Catch and Release

Many species and are catch-and-release on Vancouver Island. Even for those lakes and rivers that have catch limits, nothing beats the exhilaration of releasing your catch and watching the fish swim away into the translucent depths. Limiting your catch, not catching your limit, helps preserve the angling experience for future generations. Here are a few tips about safely releasing your catch:

• Use single, barbless hooks.
• Use soft cotton netting rather than stiff synthetic materials.
• Always keep the fish wet. Wet your hands if you must handle the fish.
• Don’t let the fish fall onto the dry floor of your boat.
• Keep the body of the fish parallel to the water, never hold it by the gills. Ideally, the fish should be held firmly with both hands while a partner removes the hook with needle-nosed pliers.
• Revive the fish by aiming its head toward the current allowing water to pass back through its gills. If there is no current, create your own with your boat's motor.

For more detailed information about regulations and limits, visit http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/fish/recreational.html.