Many of us, myself included, did not realize how important it is to properly handle fish that are to be returned to the water. Thanks to my good friend Mister Butch Ayala, FWC biologist, for providing valuable information on
'Properly handling fish to be released.'
Handling Fish Properly
By adopting just a few simple habits, recreational
anglers can greatly increase the chances that the
fish they catch and release will survive, meaning
each and every saltwater angler can positively
influence the future of Florida’s fishing stocks by
striving for 100 percent survival of released fish.
• Handle fish as little as possible and only with wet
hands – never with a towel.
It's okay to take a picture of a fish if it
needs to be briefly taken out of the
water to measure it vent it,
or remove the hook!
But support the weight of the
fish HORIZONTALLY and safely return
it to the water as quickly as possible.
• Avoid lifting a
fish by its jaw,
especially large
fish. This can injure the fish so it can’t feed
normally and/or harm its internal organs.
• If a hook is deep in a fish’s throat or stomach, cut
the line as close as possible to the hook – the
hook will eventually dissolve inside the fish. Bob H
