OzFish supports best practice catch and release fishing

Habitat

Just like you, we want to give our fish every possible chance to survive and thrive and be there tomorrow for us and future generations – so they can also experience the wonder of recreational fishing.

By supporting best practice, we are also sharing an important message to all Aussie anglers that this growing movement is helping to keep our sport sustainable.

We encourage you to learn more about your state or territories’ regulations to ensure we give our fish the best chance of survival.

OzFish Ambassador Steve ‘Starlo’ Starling follows these 10 commandments of Catch and Release Fishing.
    1. If possible, DON’T remove the fish from the water at all, but if you do, first ensure that all objects and surfaces it touches (including your hands) are wet and cool.
    1. Support the weight of the fish at ALL times. NEVER “hang” a fish by its jaws, gills or tail. Place a hand under its belly or rest it on a wet towel, damp boat carpet or a wet measuring mat
    1. STRICTLY limit the fish’s time out of the water. Try holding your breath while the fish is exposed to the air… if you need another breath, so does the fish! Also, if using a live well to hold fish, keep the water circulating and minimise their time in the well. Remember- the longer you keep fish intended for release in a live well, the higher the chance that they will sustain damage to their internal organs and nervous system.
    1. Be organised. Have your camera or phone, measuring mat and long-nosed pliers (for hook removal) laid out and ready to go BEFORE you lift the fish out of the water.
    1. Remove the hook or hooks as quickly as possible using long-nosed pliers. REMEMBER, de-barbed hooks come out of fish AND people much more easily, so consider flattening your barbs.
    1. If the fish is hooked too deeply for easy hook extraction using long-nosed pliers, cut the line or leader as close as possible to the hook. DON’T attempt amateur surgery!
    1. Return the fish to the water promptly and support it in an upright position facing into any current or flow while it recovers strength. DO NOT swish it back and forth.
    1. When the fish seems recovered and ready, simply allow it to swim free of your grip, but WATCH to ensure it doesn’t float back to the surface.
    1. Fish exhibiting obvious signs of pressure-related barotrauma (distended stomachs, bulging eyes and vent, etc) should be promptly released at the depth where they were hooked with the aid of a drop-weight. DO NOT Needle Fish to release built up gases – research shows that this can cause unnecessary stress and increased death rates!
    1. The best way to practice conservation in many styles of angling is to STOP FISHING when you’ve caught enough.