Catching and Releasing Tips
From the Maine Department of Fish and Wildlife
1. Time is of the essence. Play and release the fish as quickly and carefully as possible. An exhausted fish may be too weak to recover.
2. Keep the fish in the water as much as you can. A fish out of water is suffocating, and may injure itself on rocks, etc. Try to keep the fish out of water no more than 15 seconds.
3. Be gentle. Wet your hands before handling any live fish. Keep your fingers away from the gills. Don't squeeze the fish. Small fish may be held gently around the middle; let them swim away once they've recovered. Larger fish may be held securely by the tail and bottom jaw. If a net is used, make sure it is fine-meshed to avoid injuries to the gills or eyes.
4. Remove the hook with small pliers or a similar type tool - If the hook is deeply embedded or in a sensitive area such as the gills or stomach, cut the leader close to the snout. Make an effort to use regular steel (bronzed) hooks to promote early disintegration. Do not use stainless or gold-plated hooks.
5. To revive a fish once it is back in the water, hold it in a swimming position in the water and move it gently back and forth until it is able to swim away.
