Catch & Release Fishing
Safety & Procedures
The catch-and-release philosophy suggests that angling is valued as a high-quality recreational experience, rather than just a way to secure food. Sportfishing is so popular that demand often exceeds the supply of fish in Alberta waters. Catch-and-release fishing is an important tool to conserve fish resources, keeping mortality low to sustain and recover fish populations. By releasing fish, anglers allow a single fish to be "recycled" to provide recreation for others and also resulting in greater numbers of larger fish.
Minimum-size limits protect the spawning potential by allowing fish to spawn at least twice before they reach a size that anglers may keep. Catch-and-release fishing and minimum-size limits are mandatory in many water bodies.
Special fisheries provide increased protection to fish populations and quality recreational opportunities. Barbless-hook-only, special season and bait ban regulations are frequently used in conjunction with the zero limit for catch-and-release fisheries. Without these regulations, the preservation of these fisheries could be achieved only through increased season closures.
Approximately 30 trout streams along the Eastern Slopes have catch-and-release regulations for the entire, or portions of, the stream.
Learn more about fishing regulations in Alberta:
For catch-and-release fishing to be an effective management tool, the fish must survive after release. Angling ethics play an important role in the survival of released fish. The following guidelines will help you make catch-and-release successful:
- Remember the 'fair chase' principle: minimize the time that you handle the fish once it is on the hook. Handling a fish to exhaustion may cause it to die later.
- Keep fish in the water while handling and releasing them. If you must handle fish, completely wet your hands or wear soft cotton or wool gloves that have been soaked in water. This prevents damage to the fish's protective mucous surface.
- Act quickly by having your measuring board or camera ready if you must measure or photograph your catch. Minimize the time the fish is out of the water.
- Hold the fish gently under its belly and by the area in front of the tail. Never squeeze a fish or touch a fish's eyes or gills. If you are releasing the fish, hold it in the water for a few moments before letting go so the water oxygenates the fish. A fish is ready to be released when it maintains an upright position and actively swims out of your hands. Never just throw a fish back into the water.
- Prepare in advance to release your fish by choosing a hook that can be removed from the fish's mouth easily or use landing nets when they help quick release. Use needle-nose pliers to remove hooks and never tear a hook from a fish. If the hook is deeply embedded in the fish's throat, snip the line and release the fish, leaving the hook in place. The hook will eventually dissolve.
- Avoid culling fish (the practice of holding live fish for a time, then releasing smaller fish as larger ones are caught) as it lowers survival rates. This risk increases significantly in warm water.
- Dispatch the fish quickly and keep it on ice if it is going to be used for food.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about handling and releasing fish carefully, please contact Fisheries Management staff.
Posted: April 21, 2008