Properly Catching and Releasing Fish While Taking Photos

April 20, 2017

Question: My friends and I are all fly fishermen who promote catch and release fishing rather than taking fish for consumption. Many other fishermen, fishing guides and lodges, as well as most fly fishing magazines also claim to share this philosophy but then publish untold numbers of photos of people holding the fish they’ve caught. Typically these photos reveal the fish being held for quite a few seconds out of water, and clearly their slime barrier is being broken by the clutching hands. I wonder how many fish handled in this way ultimately die from the stress of being caught, held out of water and having their protective coating compromised. While growing up, I was taught if you break the slime barrier, the fish will likely die. Is this true? Moreover, most anglers I know count successful days of fishing as catching (and releasing) as many fish as possible. If you consider the increased probability of a fish dying from being caught and held, multiplied by the number of fish caught, there could be a lot of mortality which goes directly against the point of catch and release. Can you please provide some information on this issue? (David W.)

Answer: While many photo layouts suggest prolonged time out of water, it can obviously vary greatly. According to Senior Environmental Scientist Jeff Weaver, a good rule of thumb is to hold your breath when you lift the fish and get it back into the water before you run out of breath. Wetting hands before handling fish is probably the most effective method to minimize damage to the slime coating. Handling fish with dry hands generally removes at least some areas of this protective barrier, subjecting the fish to increased risk of fungal or other infection (though not necessarily mortality). If extra time is needed to set up the photo or make adjustments to correct for lighting problems, etc. the fish should be retained under water in a net for as much time as possible.

There are four important practices that will help reduce mortality: 1) keep most of the body of the fish in the water while photographing it, particularly the opercula and gills so they remain oxygenated, 2) always hold the fish with wet hands underneath the pectoral fins (near the head) and at the caudal peduncle (narrow part just forward of the caudal or tail fin) to avoid injury to the vital organs in the belly, and 3) assuming you have a fishing partner that will serve as photographer, have them get the camera settings ready and set up the frame of the picture while the fish is retained underwater in a net. Quickly remove the fish from the water for a picture and return it to the net to rest and respirate for some time, then lift it again for another shot (only if necessary to get a good photo), and 4) always recover the fish before releasing it to the point that it can swim of its own accord and remain upright. If necessary, hold the fish with the mouth facing upstream in an area with adequate flow to ensure thorough oxygenation of the gills.

This is why I do not generally return Trout to the water... If I am targeting trout, It is for the table. You won't see me catch and releasing many of the trout. Bass and Crappie are fairly stout fish and release well if you follow the given advice

That's why I shoot fish, and don't play with them.

Can take all the pics you want once they have a spear through their head.

 

JK....kinda...

While there is a correct way to perform CnR for various species to where you achieve a high level of release success, the only way you'll have 100% success is by not fishing at all.  You will always have some level of mortality, even if you think you're doing everything right.  I once landed a Klamath River steelhead in November with a barbless spinner that, upon landing, immediately stopped respiring.  It was like the fish had a heart attack.  I stood in the river with that fish for a full 30 minutes, but he was DOA.  Felt pretty bad about that one, but mortality is something we all have to accept as anglers.

the only way you'll have 100% success is by not fishing at all.  You will always have some level of mortality, ......but mortality is something we all have to accept

Good point!

What is Catch and Release?

What is Catch and Release?

It's cruel and messed up:



 

What is Catch and Release?

It's cruel and messed up:



 

HAHAHAH LOVE THAT SKIT

LOL

Thanks Big J, that is hella funny!

For you fans of catch and release fishing, a company called Kiss-N-Release LLC makes a variety of nifty “Kiss-N-Release” clothing items.  See http://www.kiss-n-release.com/ .  I like to wear mine while spearfishing.

Technology is our friend. Today's smart phones and GoPro's take such good videos that we can roll video footage well before the fish is first seen, quickly & gently present it to the camera, and make the release with very little out-of-the-water time, and lastly choose the best video frame for a still image.


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