On the eve of the 2021 Mentored Youth Trout Day, when adult mentors must release any trout they catch and many of the kids do the same by choice, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission has offered some guidelines on catch-and-release that will be most beneficial to the fish.
According to the commission, the following techniques “will ensure that released fish have the best chance to survive and contribute to future angling enjoyment.”
Land your fish as quickly as possible and don’t play the fish to exhaustion. Excessive stress and exhaustion increase post-release mortality.
Use a landing net – rubber or rubberized mesh is best – to better control your catch and reduce trauma associated with handling.
Keep the fish in the water as much as possible. The chance of a fish being injured increases the longer it is held out of the water.
Wet your hands, your net and other materials that touch the fish. Don’t handle fish with a towel or rag. That helps to keep a fish’s protective mucus or slime layer in place.
Hold the fish upside down while removing the hook. This can calm the fish for quicker unhooking and release.
Use hemostats or long nose pliers to aid in removing a hook quickly and safely.
Use barbless hooks or pinch down barbs on existing hooks with small pliers to make removing hooks easier.
When not possible to remove the hook without harming the fish, cut the line or harvest to eat (subject to season, length, and creel limits).
Avoid contact with the gills and do not handle by placing your fingers under the operculum (gill cover).
Hold the fish upright underwater after unhooking until it can swim away on its own. If necessary, gently hold the fish out of strong current until it revives.
The Link LonkMarch 27, 2021 at 03:50AM
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Best practices in catch-and-release trout fishing: Pa.. Fish and Boat Commission - pennlive.com
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