How To Properly Net A Fish That You Plan To Release
- By: Luke Simonds
- on
- Found In: *Tackle & Gear, Conservation, Fishing Tips, Weekly Newsletter: 3-21-21
When landing fish that we plan to release with a net, it’s important to use the right type of equipment and procedures to make sure the fish thrives after release.
If either the net or the netting procedure is done incorrectly or sloppily, the fish we are trying to protect can be seriously harmed.
This video below will show you the key things to consider when catch and release fishing while landing fish with a net.
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Equipment Used In This Video:
- Net: Bubba Landing Net (small)
- Rod: Bull Bay Salt Strong Custom 7’6″
- Reel: Daiwa Fuego LT 2500
- Line: 10 lb. Suffix 832
- Leader: 20 lb. Ande Mono
- Lure: Alabama Leprechaun
- Glasses: Smith Optics Guide’s Choice
- Boat: Pathfinder 2400
Conclusion
It’s on us as anglers to make sure to preserve our beloved fisheries, so we need to be continually striving to use best practices when releasing fish (especially the larger ones).
For fishermen who prefer to net their catch, it’s very important to get a good release net that has small holes and rubber coating on the mesh (no rope/nylon nets with wide mesh).
When handing fish that are going to be released, we need to be mindful to minimize the amount of time that they are out of the water.
If you want to get a picture of your catch, make sure to proactively have everything ready before the fish is pulled out of the water.
Please leave a comment below if you have any questions or suggestions for good catch and release practices.
Related Articles:
– The Complete Guide To Catch, Photo, & Release Fishing
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STOP WASTING TIME ON THE WATER!
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I’m not sure what can be done to the net to prevent it from imprinting on your boat… sounds like the rubber is having some sort of issue as that shouldn’t happen.
If you have a non-rubberized net, buy a rubberized spray for a car’s undercoating, and spray your rope net. A fish would thank you if it could.
Cool idea!
So many great tips to questions going through my mind every time I catch a fish!
Thanks for making time to leave the comment Branko!
Maybe you are on to a new opportunity! Someone needs to make an updated bridge net with this kind of netting. All the ones I have seen, including the one I use, are the older twine type. Logic says you only use the bridge net on a larger fish and one you want to survive.
Yes, sure would be nice if someone made that type of net with a rubber lining.
In your opinion is using a net going to do less harm than using a Boga Grip to hold and then release the fish
That all depends on the methods used for each one… both can be very good or bad.
For example, using a boga grip to secure a fish in order to quickly unhook the fish without ever touching it is very good, while using a boga grip to quickly jerk it out of the water while it’s flopping all around and holding a big fish vertically can be bad.
It mostly comes down to simply making making sure we aren’t over-stressing (pulling it out too quickly or for too long) the fish nor causing any damage by accidentally compromising their gills or tearing their tail.
Thanks for this video. I was going to ask you to do a fish handling video after fishing with a friend earlier in the week.
Excellent public service announcement.
Thanks Dave!
great info! Something I’ve honestly never even thought of as a new fisherman.. Curious what brand is the net you’re using here?
This is a great net from Bubba. Here’s a review on it: https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/bubba-fishing-net-review/
Awesome conservation tips!! Love that! Keep up the amazing work, gentlemen!
Thanks for making time to leave the nice comment Aaron!
Great info. We need to take of these brooder fish. Releasing fish that don’t survive is counterproductive. I use a hook out and try not to touch the fish.
Thanks for making time to leave the helpful comment Sam