Any fish you plan to release must be returned to the water immediately.
A fish played for too long will be too exhausted to recover.
Keep fish in the water as much as possible.
Remove the hook as quickly as possible. Single barbless hooks can often be removed while the fish is still in the water.
Gentle handling is essential. Avoid squeezing or placing your fingers in the gills or eye sockets. It’s best to hold a fish gently by its belly or by the area in front of the tail.
To revive an unconscious fish. Hold it upright in the water. Move the fish forward and backward so that water runs through the gills. This may take a few minutes.
When it begins to struggle, release it.
When photographing a fish, hold it horizontally and do not squeeze the fish. Do not put your hands in its gills or hold it vertical by its gills.