Releasing an Injured Fish

May 24, 2018

Question: What is the rule on a fish that swallowed the hook, and therefore is bleeding badly, on catch and release waters, such as the Upper Owens? Should the fish be released back into the water, even though it probably won’t make it? (Loren)

Answer: First, regarding gear, waterways that have either a minimum or maximum size limit, or a zero take limit, usually have gear restrictions. Most of the Upper Owens River requires the use of barbless artificial lures. Scented baits such as power bait mouse tails are not legal to use in this area. Baits or scented products are typically swallowed by the fish (gut hooked) and have a higher mortality rate if released. Typically barbless artificial lures or flies hook the fish in the jaw or lip area. Barbless hooks allow for quick and easy release of the fish back into the water. Some areas have size restrictions or zero take of fish. Please always refer to area specific regulations found in the California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 7.50.

To answer your question, all fish caught that do not meet the size restrictions, or where no take is allowed, must be immediately released back into the water in which they were caught. Anglers can further reduce the stress on the fish while the hook is removed by keeping the fish in the water and handling the fish as little as possible. If the fish swallows the hook it is best to cut the line close to the mouth and then release the fish to give it the greatest chance of survival. (Fortunately, hooks that are not gold plated will eventually dissolve.)

No more gold plated hooks for me!

dfg staffr gets payd 2 spit dat non responsive isht?!

Quite a roundabout answer.  Should've just laid it straight: if you catch a no-retention fish that's on its death bed, you still need to release it.  If one had the option of harvesting the fish, it'd open up a gaping regulatory loop-hole that some unscrupulous people would try to exploit.

Even if the fish dies, it's not necessarily 'going to waste'.  Various critters will eat it, everything from apex predators such as otters and eagles, to fish fry and crayfish.  In most cases, returning that biomass to the water is more beneficial to the environment than taking the fish home with you.

Quite a roundabout answer.  Should've just laid it straight: if you catch a no-retention fish that's on its death bed, you still need to release it.  If one had the option of harvesting the fish, it'd open up a gaping regulatory loop-hole that some unscrupulous people would try to exploit.

Even if the fish dies, it's not necessarily 'going to waste'.  Various critters will eat it, everything from apex predators such as otters and eagles, to fish fry and crayfish.  In most cases, returning that biomass to the water is more beneficial to the environment than taking the fish home with you.

Good answer not caught up in worrying about saying the wrong legal liability thing....

dfg staffr gets payd 2 spit dat non responsive isht?!

non answer from  Carrie @ DFW? Never!

almost every response from her in WON should begin with "I'm really just covering Government butts here...."

Even if the fish dies, it's not necessarily 'going to waste'.  Various critters will eat it, everything from apex predators such as otters and eagles, to fish fry and crayfish.  In most cases, returning that biomass to the water is more beneficial to the environment than taking the fish home with you.

Exactly!  The Bald Ass Buzzard makes its entire living on many bodies of water (Shasta Lake comes to mind) by snatching up fish wounded by anglers...lol