CATCH & RELEASE

How to Properly Release a Fish After Capture

The moment of capture is very stressful for the fish. During the effort to resist capture, its muscles produce lactic acid, which is a toxic compound for cells and can cause its death even hours after release, even if it appears to be fine.

To avoid injuries and facilitate hook removal. This prevents removing the fish’s natural protective slime from its body and prevents the fish from becoming damaged by getting caught in mesh that is too large.

Landing Net with Rubber Mesh

If you must touch it, wet your hands first to avoid removing the protective slime and avoid using rags. Our body temperature is far higher than that of fish and our sweat is particularly acidic: this could induce the formation of infections, promoting the spread of bacteria that can then lead to the fish’s death.

If you must take the fish in hand, handle it gently and do not squeeze it like in a vise, use both hands to support it and not only by the jaw, as its structure collapses under its own weight out of water.
Cover the fish’s eyes with one hand to calm it.

When you catch a fish, do not drag it over rocks or gravel to avoid removing its natural protective slime from its body through contact with the ground. Ideally, you should unhook it directly in the water.

TO BE AVOIDED

fish dragged over rocks

If necessary, keep the fish out of water for as short a time as possible.
If you want to release it while giving it the maximum chance of survival, never lift it out of the water or at least minimize its time out of water as much as possible.

TO BE AVOIDED

fish lifted out

If you see the fish is exhausted before releasing it, reoxygenate it by gently moving it in the water against the current or drawing a figure eight in calm waters. Do not release the fish until you are certain it is doing well.

The rapid pressure difference can cause damage to the swim bladder (barotrauma). Fish have a special sac inside them called the swim bladder. The swim bladder helps the fish balance its weight and the water pressure at various depths. When we quickly bring to the surface a fish caught in deep waters, the gases contained in the swim bladder expand and the bladder inflates like a balloon. In some cases, the bladder protrudes from the fish’s mouth or anus. A fish in these conditions may not be able to swim deep enough to restore the proper gas pressure in the swim bladder, or as it inflates, the swim bladder may have compressed and damaged other internal organs. Therefore, avoid fishing for fish in deep waters if you plan to release them.