How to Catch & Release a Fish Properly
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Catch and Release Done Right: How to Safely Release Striped Bass and Other Saltwater Game Fish
As a lifelong saltwater fisherman and marine biologist, I’ve spent countless nights standing on rocky shorelines, drifting live eels through rips, and working soft plastics through tidal currents in pursuit of striped bass and other inshore game fish. Over the years, one thing has become crystal clear: if we want healthy fisheries tomorrow, we must learn how to properly handle and release fish today.
Many anglers believe that if a fish swims away, it survived. Unfortunately, that isn’t always true. Poor handling practices can cause delayed mortality hours or even days after release. The good news is that a few simple changes in how we fight, handle, photograph, and release fish can dramatically increase survival rates.
Whether you’re targeting striped bass, bluefish, weakfish, redfish, snook, tarpon, false albacore, or any other saltwater game fish, the principles of ethical catch and release remain largely the same.
The Goal of Catch and Release
The purpose of catch and release is simple: allow the fish to survive and reproduce after the encounter. Large breeder fish are especially important to fish populations. A single mature striped bass over 40 pounds may produce millions of eggs during a spawning season. These large females are the backbone of future fisheries.
When anglers properly release these fish, they remain part of the ecosystem and continue contributing to the population for years to come.
It Starts Before the Fish is Hooked
Successful release begins with preparation long before the strike.
Use Appropriate Tackle
One of the biggest mistakes anglers make is using tackle that is too light. Fighting a fish for excessive amounts of time exhausts it to dangerous levels. During a prolonged fight, lactic acid builds up in the muscles, oxygen levels drop, and the fish experiences severe physiological stress.
A fish that appears healthy upon release may later die from exhaustion.
Using heavier tackle allows you to land fish faster and release them in better condition.
For striped bass, this means:
- Strong braided line
- Quality reels with smooth drags
- Rods with enough backbone to control large fish quickly
The objective is not to overpower the fish unfairly, but to reduce exhaustion and stress.
Circle Hooks Save Lives
If you fish natural bait for striped bass or other game fish, circle hooks are one of the most important conservation tools available.
Unlike traditional J-hooks, circle hooks are designed to rotate and catch in the corner of the jaw rather than deep in the throat or stomach.
Deep-hooked fish suffer significantly higher mortality rates, especially striped bass.
When using circle hooks:
- Do not “set” the hook aggressively
- Simply come tight and begin reeling
- Let the hook rotate naturally into position
Inline circle hooks have become a major advancement in striped bass conservation and should be standard practice for bait fishermen.
Minimize Fight Time
The longer the fight, the lower the fish’s survival odds.
This becomes especially important during:
- Warm summer water temperatures
- Low oxygen conditions
- Heavy current situations
Warm water contains less dissolved oxygen, meaning fish fatigue much faster during summer months. A striped bass released after a long fight in 75-degree water is far less likely to survive than one released quickly in cool spring or fall water.
Fight fish efficiently and bring them to hand as quickly as practical.
Keep the Fish in the Water
One of the best things you can do for any fish is keep it submerged as much as possible.
Fish are not built to survive out of water. Their gills are designed to extract oxygen from water, not air. Every second out of the water increases stress.
If possible:
- Remove the hook while the fish remains in the water
- Use rubberized landing nets
- Avoid dragging fish onto rocks, docks, or dry sand
A fish lying on hot sand or a boat deck can suffer severe damage to its protective slime coat and internal organs.
That slime coating is critical. It protects fish from bacterial infections, parasites, and disease. Removing it can lead to delayed mortality even if the fish initially swims away strongly.
Wet Your Hands Before Handling
Dry hands act like sandpaper on a fish’s protective coating.
Before touching any fish:
- Wet your hands thoroughly
- Handle the fish gently
- Avoid squeezing the body
Never grab striped bass by the gills or eyes. The gills are delicate respiratory organs filled with fragile blood vessels. Damage to the gills is often fatal.
Properly Support Large Fish
One of the worst modern fishing trends is holding large fish vertically for photos.
A heavy striped bass suspended by its jaw can suffer:
- Torn ligaments
- Damaged vertebrae
- Internal organ trauma
Large fish should always be supported horizontally.
The correct method:
- One hand supporting the lower jaw
- One hand supporting the belly or tail section
This distributes the fish’s weight naturally and prevents internal injury.
If you want a quick photo, prepare the camera beforehand so the fish spends minimal time out of the water.
Limit Air Exposure
Research has shown that prolonged air exposure is one of the leading causes of post-release mortality.
A good rule:
- Keep total air exposure under 10 to 15 seconds whenever possible
Many experienced anglers now follow a simple system:
- Unhook fish in water
- Lift briefly for photo
- Immediately release
If multiple photos are needed, return the fish to the water between shots.
Use Rubber Nets Instead of Nylon Nets
Traditional nylon nets can:
- Remove slime coating
- Split fins
- Damage scales
Rubberized landing nets are far safer for catch and release fishing.
They also reduce tangling with treble hooks, making release faster and easier.
Be Careful with Treble Hooks
Artificial lures often come equipped with multiple treble hooks, which can:
- Increase injury
- Tangle in gills or eyes
- Complicate releases
Many serious conservation-minded anglers replace trebles with:
- Single inline hooks
- Barbless hooks
- Crushed barbs
Barbless hooks penetrate easily and are removed quickly with minimal tissue damage.
You may lose an occasional fish, but you will dramatically improve survival rates for released fish.
Reviving Exhausted Fish
Sometimes a fish needs revival before release.
Signs of exhaustion include:
- Rolling sideways
- Weak tail kicks
- Inability to remain upright
To revive a fish:
- Hold it upright in the current
- Face the fish into moving water
- Allow water to flow naturally through the gills
Do not aggressively push fish back and forth. This can actually damage the gills. Simply support the fish gently and allow it to recover naturally.
When the fish begins kicking strongly and tries to swim away on its own, release it.
Avoid Targeting Fish During Extreme Heat
Responsible anglers recognize when conditions become too stressful for safe catch and release.
During periods of:
- Very warm water
- Heat waves
- Low oxygen conditions
Post-release mortality increases dramatically.
In some areas, striped bass become extremely vulnerable during midsummer. Ethical anglers often reduce targeting during these periods or switch to other species.
Conservation sometimes means choosing not to fish.
Respect the Fish
Every fish deserves respect.
A striped bass is not merely a photo opportunity or social media post. It is a highly evolved predator that may have survived migrations of hundreds of miles, commercial fishing pressure, predators, pollution, and countless seasons of angling pressure.
The future of our fisheries depends on how today’s anglers behave.
The culture of modern fishing is shifting toward stewardship rather than simple harvest, and that is a positive change for everyone who loves the ocean.
Final Thoughts
Catch and release is far more than simply throwing a fish back. It is a skill set rooted in biology, ethics, and respect for the resource.
When practiced properly, catch and release allows anglers to enjoy incredible sport while preserving fisheries for future generations.
The next time you land a trophy striped bass in the surf, alongside a breachway, or drifting through a tidal rip, remember this:
Your greatest accomplishment is not catching the fish.
It is releasing it healthy enough to be caught again another day.
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