Gentle Fish Handling and Catch and Release

Catch and release is now a natural part of angling culture, but releasing a fish doesn't in itself guarantee that it's fine. What matters is what happens in the minutes between the bite and the fish swimming away. A few simple habits can do a great deal to make sure the fish goes back unharmed, with every chance of thriving.

Why handling matters so much

A fish's body is covered in a layer of slime that protects it from pathogens and fungal infections. If we rub it off with dry hands, a towel or a hot, dry surface, the fish can easily fall ill later. Out of the water, a fish's internal organs are no longer supported by buoyancy, and a drop or a squeeze can cause serious internal injuries.

After the fight, a fish is exhausted and short of oxygen, and every second in the air makes things worse. That's why even a fish that swims off isn't necessarily fine: the effects of poor handling can show up days later.

Preparation: before you cast

Good fish care is decided before you even cast. Have these to hand:

• a large landing net with knotless mesh;
• an unhooking mat or cradle, wetted in advance;
• forceps or a disgorger, and longer pliers for predators;
• a bucket of water to douse the fish and the mat;
• a weigh sling, if you want to weigh the fish;
• your phone or camera, switched on.

Barbless or crushed-barb hooks are worth using where the rules allow, as unhooking becomes much quicker and gentler. Your tackle should match the fish: gear that's too light drags out the fight and exhausts the fish.

Playing and landing

Play fish firmly but not brutally. The aim is for the fish not to be completely spent, but not to be thrashing at the net still full of energy either. When netting, lead the fish head first into the net rather than chasing it with the net. Before lifting it out, feel free to leave it in the net in the water for a minute or two while you get the mat and tools ready.

On the bank: the key techniques

1. Wet your hands before you touch the fish.
2. Always handle the fish low over the mat, kneeling – if it slips, it won't fall onto a stony bank.
3. Never touch the gills or squeeze the belly.
4. Support a carp horizontally, one hand behind the pectoral fins and the other in front of the tail.
5. Don't hang pike or zander vertically by the jaw; always support the body.
6. Remove the hook quickly, in the opposite direction to how it went in. If it's deep and won't come out easily, cut the line as close to the hook as possible rather than tearing it out.

Large catfish are usually held by the lower jaw with a gloved hand, but even then support the body when lifting, or leave the fish in the water while you remove the hook. With a bigger fish, don't hesitate to ask the angler next door for help: two people are quicker and safer.

Many carp anglers apply antiseptic to the hook wound, which is fine. What you should avoid is handling fish with sunscreen or insect repellent on your hands.

Photos and weighing

Keep photos quick: the camera should be ready while the fish is still in the water. Kneel behind the mat, lift the fish low, take a few shots and, if it's taking a while, put the fish back in the water or douse it in between. For weighing, use a wet sling and zero the scales beforehand.

Releasing the fish

Don't throw the fish back – release it: hold it upright in the water, head into the current in flowing water, and wait until it swims off on its own with a strong flick of the tail. In a summer heatwave, when warm water holds less oxygen, fish need longer to recover, so keep handling even shorter.

Zander and perch have a closed swim bladder, so if they're pulled up quickly from great depth they can suffer pressure-related injuries. If you're fishing to release, it's best to avoid targeting these species in very deep water.

Rules and ethics

Protected fish, undersized fish and fish caught in a closed season must be returned immediately and carefully. Keeping a fish, however, is a perfectly legitimate choice where the rules allow it – in that case, dispatch it quickly and properly, and record it as the rules require. The use of keepnets and species-specific regulations vary from water to water, so always check the rules of the water and of the managing association or authority. Line and hooks left on the bank endanger fish and birds too, so take all your rubbish home.

Summary

Gentle fish handling comes down to prepared tools, wet hands, holding fish low and working quickly. Make these a routine and the fish you release will genuinely have a good chance of surviving, and your water will stay healthier in the long run. Before booking, it's worth checking the water's page to see which fish-care equipment its rules require.