Lessons learned/Catch and release

[boneaddict]

There was a topic on board recently that was respecfully deleted.  Unfortunately there was a lesson to be learned from it and there might be others out there that don't know this information, so I am putting some of it back on in a better environment.
When catching and releasing fish there are a few dos and don'ts, and a few tricks that aid in a better survival rate.  I am absolutely sure I will miss some, so please feel free to add, or comment.

......single barbless hooks tend to be the best
......Usually the use of bait is not considered catch and release and those fish   
      released are considered part of your daily catch
......There are special nets that are Kinder to the fish if a net is used.
......Try to limit the amount of time a fish is out of the water as the exposure to air   
      damages the fishes gills and the fish will swim off and DIE. Bouncing around inthe
      bottom of the boat isn't exactly healthy for them.
......DO NOT touch the gills or they will be rendered useless and the fish will suffocate
......Try to use a glove or make sure your hand is wet before touching the fish to
      prevent the removal of slime.  The fish will possibly  later die of either a bacterial
      or fungal infection if this is not followed.
......Try to avoid holding the fish by its tail ONLY meaning holding the fish upside   
      down, and the pressure can sometimes kill the fish.
......revive the fish befor letting it sink to the bottom.
......limit th eamount of time you play the fish as they have a lactic acid build up
      which is very detrimental to them.  (Use a rod that is appropriate-I have been
      guilty of this myself)
THese are just a few quick hints that I can think of.  Again feel free to add.  This is not a joke as we are trying to protect a valuable species.   Obviously this tends to be more important or specific for some species than others, such as I think you can about cook a bass and then release it.    

[Coasthunterjay]

Great post bone, can you tell mne where and what type of net i could get....all i have is a cheepy, but am now interested in how to catch and release a bit better....specially if i decide to go fishing for special and rare types of fish.......

Great pointers, i didnt know all those, learn something everyday!

[boneaddict]

I get mine at a flyshop, but I suppose Sportsmans would have them, and certainly Cabelas.  They are usually a tighter gnit material versus the open netted nylon kind.  They also have cradles so that you don't even have to remove the fish from the water if you are in a boat made out of the same material.  They have lots of differetn versions, depending on if you are wading, float tubing or in a boat.   

[Bscman]

A net with NO KNOTS is a good net.
A rubber net is the best net. Any type of cloth or "knit" net has the potential to damage the slime coat...and knots are about as bad as dropping the fish in a pile of gravel--especially older, stiff nets.
A rubber net is much easier on the fish.

The survival rate of fish caught with bait is very low...typically the hooks are "inhaled" and the likelyhood of getting a hook in the gills is fairly high--as is a "deep" hook clear back in the throat. These fish rarely survive, as a lot of damage is done with hook removal and they're typically out of the water for some time.
If you ever "gut hook" or "gill hook" a fish...you may as well consider him a keeper.
While he might survive long enough to swim away, he's not gunna make it long.

The reason WDFW made the "5 on bait and you're done, period" rule is because so many people were bait fishing and "grading" fish...the majority of the smaller fish that were returned, died from injuries. You could fish all day with bait, and catch 20 fish, but release 18 smaller ones. Odds are, 15 of the 18 released DIED. Great way to kill off a lake.

I've hardly lost any fish due to barbless hooks over barbed hooks. As long as you keep some tension on the line, the fish never seem to get away. When netted, the hook usually just falls out. Minimal handling and time out of water = healthy fish.
Also, if the fish gets wrapped up in around a log it's much more likely it'll work free. Nothing worse than breaking your line off, and leaving a fish stuck to a log!

As mentioned, always wet your hands before touching the fish.
No only do dry, chapped hands scrape off slime...but the oils and salts on your hand will harm the fish!

As far as reviving the fish.
Try not to pull the fish backward through the water. The belief is that this will "breathe for the fish." More than likely, it's overwhelming the fish and doing more harm than good. Lightly cradle the fish in the water--do not sqeeze the fish, or touch him any more than is necessary.
If the fish is going "belly up" when you release him...keep cradling him. If he doesn't get his equillibrium back before you release him, he won't have the energy to upright himself, and will die.

[robodad]

Question : How much damage does it do to a fish if you just pull them along side the boat and snip your line off as close to the fish as possible without taking them out of the water ??

I have read and heard that a fish has some chemicals in their body that can dissolve a hook in just a day or so, Is that true or not ?? Might save a few more fish if we don't have to dig out the hook barbless or not !!

[boneaddict]

I don't know the answer to that Robodad.   I have broke off a steelhead a week previous and caught him a week later with my jig in his mouth.  I thought the odds of that were incredible but I had tie my own so there was no doubt.   That was a single barbless hook.  IT hink that is what they do with big salt water fish.  Salt water alone is pretty hard on hooks though, so maybe thats the difference.

[Bscman]

I've heard that a hook will erode and fall free from a fish in a matter of a couple days--but I don't believe it. In much the same circumstances as boneaddict, I've caught fish 1-2 weeks later that still had hooks in them.

On a barbless hook, obviously, the chances of it falling free are much greater. Location will also be a consideration.

The ones I have a problem with are bait fisherman that "gut hook" a fish, cut the line at it's mouth, and let it go. I've caught a fish or two that have had their stomachs completely closed off by all three barbs of a treble "dough hook." No way a fish will survive that.

[billythekidrock]

Question : How much damage does it do to a fish if you just pull them along side the boat and snip your line off as close to the fish as possible without taking them out of the water ??

I have read and heard that a fish has some chemicals in their body that can dissolve a hook in just a day or so, Is that true or not ?? Might save a few more fish if we don't have to dig out the hook barbless or not !!

