Throughout its 8,500 miles of marine coastline and more than 2,500 artificial reefs, Florida
boasts an abundance and diversity of fish species. Every fish that swims in our waters
ranks as a vital and valuable resource. With more anglers and better equipment available,
catch-and-release fishing has become essential to insuring there will always be adequate
stocks of fish to catch. Each of us must take a hands-on approach every day we are on the
water to help conserve our fisheries by practicing catch-and-release fishing whenever possible.
I’m Mark Sosin. Managing Florida’s fisheries is a complex task based on scientific research.
These scientists tell us that if you only remember two things, most of the fish you
release will survive. The first is to land the fish quickly, rather than battle it to
exhaustion. The second centers on handling the fish as little as possible and keeping
the fish in the water during the release process without lifting it or touching it.
Before you even put a bait out or make a cast, choose the hooks you will use carefully and
modify any lure that has treble hooks. Flattening the barb on a hook increases hookups because
it makes penetration easier and allows you to release a fish with a minimum of damage
to it. Studies show that inline circle hooks lodge in the mouth some 90 percent of the
time and are the recommended choice over the traditional J-hook or offset circle hooks
when using natural baits. If you use lures with three sets of treble hooks, remove the
middle set. You don’t need it. Cutting off one of the three hooks on each of the remaining
sets of trebles makes it easier to recover the plug from the fish and your hookup rate
will be just as good.
When a fish is ready to be released, keep it in the water without touching it and use
a release tool to remove the hook. The fish should swim off. If a fish is hooked deeply,
don’t try to pull it out or jerk on the leader to break it. Instead, cut the leader
as close to the fish’s mouth as possible. Choosing non-stainless steel hooks will allow
the hook to rust out of the fish, should you have to cut the line. Even some lures are
made with stainless hooks, so be sure to check before purchasing new ones. With larger fish,
keep the boat moving forward slowly. Usually, they will swim with the boat making it easier
to release the fish. Don’t lift a larger fish across the gunwale. With a sailfish or
marlin, the recommended procedure is to keep the fish in the water, swim it alongside the
moving boat, and using a pair of gloves to grab the bill with your thumbs pointing at
each other. Once the hook is removed, the moving boat will force water over the fish’s
gills and it should regain its strength before you let it go.
If you find it necessary to lift a fish out of the water, hold it horizontally with one
hand under the belly to support the organs and keep it out of the water the minimum amount
of time. Lifting a fish out of the water with a release gaff, a jaw-locking grip, or even
your thumb in the jaw and not supporting the belly will damage internal organs as well
as the delicate region under the lower jaw. A hole in the lower jaw of a fish created
by a gaff destroys the vacuum that many species create to ingest their prey. Unless you plan
to keep a fish, a gaff should never be used. If you need to use a net to control and lift
a fish, it should be knotless and rubber coated to help prevent the removal of mucus from
the skin of the fish. Above all, don’t put a hand inside the gills or hold a fish by
depressing its eyes.
If you remove any of the tunas, bonitos, mackerels, and any fish taken out of deep water, the
fish should be pushed back into the water head first and forcefully to provide a rush
of water over the gills. With other species, place them back in the water gently and hold
them alongside the boat. If there are strong tidal currents or if you are in a river where
there is a flow of water, simply hold the fish so that it faces into the current and
water moves across its gills.. It should revive quickly. You can also start the boat engine
and move forward slowly to create the same effect.
When there isn’t enough water flow or you are wading or you can’t move the boat, work
the fish in a Figure 8 pattern or in a lazy S so water is forced across the gills. The
key is to keep moving the fish forward rather than forward and then backward. Moving a fish
backward in the water does not allow water to flow over the gills.. You’ll feel when
a fish regains its strength and is ready to swim off. Simply open your hands and watch
it swim away. If a released fish floats back to the surface, it’s worth the effort to
recover it and try to resuscitate it again.
A fish brought to the surface from deep water often experiences an expanded air bladder
that can push the stomach out of its mouth. This condition is known as barotrauma. Signs
to look for include the stomach protruding out of the fish’s mouth, intestines out
of the anus, bulging eyes, and an overall bloated appearance. When a fish is displaying
from one or all of these symptom’s, It’s essential to remove this pressure so that
the fish can return to its deep water habitat. Several venting tools are on the market designed
to puncture the air bladder and deflate the expanded bladder. The tool should be inserted
at a 45 degree angle on the fish’s side about an inch behind the pectoral fin. The
hissing noise you hear is the air escaping. Do not puncture or attempt to push the stomach
back into the fish’s mouth. It will right itself after the fish descends into the water.
Killing or mutilating a shark or barracuda simply because they have teeth proves detrimental,
serves no practical purpose, and has a negative effect on the fishery. They are apex predators
in the food chain and should be released unharmed. Sharks have a cartilaginous skeleton instead
of the bony one found in most fish. That gives them the ability to almost bite their own
tail. They are exceptionally powerful, difficult to hold, and can move very quickly, and should
be handled carefully. If the hook is in the jaw or clearly visible, you may be able to
remove it with a dehooking tool. Otherwise, cut the leader as close to the mouth as possible
and let the shark swim off. Leave the animal in the water and don’t put your hands anywhere
near the jaws of a shark. Be equally careful with small sharks. Anglers sometimes try to
hold them and end up getting bitten.
Barracuda should be treated as any other fish. Leave them in the water, use a release tool,
and avoid handling them if possible. Wahoo can also pose a danger if not handled carefully.
They have incredibly sharp teeth capable of causing a serious wound if those teeth merely
brush against you. They, too, should be left in the water if you plan to release them.
If you are going to gaff a wahoo, insert the gaff near the head of the fish. When you gaff
a wahoo in the midsection, its flexible body allows it to swing back and forth with its
mouth open.
Occasionally, most of us catch a fish we consider a trophy, a record, or simply a species we
would like to hang on our wall. You can release the fish and still order the mount even months
after the catch. No matter what anyone says, taxidermists today don’t need the fish or
any part of it including bills, fins, or teeth to produce a beautiful replica mount. All
you have to do is tell them the species, the size of the fish, and any distinguishing marks.
A photo will also help to create a life-like replica. They’ll do the rest.
No matter how much science does to insure that Florida’s fisheries remain healthy
and viable for the recreational angler, and no matter how much money we spend on these
projects through license fees, excise taxes, and Sport Fish Restoration, the responsibility
for protecting our fisheries belongs to the individual angler. The key lies in developing
a catch-and-release attitude fostering voluntary release of fish that could become table fare.
Always try to limit your catch rather than catching your limit. And remember that every
fish is valuable. There are no trash fish.
Catch-and-release fishing is the way of the future. It is an essential tool for maintaining
our fish stocks and fisheries. With more anglersand more sophisticated tackle and equipment, catch-and-release
fishing makes a significant difference. If each of us thinks about the future of Florida’s
fisheries every day we are on the water and every time we catch a fish, the years ahead
will be bright and everyone will be able to continue to enjoy the superb fishing that
has made Florida the Fishing Capital of the World.