Catch and release fishing seems like a good idea, especially if you’re a fish. But what happens after a fish is hooked determines whether it was a good idea or not.

It’s best, from the fish’s point of view, to catch and release fish as quickly as possible. Hooked and handled fish struggle and expend excessive energy. The longer a fish struggles, the longer it takes to recover. It can take 8-12 hours to recover. An exhausted released fish that had been defending a nest prior to taking the bait, may be unable to defend its nest or may abandon it. Exhausted fish, unable to eat and replenish elevated energy needs, may never recover.

Handle fish with wet hands or gloves to reduce damage to the fish’s slime or scales, both critical features that help fish avoid infections.

Minimize the time fish are out of water. When fish are exposed to air, the gills are compromised. Fish essentially suffocate out of water. Keeping an exhausted fish out of water is like holding a bag over a runner who just ran a marathon. They both need oxygen to recuperate. Exhausted fish exposed to air for over a minute are more likely to die after release.

Use appropriate fishing gear. Avoid live baits which may lead to deeply ingested hooks and prolonged efforts to retrieve them. Use artificial lures and flies or easily removed barbless or circle hooks. Remove hooks while fish are still in the water. Invest in a good tool to remove

hooks. If the fish must come out of the water, use knotless, small-mesh nets. Lay the fish on a wet towel and cover its eyes to keep it calm. If unable to remove the hook, cut the line close to the hook and leave it. Fish are capable of expelling or encapsulating hooks with calcified tissue. Use bronze or forged steel hooks; they disintegrate within months.

If a photo of a prize catch is necessary, make it fast. Don’t hold the fish vertically by the jaw, it can damage ligaments critical in feeding and lead to starvation. Hold fish horizontally and cradle them under their bellies, their tail fin or heads.

It’s rewarding to watch a healthy fish swim away after release. If you want to learn more about Vermont fish, head down to ECHO, but keep in mind, fishing is not allowed in the live fish displays!

Animal Care Staff coordinate environmental programs at ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain. The center, which works to engage families in the wonder of nature, and care of Lake Champlain., partnered with the Burlington Free Press to publish this feature.

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