Fish Handling

-Minimize handling, since this can remove protective slime from the fish.

-If you handle a fish, use clean, wet hands.

-Support the fish beneath the head and belly.

-Minimize exposure to air – maximum 15 seconds.

-Avoid using mechanical lip-gripping devices on active fish, since this can cause jaw injury.

-If a fish’s weight is desire, attach a cradle to the scale to support the fish’s weight.

-Keep fingers away from the gills, damaged gills make it harder for the fish to breathe.

Hooks

-Use barbless hooks, since this reduces the amount of handling needed to remove the hook.

-When fishing with bait, use circle hooks.

-If a hook is deep within the throat, cut the line as close to the hook as possible.

-This causes less damage than removing a deeply-set hook; most fish are able to reject the hook  or the hook dissolves over time.

Fight Time

-Keep the fight short, but not too short.

-Long fight times result in an exhausted fish, which is more vulnerable to predators.

-A fish reeled in too quickly may thrash about, increasing its chances of injury.

-Use tackle that matches the fish and conditions.

-If a fish looses equilibrium (it rolls over or goes nose down on the bottom), retrieve it until it can swim upright, then shorten the fight time on future fish.

-When retrieving a fish, be sure that water passes over the gills from front to back.

-Move the fish forward or hold it upright in the water allowing it to pump water through its gills.

-High water temperatures may negatively impact bonefish survival after release.  In warmer water,  reduce fight and handling time.

Predators

-Since predators can decrease survival of fish after release, when predators become abundant and  appear to become attracted to your fishing activity, consider moving to another fishing location.

-If you have caught a fish and potential predators are near, consider using a circulating live-well to  hold your fish for a short time to allow releasing it some distance away from them.