By Rodney Hsu

British Columbians are both vocal and active about the status of the resources in this province. This has clearly shown in the past decade. We have realized that the state of your salmon fisheries has been in big trouble, and we have taken many actions to save it. In 2001, our hard work has certainly been paid off. The returns of our coho, pink, chum and steelhead in many systems were the best in many years. This great fishing season that you have just experienced is the result of catch and release fisheries that are being imposed in many streams. We now understand any fish stock can simply not handle today's fishing pressure. Excessive harvest by anglers will only lead to the extinction of the stock. Therefore, catch and release of wild stocks and the retention of some hatchery stocks are the solutions to give hopes to our future generations. Catch and release does not always ensure survival of the fish, if the release method is done incorrectly. As you may have noticed, many anglers who often practice unethical catch and release on undesirable such as pink and chum salmon, or unretainable wild fish. These unethical actions include dragging the fish to shore before kicking it back into the water like a soccer ball, leaving the fish out of water for the best photo shot, or grabbing the fish by the gill rakers. These actions may often harm the fish, causing bruises, internal bleeding, infections and death. It is important for all anglers to know the best way to release a fish. I use the term "best" instead of "correct" because there simply isn't a correct way, but some methods are better than others that can minimize the amount of damage you cause on the fish. Proper catch and release still allows you to capture a photo or two of your fish of a lifetime, but also ensures the survival of your fish once released. Here are some tips that may be helpful to remember:

Always keep fish in water: Fish can only live in water, this is the universal rule that every single person knows. A fish gasping for air on land is a dying fish. If a fish is kept out of water for too long, lack of oxygen in its body may cause permanent brain and other internal damages.

Wet your hands before touching: Before grabbing the fish, it is important to wet your hands. The fish's body is coated with protective slime that is extremely vital. Dry hands may remove the slime and resulting in infections on the skin of the fish. Do not use gloves when handling fish as most fabrics can damage fish skin.

Grab it the right way: If the fish is small, you can simply grab the fish by cradling its abdomen in the water and remove the hook. If the fish is large and requires two hands, the best way is to use one hand to grab onto the tail. Once that is accomplished, use the other hand to cradle the its abdomen. The entire process can be done in the water. Never grab the gill rakers!

A quick snap: For the best photo result, pick the fish out of the water surface. A couple of quick snaps, and you should lower your fish back into the water.

Resting is key: After a long batter, your fish will often be tired. Hold the fish in the water and allow some time for it to regain its strength before releasing. Premature releasing can often be harmful to the fish, as it becomes disoriented in the current and will often not be able to regain its normal physiological state.

What if I get wet? Fishing is a water sport, getting wet when releasing the fish is part of the fun. Waders or boots are extremely handy for releasing fish. If you do not have these items, you should find areas where it is ideal to release your fish before you start fishing.

The above set of rules is a generic guideline that may help you to release your fish with ease. However, every fishing scenario is different, therefore release method may vary slightly. The key point to remember is to minimize the amount of damage that may be caused on the fish. If done correctly, you should be proud for ensuring the survival of our fish stocks!