Catch and Release: Best Practice for Fish Welfare

The vast majority of coarse fishing in the UK is catch and release. We fish for sport and enjoyment, and the fish we catch are returned to grow bigger and be caught again. This only works if we handle fish properly. A fish that is mishandled, dropped on hard ground, or kept out of water too long may swim away but die hours or days later from stress or injury.

Good fish care is not complicated, but it does require thought and preparation.

Before you cast

Make sure you have the right equipment ready before you start fishing. An unhooking mat is essential, not optional. Kneeling on wet grass with a fish in your hands is not adequate protection. A proper padded mat gives the fish a soft, damp surface if it flips or you need to set it down.

A landing net with soft, knotless mesh reduces the risk of damaging fins and scales. Nets with knotted mesh can trap and tear fins, particularly on smaller fish. If your net is old and knotted, replace it.

Have a disgorger or forceps to hand. Trying to remove a hook with your fingers risks pushing it deeper or damaging the fish's mouth. A disgorger costs a couple of pounds and makes hook removal quick and clean.

Landing the fish

Play fish firmly but fairly. A prolonged fight exhausts the fish and fills its muscles with lactic acid, which can be fatal even after release. Use appropriate tackle for your target species so you can bring fish to the net in a reasonable time.

Net the fish headfirst in one smooth movement. Do not stab at it or chase it around the margins. If the fish is not ready, let it take another run and try again when it is lying on its side.

On the mat

Wet your hands before touching any fish. Dry hands strip the protective mucus coating from the skin, leaving the fish vulnerable to infection. Wet the unhooking mat too.

Keep the fish low and over the mat at all times. If it flips out of your hands from a height, it can suffer internal injuries. Kneel down and work at ground level.

Remove the hook as quickly and gently as possible. If the fish is deep-hooked, use a disgorger rather than pulling. If the hook is in a difficult position and you cannot remove it without causing damage, cut the line as close to the hook as possible. The hook will rust out within days and the fish will heal.

Photography

If you want a photograph, have your camera ready before you lift the fish. Keep the fish over the mat or over water, hold it low, and take the shot quickly. Do not stand up with a fish for a hero shot unless you are experienced and confident. A fish dropped from standing height onto hard ground is likely to die.

Support the fish properly with both hands, one under the pectoral fins and one supporting the belly near the tail. Never hold a fish vertically by the lip or gill cover.

Returning the fish

Lower the fish gently into the water in the margins. Hold it upright and let water flow over its gills. Do not throw it back or drop it from the bank. If the fish is exhausted from a long fight, hold it in the water facing into any current until it kicks away strongly under its own power. This might take thirty seconds or it might take several minutes. Be patient.

In warm weather when oxygen levels are lower, fish are more vulnerable to stress. Consider using a landing net with a built-in recovery sling, or simply hold the fish in the margins for longer before release.

Why it matters

Every fish you return in good condition is a fish that will grow, breed, and provide sport for other anglers. Poor fish care damages stocks, gives ammunition to anti-angling campaigners, and ultimately threatens the future of the sport. It costs nothing to handle fish properly, and it should be as automatic as putting your seatbelt on when you get in a car.