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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!
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