Catch and release
Also called C&R
Returning fish to the water alive rather than keeping them. Survival depends almost entirely on how you handle them.
Released fish survive at very high rates when handled well and die at surprising rates when handled badly, and the difference is a handful of habits rather than equipment. Fight the fish quickly rather than playing it to exhaustion. Wet your hands or gloves. Support its body horizontally instead of hanging it vertically by the jaw. Keep it out of the water for seconds, not minutes.
Deep hooking is the main uncontrollable factor. A fish hooked in the gills or throat has poor odds regardless, and cutting the line as close as possible beats digging the hook out.
A rubber or knotless net and a pair of long pliers do more for survival rates than anything else you can buy.
Have the camera ready before you lift the fish. Thirty seconds of fumbling for a phone is the most common cause of a long air exposure.
Common questions
How do you release a fish so it survives?
Fight it quickly, wet your hands before touching it, support it horizontally rather than hanging it by the jaw, and keep it out of the water for seconds rather than minutes. Use a rubber net and long pliers.
Related terms
Where this comes up
The guides that use catch and release and show it on real gear.
Catch and release is one of 206 terms in the glossary.
Browse the full fishing glossary