There are several reasons for using this method. First, with our increasing population, it gives fisherman an opportunity to catch more another day. It also helps to preserve fish populations that are challenged by numerous outside factors. When females are released they are given another chance to spawn and lay their eggs. This is vital to maintaining fish populations because the cycle of life is not interrupted. It preserves wild species of fish.
Simply letting the fish go after capture is not all there is to catch and release fishing. Naturally, if the fish is released in such poor condition that is is likely to die anyway, the whole point is defeated. When you have hooked up, try to bring the fish in as soon as possible. Experience has shown that there is no appreciable increase in the number of fish lost when using barbless hooks. Indeed, some anglers claim that their success rate is higher when using them, as barbed hooks sometimes penetrate only as far as the barb due to the large increase in the diameter of the hook at this point. If you must remove the fish from the water do so as gently as possible. Do not suspend large fish by the line, lower jaw or gills as this places enormous strain on the throat latch and will probably cause fatal injuries. In fact large fish should really never be removed from the water if you intend to release them. When bringing in fish from the depths, it's often good to pause every few feet or so. This allows the fish to decompress. Some people like to weigh trophy fish before they release them. When you weigh a fish, try to use a scale that allows you to place the fish on it, or place the fish in something that will be lifted. Most scales have a hook on the end and do damage to fish. Never place this in the eye of a fish, or in his gills. Place the fish in a wet towel and lift it with the hook. Remove the fish and weigh the wet towel or in special bag for weight and subtract the weight of the towel to get the weight of the fish. Or, zero the scale out with the towel attached, and then weigh
the fish. When you release a fish, gently set him back in the water. Never throw a fish back or toss him through the air into the water. Once you've caught your trophy you can preserve the memory by taking a quick photo or two. Since you are releasing the fish, a good photo is a very important part of preserving the memory that you've just experienced. Practice your photography techniques when you are not fishing. Study the pictures that you have taken. Try to figure out what you could have done better. A digital camera is a good investment because you can delete any bad photos, and you don't have to print the ones you don't want.
Catch and release fishing is all about preserving the sport of fishing.
