Handling and releasing your catch

It is important to handle your catch correctly to increase its chance of survival if released back into the water, or to optimise its eating quality if being kept for the table.

Catching and landing fish

There are a number of small things that fishers can do to optimise the wellbeing of a captured fish:

  • be prepared before casting a line by having the necessary tools and equipment readily available, such as a landing net, wet towel and pliers, reducing the amount of time the fish is out of the water when it is landed
  • wherever possible, the fish should not be removed from the water if intended for release
  • reduce the fight time by choosing appropriate tackle for your target fish, such as using a heavier line and gear
  • prolonged fight times exhaust the fish and reduce its probability of survival if being released, and also result in the accumulation of lactic acid which reduces the eating quality of the flesh
  • support the body of the fish horizontally when removing it from the water to prevent unnecessary damage to internal organs
  • use a knotless or silicone landing net to support the weight of the fish when bringing it onto the vessel. Avoid using knotted landing nets which remove protective slime and scales from the fish.
  • never use a gaff on fish that is intended for release.

Measuring and weighing fish

If necessary, it is best to measure a fish instead of weighing it, as this is less stressful to the fish.

  • handle the fish with wet hands or gloves to minimise the removal of protective mucus
  • place the fish on a wet ruler with a stopper on the end to rest against its nose.

If you must weigh your catch, it is best to use a sling to support the fish horizontally. A simple way to do this is to weigh the fish in the landing net and then subtract the weight of the net.

Do not use scales that hang the fish by the jaw as this can damage the jaw, gills, backbone and internal organs.

Handling fish you are keeping

The most ethical way to dispatch a fish is by the iki jime cranial spike technique. Spiking the brain dispatches the fish immediately, which is considered best practice for the welfare of the animal and prevents unnecessary accumulation of lactates which reduces flesh quality.  This is achieved by quickly and firmly inserting a spiking tool or knife in the centre of the fish's head behind the eyes.

To optimise flesh quality, the fish should then be bled and immersed in an ice slurry.

Alternatively, place the fish on ice immediately after capture to:

  • naturally anaesthetise the fish
  • improve the eating quality of the meat
  • reduce spoilage.

Cutting up fish at sea

Unless you are scaling or gutting fish onboard a boat, it is an offence to cut up, fillet, otherwise mutilate fish or crabs at sea.

You can only cut up or fillet fish onboard at the time of the catch if you:

  • eat your catch
  • use your catch for bait.

This only applies to fish (other than shark) and crabs, subject to legal minimum lengths.

Releasing fish

There are a variety of reasons why fish and other aquatic animals must be returned to the water, including:

It is important to only take what you need to reduce overfishing and protect fish stocks.

All fish that cannot be retained due to one of the above reasons must be immediately returned to the water unencumbered.

To optimise the survival of released fish, it is important to reduce the amount of time it spends out of the water and to keep the fish wet. It is recommended to:

  1. If possible, unhook fish while still in the water.
  2. Place fish on a cool, wet surface and handle with wet hands to reduce damage to the protective slime on the surface of the fish.
  3. Remove the hook from the fish's mouth or cut the line close to the mouth if the fish is gut or deep-hooked. Trying to remove the hook in this situation will cause more harm to the fish.
  4. To return fish to the water:
    • Support larger fish with a hand under the head and belly. This will minimise damage to the backbone.
    • Use a release weight when the fish needs to be returned to depths of 10 meters.
    • If the fish does not move off your hands, manually move it through the water. This will help fish that have been over-stressed.
    • Hold the fish horizontally and support its body when gently placing it into the water.

Transcript

[Jamie Crawford] There are a number of things that fishers can do to optimise the survival of released Snapper.

Firstly, fishing for Snapper in shallow water is the best option to reduce barotrauma and improve survival.

[Courtney Cheesman] When landing and handling a fish intended for release, it is considered best practice to be prepared before the fish is hooked by having the necessary tools and equipment readily available, such as a landing net, wet towel and pliers.

Reducing handling time and air exposure will optimise the probability of survival.

It is also recommended to use a knotless or silicon landing net to support the weight of the fish when bringing it to the vessel and placing the fish onto a cool, wet surface and handling with wet hands or gloves to minimise the removal of protective mucus.

[Jamie Crawford] By making small changes to the way that we handle and release Snapper, we can all optimise their probability of survival when released and contribute to the recovery of this iconic fish species.

Avoid catching undersized fish

Fish usually swim in schools of similar sizes. Change your fishing spot if you are catching undersized fish, or use a larger hook to reduce the chances of catching a small fish.

Handling sharks and rays

Unless you plan to keep your catch, immediately return all sharks and rays to the water.

For best practice gear and handling techniques, see fishing for sharks and rays.

Page last reviewed: 02 Jan 2024

 


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