How To Properly Catch And Release Your Fish A Fishing Fool Article
Study after study has shown that the majority of fish species can survive being caught and released if they are released properly. With most states now having laws requiring you to catch and release during some time of the year there is a strong need to learn to release your catch in a way that will insure its greatest chance of survival.
Here are some tips to help improve your fishs chance of survival once released back into the water.
Land your fish quickly if possible
The longer you fight the fish, the more energy the fish will use and will lesson his chance of survival. Also a weak and stressed fish is more vulnerable to predators and is also less able to fight off infection.
There is one exception to this and that is when you are fishing in very deep water. A fish caught in deep water needs time to adjust to the pressure changes as he is being reeled up to the boat or his air bladder will expand and he will not be able to swim back down to the deeper water. If the bladder does expand, puncture a small hole with a 12-gauge hypodermic needle if possible to release the air...