Catch and release




 

 

The older I become the more I enjoy catching and releasing the fish I catch.

It’s important to me to know if an angler keeps all the fish at a local spot the next trip will just be harder.

So catch and release is imperative to sustain fish population and improve chances for future outings.

The following tips are from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s website.

How to Begin–
    •    Set the hook quickly to reduce the likelihood that fish will swallow the bait.
    •    Play and land the fish as quickly as possible. Playing fish to exhaustion can harm the fish.
    •    Keep your release tools close by.

Handling Your Catch–
    •    Minimize the time fish is out of the water.
    •    Leave fish in the water if you can and use a tool to remove the hook.
    •    Don’t put your fingers in the eyes or gills.
    •    Smaller fish can be vertically held by the lower jaw, either by hand or with grippers.

Hold larger fish horizontally and support with two hands.

Removing the Hook–
    •    Use needle-nose pliers, hemostats, or a hook remover to remove the hook and protect your hands.
    •    Back the hook out the opposite way it went in.
    •    Do not jerk or pop a leader to break it. This can injure vital organs in the fish.

Letting it Go–
    •    Place the fish in the water, gently supporting the mid-section and tail until it swims away.
    •    Watch the fish when released. If it doesn’t swim away, recover it and try again.

Try these techniques the next time you’re fishing, so you can catch the same fish twice.

There is nothing better for me to know you have caught a fish twice.

That just means you outsmarted him more than once.


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