- Time is of the essence. Play and release the fish as quickly and carefully as possible. An overplayed fish may become too weak to recover.
- When landing fish, use a net with fine mesh to avoid injury. Keep the fish in the water as much as possible. A fish out of water is suffocating and could be injured.
- When releasing a fish, try not to touch it when removing the hook and releasing it. When handling the fish, do not let it flop around or squeeze it. The fish can be gently held around the middle and upside down while removing the hook. This position calms the fish and deters it from moving around.
- Remove the hook with small pliers or by using the thumb and forefinger to loosen and back out the hook. If a hook cannot beeasily removed, cut the leader as close as possible to the hook. The hook will rust or fall out in a short time.
- To revive a tired fish, hold it in a swimming position with one hand under its bottom jaw and the other hand grasping the fish in front of the tail. Gently move the fish back and forth through the water until it is able to swim away.
NH Fish and Game recommends that anglers using live or cut bait use circle hooks to reduce mortality on fish that will be released. Studies comparing baited circle hooks to the standard J hooks used by most anglers show a substantial reduction in post-release hooking mortality when circle hooks are used.
For more information, contact Fish and Game Marine Fisheries Division weekdays (8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.) at (603) 868-1095.
