Handle the fish right

How you handle the fish in the last seconds decides both whether it ends on the plate in fine condition and whether the one you put back survives. Good fish handling is simple once you know it, and it is as much respect for the fish as practice. Here are the basics, from the net to the disgorger.

Net it right

A net makes the landing both safer and gentler, especially with larger fish and when you mean to put it back. Prefer a net with knotless, soft mesh, because it spares slime and fins. Net the fish from the front by bringing the net under it in the water and lifting, instead of chasing it from behind. Once the fish is in the mesh you have control and can unhook calmly without it throwing itself free at the bank. The whole way there we take under play and land the fish.

A folding net with gentle mesh is cheap insurance against a lost fish at the bank. Savage Gear Pro Folding Net (4.5★) is a stable, foldable net from an established brand, easy to take with you. See price on Amazon

Unhook quickly and right

Always wet your hands before you touch the fish, so you do not damage the protective slime. Hold the fish firmly but without squeezing over gills and belly, and back the hook out the same way it went in. Forceps or a disgorger make the job quicker and keep your fingers away from sharp points. A Rapala floating lip grip (4.7★) is a solid choice that also floats if you drop it in the water. See price on Amazon If the hook sits deep and the fish is going back it is almost always gentler to cut the leader close to the hook than to poke and pull, because a small hook often works out or is encapsulated over time.

Gentle release

If the fish is going back, time in the air is the most important thing of all, so keep it as short as you can. Keep the fish over the water, with wet hands, and avoid laying it on a dry surface. If you want a picture, get it ready first and then hold the fish low over the water for a short moment. Release it by holding it upright in the water, nose toward any current, until it has recovered and swims off under its own power. That kind of handling gives the fish the best chance. More about when it is right to release sits under keep or release.

If the fish is to be kept

If you mean to keep the fish it should be killed quickly and humanely right after landing, not left to suffocate. A firm blow to the head with a priest followed by bleeding is both fastest and gentlest. The whole sequence is described under kill fish right. Whether the fish is to be released or kept the principle is the same: decide quickly, handle calmly and avoid unnecessary suffering.