Release fish with less handling and better recovery

Prepare the camera, pliers and landing area before lifting a fish from the water.

Use wet hands or a wet rubberized net, support the body horizontally and avoid touching the gills. Keep the fish over water whenever practical. Remove the hook with pliers, cut the leader if removal will cause excessive damage and take photographs quickly without placing the fish on hot or dry surfaces.

Return the fish head-first into clean water and support it upright until it maintains balance and swims away under its own power. Follow local regulations, use descending devices where required for barotrauma and stop targeting fish when safe release is unlikely.