Catch and Release Fishing

Catch and release is the practice of catching a fish and returning it to the water alive. For many anglers, it is a conservation choice that keeps fish populations healthy and fisheries productive for future generations. Done correctly, it gives the fish a genuine chance of survival and keeps the sport sustainable for everyone who participates in it.

Do You Need a Fishing License for Catch and Release?

Yes, in almost every US state. A fishing license covers the act of fishing itself, not what you do with the fish afterward. Whether you keep your catch or release it immediately, you are still required to hold a valid license for that state and water body. Fines for fishing without one range from $100 to $500 across most states.

Age exemptions apply in most places. Children under 16 or 18 depending on the state are typically exempt, as are seniors over 65 in many jurisdictions. Some states run free fishing days throughout the year where no license is required. Outside those specific windows, assume you need one, and verify through your state wildlife agency before heading out.

Catch and Release Laws and Regulations

Some waters are designated catch and release only, meaning no harvest is permitted regardless of species or size. Others require barbless hooks, single hooks, or artificial lures exclusively. Premium trout waters in Montana, Colorado, Wyoming, and similar states commonly carry these restrictions. Always check the specific rules for the individual lake or river you plan to fish, not just the general state regulations, since exceptions at the water body level are common and violations carry real fines.

Slot limits protect fish within a specific size range by requiring their release even when general harvest is permitted. This targets the most reproductively valuable fish in the population and is one of the more effective conservation tools state agencies use.

Best Hooks for Catch and Release

Barbless Hooks

Without a barb holding the hook in place, removal takes seconds and requires minimal handling. The fish spends less time out of the water and returns in better condition. Many designated catch and release waters require barbless hooks by regulation. They are the most fish-friendly hook option available, and should be the default choice for any angler practicing regular catch and release.

Circle Hooks

Circle hooks are designed with the point turned perpendicular to the shank. When a fish takes bait and moves off, the hook rolls into the corner of the mouth and sets itself there rather than deeper in the throat. Research shows that they are around 90 percent more likely to hook fish in the mouth compared to standard J-hooks. That single difference dramatically reduces injury and improves survival rates after release, particularly when fishing with live or dead bait.

Removing Barbs from Existing Hooks

Use needle-nose pliers or hemostats to press the barb flat against the hook shank. It takes seconds and costs nothing. On treble hooks, removing two of the three hooks entirely with wire cutters further reduces the risk of deep or multiple hooksets during a fight.

Catch and Release Gear

Rods and Line

Use tackle strong enough to land fish quickly. Fighting a fish to exhaustion on light gear causes lactic acid to build up in the muscles, and is one of the leading causes of post-release mortality. Match your rod and line to the species and get the fish to hand fast.

Landing Nets

Rubber or knotless soft mesh causes far less damage than nylon. Nylon strips scales, damages fins, and removes the protective slime coating fish need to fight off infection after release. Always wet the net before the fish touches it, and keep the fish in the water while removing the hook wherever possible.

Dehooking Tools

Long-nose pliers reach the hook without fingers near the gills. Hemostats work well for smaller fish and fit in a shirt pocket. Keep tools accessible before the fish is landed, not buried in a bag while the fish thrashes on the surface.

How to Catch and Release a Fish Correctly

Landing the Fish

Land the fish as quickly as the tackle allows. Use a wet net to bring it under control and avoid lifting it clear of the water if you can manage it.

Removing the Hook

Work quickly. Use pliers or hemostats rather than fingers and back the hook out the way it entered. If the hook is swallowed too deeply, cut the line as close to the hook as possible and release the fish. A non-stainless hook corrodes and falls out over time, giving the fish a better chance than a forced removal would.

Handling and Photos

Wet your hands before touching the fish. Support it horizontally with both hands and never hold a large fish vertically by the jaw. Have the camera ready before you lift the fish out of the water and keep total air exposure under 60 seconds. That window matters more than most people realize.

Reviving and Releasing

Hold the fish upright in the water facing into the current. This forces water through the gills and helps it recover. Wait until it kicks strongly and moves away under its own power before letting go. A fish that drifts or needs chasing was not ready.

Do Fish Survive Catch and Release?

When handled correctly, between 85 and 95 percent of released fish survive and resume normal behavior within minutes to hours.

The variables that reduce that number are worth knowing. Prolonged fights cause lactic acid buildup in the muscles. High water temperatures add thermal stress, and fish caught in water above 75 degrees Fahrenheit need faster handling. Fish brought up from depths greater than 30 feet can suffer barotrauma, a buildup of gases in the body that prevents them from swimming back down. These fish need help returning to depth using a descending device or venting tool before they can recover properly.

Can You Catch and Release Trout?

Yes. Trout are one of the most commonly released species in the US and many premium trout rivers are managed as catch and release only waters because of how effectively the practice sustains populations under heavy fishing pressure.

Use barbless hooks, a rubber net, and wet hands. Trout are sensitive to warm water, so fishing for them in cooler conditions helps. Revive them thoroughly before release and in many states you can target trout on a catch and release basis year round, even outside the standard harvest season.

Conclusion

A license is still required in almost every state. Regulations vary by water body. The gear and handling choices you make directly affect whether the fish survives. Get those details right, and catch and release works the way it is meant to.