We always cut our lines and retie when they are caught deep.
The dissolving in a couple days does not hold true in freshwater, maybe in saltwater. I do know that we have caught fish with 2 or 3 hooks and the line cut off and they seem to be fine. I have also found hooks partially dissolved making it's way out the other end with no harm done to the fish.

[jackelope]

in catch and release waters, nets with knots are ILLEGAL!! i would paste it here where it says that in the reg's, but there's something up with this p.o.s. computer and it won't open pdf files.

trout will calm way down if you flip them over on their backs, just like i learned a sturgeon would a couple weeks ago.

if you are c-n-r'ing, don't take the fish out of the water unless you really need a photo, then don't take it out till the other guy with the camera is ready and focused.

 with the hook removed, hold the fish gently by the tail and under the belly...don't squeeze... lift the fish, take the pic and put the  fish back in the water.

in some situations, it's illegal to remove the fish from the water...wild steelhead mandatory release for example. they must stay in the water. wild coho release-don't take them out of the water.

[Coasthunterjay]

thanks jackelope.......will do!

[bucklucky]

My buddy got read the riot act by a game warden this year.  He watched him catch, fight and land a native steelhead . The game warden pointed out that first , he used a non - native safe fish net, 2 he lifted it out of the water only a couple inches. The Warden told him he knew deap down that it wasnt a true native but if he cought him up on the peninsula he would have ticketed him. The Warden was pretty much yelling at him The whole time. They are seriouse about that stuff and for a good reason.

[ICEMAN]

My buddy got read the riot act by a game warden this year.  He watched him catch, fight and land a native steelhead . The game warden pointed out that first , he used a non - native safe fish net, 2 he lifted it out of the water only a couple inches. The Warden told him he knew deap down that it wasnt a true native but if he cought him up on the peninsula he would have ticketed him. The Warden was pretty much yelling at him The whole time. They are seriouse about that stuff and for a good reason.

Yeah, I appreciate the gamies checking on stuff like this, but yelling the whole time...?  Maybe that gamie needs to get another job career started.... I always worry about law enforcement officers who cannot keep their cool. IMHO, a steady calm approach would be better. Sometimes a whisper is remembered better than screeching. Law enforcement in a situation like this is more of an education of the sportsman, and should be done respectfully....  Not writing a ticket so you can tear someones head off is not appropriate. The message about taking care of the fish is lost.

[bucklucky]

 From what everyone I know that has had the opportunity to "Deal" with him all say the same about the guy, not very nice at all . Not that they should be "nice" but should have better people skills than what he does I guess is what I am saying. I am glad that bone posted about handling fish because it is very important. I didnt know till I started fishing with my budie that had learned from handling native and hatchery fish on the Satsop years back. We usually turn most of our steelhead back (hatchery) so we are very careful. When I am cutthroat fishing I  release all my fish without taking them out of the water, and have found out that sometimes you can do it just right and they still go belly up down stream. Thats with fish hooked in the corner of the mouth with no barbs , just leaving it in the water and grabbing the hook with my plier .

[Antlershed]

in some situations, it's illegal to remove the fish from the water...wild steelhead mandatory release for example. they must stay in the water. wild coho release-don't take them out of the water.

You can still get some pretty good pictures of them while obeying the law and being careful of the fish.

[Antlershed]

From what everyone I know that has had the opportunity to "Deal" with him all say the same about the guy, not very nice at all .

Are his initials G.H.? 

[tlbradford]

sometimes you can do it just right and they still go belly up down stream. Thats with fish hooked in the corner of the mouth with no barbs , just leaving it in the water and grabbing the hook with my plier .

Most likely from the lactic acid build-up that was described above.  If you fight them until they roll over on their side, you usually must take some time to revive them until they swim off under their own power.

[bucklucky]

They are very fiesty and not worn out at all. Its one of those quick fights , dont play em out that long half a minute maybee. Fishin with a 3 foot ultra ultra light rod and 2 pound test line. 8 to 14 inch trout, as soon as the hook is out there is no reviving they are gone like a shot. 

[tlbradford]

Gotcha 

[Antlershed]

Here are a couple pics from yesterday that show how you can still get a good picture of a fish that must be released while being cautious of the fish and obeying the law. Just don't forget to get your hands plenty wet.

[MountainWalk]

try not to put him on a hot ass metal or plastic ruler or tape either.

[Gobble]

My buddy got read the riot act by a game warden this year.  He watched him catch, fight and land a native steelhead . The game warden pointed out that first , he used a non - native safe fish net, 2 he lifted it out of the water only a couple inches. The Warden told him he knew deap down that it wasnt a true native but if he cought him up on the peninsula he would have ticketed him. The Warden was pretty much yelling at him The whole time. They are seriouse about that stuff and for a good reason.

Yeah, I appreciate the gamies checking on stuff like this, but yelling the whole time...?  Maybe that gamie needs to get another job career started.... I always worry about law enforcement officers who cannot keep their cool. IMHO, a steady calm approach would be better. Sometimes a whisper is remembered better than screeching. Law enforcement in a situation like this is more of an education of the sportsman, and should be done respectfully....  Not writing a ticket so you can tear someones head off is not appropriate. The message about taking care of the fish is lost.

Do you remember the gammies name? My wifes uncle is a gammie, I may know him...Hell it might even be him 

[KillBilly]

Sounds like Greg Haaw

[PolarBear]

When in doubt, practice "fillet and release"! 

[billythekidrock]

When in doubt, practice "fillet and release"! 

Belive it or not but that phrase and practice was introduced to my by a WA DFW employee and a low level manager. 

[Antlershed]

Sounds like Greg Haaw

Seems like he is pretty well known around here....