Catch and Release Fishing in New Zealand: 5 Tips For a successful release.
For most of us, fishing in New Zealand's inshore and offshore waters is not only about catching fish, but also ensuring the sustainability of the fisheries for future generations.
Catch and release fishing has been gaining widespread support over recent years, and it can be a great way to do your part in helping to protect local fish populations and make sure we’re not harming the marine ecosystems that we rely on for both food and enjoyment.
The following applies to undersize fish too, so it pays to know a bit about catch & release practices to greatly improve the survival rate of any released fish.
Here are our five top tips for anglers to ensure the safe and healthy return of their catch:
1. Use Large Circle Hooks
Opt for large circle hooks in sizes 8/0 to 10/0. Circle hooks are designed to hook fish in the corner of the mouth, and the larger size can help the hook find the lips of the fish before it swallows the bait, reducing the likelihood of gut hooking. This minimizes injury to the fish and makes it easier to release them unharmed.
2. Avoid Over-Playing the Fish
The key here is to not exhaust the fish to the point of no return. Fight the fish firmly but not excessively. Using the appropriate tackle for the species you're targeting can help you bring them in more efficiently and reduce the amount of energy the fish expends. Keep in mind that a fish landed quickly will have more energy, and therefore be harder to handle - but it will swim away much stronger when released.
On the contrary, if you’re fishing deep-water and bring the fish up too fast it will experience something called barotrauma from the rapid change in pressure. Use your best judgement on this. Most of the time when deep water fishing you’ll be playing to keep.
3. Reduce Time Out of Water
Limit the length of time your fish spends exposed to air. Prepare your tools, such as pliers and cameras in advance to minimize handling time. As a general rule of thumb, anywhere from 30-60 seconds of exposure is when the fish will really start to suffer, so keep time out of the water as low as possible.
4. Handle with Care
Obviously fish aren’t designed to be out of the water, so they need a bit of special treatment when they are.
• Wet your hands before handling the fish. Dry hands can remove the fish's protective slime, making them vulnerable to infections and injuries.
• Be gentle, and avoid letting the fish bang against rocks or the deck of your boat.
• Avoid squeezing the fish too hard or you risk damaging internal organs and breaking bones.
• Keep your fingers out of the gills.
• If you’re lifting it up, support the weight over the length of the fish, and avoid holding big fish by the tail only.
5. Allow Time for Recovery
After landing a fish, give it time to recover in the water before releasing it. Hold the fish upright in the water and allow it to regain its strength. This is especially crucial for fish experiencing barotrauma.
Most anglers will agree that there is nothing wrong with fishing for food and/or fishing for fun. If you want to keep your catch for the table you should 100% do so!
For us, and many others, the concept of catch and release is about making responsible calls about which fish to keep, and which to put back, taking only what you need, and doing everything you can to avoid doing harm to the marine ecosystem as a whole.
Some simple changes to the way you fish ensures that future generations can continue to enjoy our world-class waters in the same way we’ve been able to.
BKK has a variety of hook options for every angler whether you’re fishing for sport or fishing for food.