We understand that fish may be damaged during catch and release if appropriate caution is not taken, so we provide the following guidelines for catch and release:
* Use barbless or de-barbed hooks
* Play the fish to the bank as quickly as possible to minimize the fish's exhaustion
* Try not to handle the fish out of the water
* If possible, unhook the fish without removing it from the water - you may get a little wetter this way, but your fish is much more likely to survive
* If you need to weigh the fish, do it in the net (which should be knotless)
* Under no circumstances should you handle the fish's gills or squeeze it's lower body
* Preferably use pliers, forceps or a "Catchum" tool to hold the hook and "shake" the fish off in the water - a fish is much less likely to suffer damage by thrashing around in the water while you hold a hook, as opposed to being held or laid on the bank
* Once unhooked, if the fish does not swim away quickly and strongly, then support the fish in an upright position while it recovers
* If deep-hooked or gill hooked, then rather cut the line and release the fish - a fly cost a few rands - a trophy fish can cost hundreds to replace and, anyway, it deserves to live to fight another day!
* Use barbless or de-barbed hooks
* Play the fish to the bank as quickly as possible to minimize the fish's exhaustion
* Try not to handle the fish out of the water
* If possible, unhook the fish without removing it from the water - you may get a little wetter this way, but your fish is much more likely to survive
* If you need to weigh the fish, do it in the net (which should be knotless)
* Under no circumstances should you handle the fish's gills or squeeze it's lower body
* Preferably use pliers, forceps or a "Catchum" tool to hold the hook and "shake" the fish off in the water - a fish is much less likely to suffer damage by thrashing around in the water while you hold a hook, as opposed to being held or laid on the bank
* Once unhooked, if the fish does not swim away quickly and strongly, then support the fish in an upright position while it recovers
* If deep-hooked or gill hooked, then rather cut the line and release the fish - a fly cost a few rands - a trophy fish can cost hundreds to replace and, anyway, it deserves to live to fight another day!
Catch and release
