Take a snap and let fish live to fight another day

In the past decade there has been a massive swing towards catch and release among the angling community.

A Yellowbelly is returned to the water with many inland anglers practising catch and release. Picture by Peter Lorimer

In the past decade there has been a massive swing towards catch and release among the angling community.

Catching dinner is still a priority but anglers are becoming ­aware of the impact the ever-increasing human population is having on the ­environment and that releasing fish is a step in the right ­direction.

This brings me to the recent claims that catch and release doesn’t work, especially if you lift a fish out of the water.

There have been countless claims that fish lifted out of the water die, especially species such as marlin, but the argument seems to be more emotive than factual.

Lifting a fish out of the water for a quick photo isn’t bad so long as it’s done correctly and fast.

The thing to remember is the fish is tired after struggling on the line and then you are going to lift it out of the water where it can’t breathe. I guess it’s the same as us running around the footy field a few times and then when we are out of breath we jump in the water. Obviously you can’t stay underwater for long and it’s the same for the fish.

The longer the fight time, the more weary the fish will be, which equates to less time out of the water.

The trick is to leave the fish in the water beside the boat, ­allowing it to recover while you get everything ready. Instruct the angler so they know exactly where to stand (with no shadows) and have the camera on and ready to go.

When holding the fish, support it properly and don’t hold it by the gills. Some fish, such as kingfish which have no teeth, can be held by the mouth, while others are best supported by a hand on the belly.

With everyone prepared, the photo shoot can be done quickly and the fish soon back in the water. In theory it should take about 30 seconds to complete the process.

When you release the fish, don’t just spear it back into the water. Gently put it down and hold it by the tail to give it time to recover and get its bearings.

Every encounter is different and some fish can come in more worn out than others. If the fish is really tired, then don’t even lift it from the water. Ultimately, the priority is to ensure the fish swims away to fight another day.