CATCH AND RELEASE
GUIDE FOR STRIPED BASS

You can aid the survival of released striped bass (rockfish) with careful planning, fishing and handling methods. Hooked stripers can die from injury or from the stress of being hooked, fought and landed. Stress-related mortality increases greatly when water temperatures exceed 70F and is also greater in freshwater than in brackish water. Infection and disease can result in mortality of fish whose protective slime coat is removed during handling. The chances that released fish will survive will be increased greatly by following these guidelines. Ideally, fish are landed quickly, handled little, if at all, and kept in the water while the hook is removed using a dehooker.

• Know the fishing regulations and be prepared to release fish.
• If you are planning a catch-and-release fishing trip for stripers, do so in early spring, late fall or winter when water is less than 70F.
• Use strong enough tackle and land fish quickly to minimize stress.
• Use barbless hooks or bend down the barbs on regular hooks to release fish quickly.
• Use artificial lures instead of live bait to reduce deep hooking.
• Replace treble hooks with large, single barbless hooks to reduce injury and handling.
• If legal, keep fish that are bleeding heavily as their chances of survival are poor.
  

HANDLING AND RELEASING STRIPERS

• Keep the amount of handling to a minimum and keep fish in the water if at all possible.
• Use landing nets only when necessary and these nets should be made of knotless nylon or rubber.
• Do not allow the fish to thrash around. If you must handle it use wet gloves or a wet rag. Stripers can be calmed down by covering their eyes and/or turning them on their back.
• A fish that does not swim away can be resuscitated by moving it back and forth to force water through its gills.
  

REMOVING THE HOOK

• Carefully, but quickly, remove hooks using a dehooker, needlenose pliers or forceps.
• Whenever possible remove hooks in the throat or gut using a dehooker.
• Cut the line if you cannot carefully or quickly remove hooks.