Releasing Undersize Fish

Guidelines for Releasing Undersized /Unwanted Fish

This information will help show you how to effectively release undersized fish so that they survive to reach a larger size. Everyone who goes recreational fishing should have the knowledge how to release undersize fish correctly.

A fish out of water - biological facts

The body and gills of fish are designed to be supported by water. Out of water the gills collapse and stop working efficiently. The internal organs are easily damaged by squeezing too hard or by the impact of thrashing on hard surfaces.

Fish scales are covered by a mucous layer which helps prevent infections. Rough handling, especially with dry hands, or a nylon net bag damages the mucous layer and reduces the chances of the fish surviving after release.

Getting the hook out

The Washington Dept. of Fish & Wildlife has come up with a simple neat combination measurement tool & de-hooker. This unit is a 22" 3/8" dowel with a screw in hook attached to one end. The 22" was designed to be used as a minimum measurement length for Blackmouth.

In use, the fish is in question should be left in the water, pulled alongside & measured with the dowel. If it is undersize, take ahold of the leader about 12-18" above the fish with one hand, the de-hooker hook is then hooked onto the leader about a foot in front of the fish, slide it down the leader to the bend of the hook in the fish's mouth. Now with the dowel in the one hand, and the leader in the other hand, quickly raise the dowel and at the same time you lower the leader hand to near the water. The weight of the fish will usually pull the hook out. If it does not on the first try then in this position shake the dowel. With a barbless hook, this will usually unhook the fish without it leaving the water for more than a few seconds.

If this does not work, and the fish are hooked in the mouth, you should extract the hook as carefully as possible. The preferable situation is to leave the fish in the water, as it will usually tend to be calmer and will struggle less. The next ideal situation would be to remove the hook while the fish is still in the net. Try to push the hook back the way it came and try not to tear the mouth. Hook removers or long-nosed pliers can help to get a secure grip on the hook.

andling fish - wear gloves

Many professional fishers and marine biologists only handle live fish while wearing wet gloves. Wet cotton gloves are the best, but cheap rubber gloves are almost as good.

For small undersize fish, you will probably only need to put on one glove. You should also ensure that your other hand and the glove is wet.

Never hold a fish you intend to release by putting your fingers inside the gill covers or eye sockets.

If you need to handle a live rockfish, hold the back of its head in the gill cover area. If you grip from below the jaw, you should avoid being spiked by the fish.

When holding a fish, hold it around the gill covers with one hand and support the body with the other.

Cut the line for gut-hooked fish

If a fish has swallowed the hook, it is very likely to die if you try to remove it. Do not pull hard on the line. This is sure to cause internal damage. Cut the leader as close as you can to the mouth.

If you lose a hook in the process of releasing a fish that would otherwise dies, consider this as a small price to pay for the enjoyment you gain from fishing.

Barbless hooks make releasing mouth hooked fish easy. You can make your hook barbless by either flattening the barb with pliers, or filing the barb off.

Having removed the hook, return the fish to the water head first, as gently as you can from the least possible height. Hold onto the fish's body in front of the tail, and gently push the fish forward & then pull it back. This forces water into the gills & gives the fish a head start on revival. When the fish has revived it will swim away from you.

Handling larger fish

Where possible, do not remove large fish from the water at all. With a Sturgeon that is just sub-legal, even a 41" will still be quite a big fish at around 20#. Sturgeon are reasonably tolerant of handling, but are strong and active, and difficult to control in a small boat. One way of controlling them is to leave the fish in the landing net while you remove the hook, then return it to the water. Most fish will trash around more when removed from the water.

Size limits

You should know the minimum legal size limits as there are large penalties for breaking the law. The size limits are set to allow fish to return & or breed therefore creating more & keeping a healthy population.

Most sport caught fish are measured from the shortest distance from the tip of the nose to end the tail. Size limits can vary from area to area. For Washington State the size below is common.

                        Minimum size for Coho Salmon is 16"
                        Minimum size for Chinook Salmon is 24"
                        Minimum size for Blackmouth Chinook Salmon is 22"
                        Minimum size for Sturgeon is 42" with a maximum size of 60"

For Coho & Chinook any fish that is under this size is considered a "Jack". This terminology is referring to a fish that has gotten the urge to return a year early. Most of these will be males, however you may on occasion catch a "Jill", but this ratio is very small.

There are some rivers that in the fall, will be open for retaining of mature Salmon plus some jacks. The jacks are a bonus, as they are not a viable breeding stock, and the WDFW would rather see them taken home.

Quantity Limits
Also for the year 2001 WDFW has imposed a limit of 1 yelloweye, (commonly called red snapper), in your bag limit. This can pose a problem as these fish can be located in the same general deep water area as halibut. When you bring one of these up from this deep water, it's air bladder will generally turn inside out & pop out the fish's mouth. The word is that if you throw them back, in time, the air bladder will return into the fish. However during this time the yelloweye will have it's movement impaired & can become prey for seagulls. The first thing seagulls will do is to pick the fish's eyes out.

Some sports fishermen have recommended that you can puncture this air bladder with a sharp hypodermic type needle. This will allow it to deflate & the fish can swim off within a few minutes. This hole seems to be small enough that it does not do any lasting damage & the hole will heal.

Avoid catching undersize fish
The best way to protect small fish is to not catch them at all. Use a large hook and a bigger bait as these are less likely to be swallowed by small fish. Move away from the area where most of the fish are small.

Remember to do these things

Do remove fish from the water only if you have to.

Do wear wet cotton or rubber gloves or at least wet your hands.

Do lie fish on a soft wet surface if you need to handle them out of the water.

Do change to a larger hook size if you are catching a lot of undersize fish.

Do minimize the time fish are out of the water.

Do remove the hook carefully from lip hooked fish.

Do cut the line for gut hooked fish.

Do return fish gently to the water.

Do not

Don't hold fish by inserting your fingers inside the gill covers.

Don't poke or touch the eyes, and never hold fish by the eye sockets.

Don't squeeze the gill covers or gut area hard.

Don't lift fish by the tail as this can dislocate the spine & harm internal organs.

Don't drop or place fish on a hot dry deck or on rocks.

This information provides guidelines on how to release fish that are smaller than or larger than the legal size. Bag limits and size limits may vary from area to area, so check the regs.

Last Updated 05-03-2001
LeeRoy Wisner