leader to break it.
This may damage vital organs and kill the fish. |
| 6. |
If a fish is hooked in the gills or eyes,
consider keeping the fish (if regulations allow); mortality is usually high for these
types of injuries. |
Releasing the Fish
| 1. |
Place the fish in the water gently, supporting
its mid-section and tail until it can swim away. |
| 2. |
Resuscitate an exhausted fish by moving it
gently back and forth or tow it slowly (up to 30 minutes) alongside the boat so that water
enters its gills. |
| 3. |
Use an ice pick, needle, or hook point to
carefully puncture the expanded air bladder on a fish taken from deep water. |
| 4. |
Watch your fish to make sure it swims away.
If it doesn't, recover the fish and try again. |
| 5. |
A released fish has an excellent chance of
survival if handled correctly |
Compliments of:
U.S. Department of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Marine Fisheries Service
Southwest Region
501 W. Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200
Long Beach, CA 90802-4213
(562) 980-4004
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