Catch And Release Essay, Research Paper

Catch and Release

Over the years, people have enjoyed the many types of fishing the world has to offer. Some people do it for tournaments, some for the sport and most of us for pleasure. It is hard to say when someone decided to pick up a willow and tie a piece of string to it with a hook and bait, but for some reason it has grown into a magnificent pastime. The type of fishing technologies that we have today would be a surprising site to some of the very first anglers. In all the fun of angling we must always be aware that the fish can be damaged by our pleasure in catching them; maybe that s why so many people keep what they catch. So here is something to consider. Try releasing your catch and do it correctly because fishing can cause harm to the fish if not properly handled; therefore, special circumstances should be practiced to insure that the fish will survive.

In today s world the angling pressure is extremely high, especially in areas of great human population. It is becoming more and more complicated to compete with the other angler. You go to your very best and always secret fishing spot and there is A lot of folks lined up along the bank, so much for you secret! That is why your local Division Of Wildlife Resources has spent loads of your tax paying dollars on fish hatchery systems. There would be no need for hatchery systems if we all would catch and release.

Specific handling techniques may reduce fish mortality ; This is stated by outdoor author Jeff Murray. For those that do catch and release you might find this paper helpful in how you properly release a fish, and for the ones who keep your fish, you might consider catch and release. This information will be directly associated with trout fishing in a river or stream. First of all you need to get the fish to bite, when this is accomplished you will precede in bringing the fish to you. You may have a real battle, depending on the size of the fish. You never want to over fight the fish because it causes extreme stress on your query. Extreme stress often results in a fish that will die, even if you properly have properly released your catch. You just want to fight the fish until it does not seem to want to run from you anymore. When this is done, try to find a suitable place to grab the fish, preferably a area were the river s current is at a standstill, the reason for this is because when you go to grab the fish the current catches the specimens and drags it away from you, which cause you great frustration and also causes the fish even more stress.

Once you have the fish in your angling net you then proceed to remove the hook. Try to handle the fish as little as possible, and if you do need to handle him be very gentle; you can cause internal bleeding rather easily if you grasp the fish too tightly. Also, the fish has a protective slime layer, which can be removed from the fish s body if handled too much. This protective slime layer does not come back if removed; therefore, the fish will die. This is one of the many reasons for having an angling net. With the angling net you don t need to make hand contact with the fish, as often, so you don t remove the protective layer as easily. Another reason for the net is to save you frustration; it is rather difficult to handle such a slippery, wet fish with your hands. While the fish is in the net, try not to keep him out of the water for long periods of time, fish do not breath air like we do, so it is a good idea while working to release the fish to keep him in the net and in the water.

Another point that must be brought to full attention is the need for barb less hooks. A barb is a another sharp point on the hook shank that prevents the fish from coming loose from the hook; these barbs can cause great damage to the fish s mouth; so, be kind and smash down those barbs.

After the fish has been unhooked, it is now time to release it back into its home. You never want to just let the fish go, the fish is weak and stressed after the confrontation with you. Letting the fish go will result in a fish that is tired and strained and it will; most likely, get caught in the rivers current and be drug down stream where it will smack up against rocks, suffering personal injury and possibly death. To avoid this you will need to revive the fish by holding it under water, away from the rivers current and then proceed to move it back and then forward, you will need to repeat this motion until the fish swims out of your hand.

You have successfully released the fish when all these steps are done. Then you can feel proud that you have released a fish that will be sure to survive and maybe be caught by you again or some other happy angler. Jo Novara also stresses the future effects of catch and release when he stated We want the fish to get bigger so they re more fun to catch. So kids can be sure to catch some fish the first time they try it . It will also make you happy that you have made that fish a little more smarter, so next time it will be difficult for you to catch that fish. Catching and properly releasing the fish will ensure a stable eco-system between the fish and us. It is rather disappointing when you see an angler that keeps every thing he catches. It is even more disappointing when you see his or hers freezer full of trout that have gone bad because he or she never got around to eating all the fish he or she kept. What a waist!