CATCH and RELEASE
By: Capt. Dan Schneider
USCG licensed guide
Lake Okeechobee & surrounding waters
We practice and encourage "Catch and Release" to preserve the sport of Bass fishing.
So it will remain great in your favorite lake and for future generations. After
catching and unhooking your fish don’t just toss it back. Your intentions
are good so lets practice good catch and release habits to ensure that
the fish is
released back into the water unharmed so it can be caught again or reproduce.
Tackle and bait are the finest and ready for your catch. Go a step farther
and be prepared to get the fish back in the water as quickly as possible.
Have everything
you need within your reach and you won’t have to keep the fish out
of the water any longer than necessary, thus ensuring its survival.
NETS - Try to avoid netting
a fish when possible. If you have too, cotton mesh nets are much better
on the fish than the hard nylon. Avoid ‘knotted’ nets as they can damage the eyes and
scales. Never try to net a fish with a small net, if the net is too small to
accommodate the fish you’ll do damage to the fish.
PLIERS - When a fish is hooked
where you can easily remove the hook without tearing him up, hold the
fish in the water, grasp the hook with your pliers, twisting your wrist
(avoid wiggling
the hook) simultaneously to unhook and release the fish.
CAMERA - Preserve
the memory by taking a quick photo or two. Make sure the sun is to
the back of the
person with the camera for best results.
You’re still excited and thrilled over your catch but there’s still
more to do... The longer a fish is out of the water, the less chance
of survival.
SCALE - Carefully
place the hook in the lower lip of the fish to get your weight as
quickly as possible with the least bit of handling so you can get the
fish back
in the water.
Record your weight,
length & girth measurements. Never lay the fish in the bottom of
you boat as this can damage the fish.
Release your fish by gently setting him back in the
water. Never-ever throw a fish back in. I only fish for Bass, therefore
I can hold the fish by the lower jaw, working it back and forth in the
water letting
the water flow over their gills, holding on gently until the fish is
ready to swim away.
CATCH and RELEASE ------ Take the time to learn how to handle
Bass
properly and release unharmed. Let us all work together to preserve the
sport of fishing so future generations can enjoy.
Submitted by: Capt.
Dan Schneider,
USCG licensed
A Professional
fishing guide on Lake Okeechobee since 1980.
www.fishinglakeokeechobee.com
captdan@probass.com
When clients
catch & release
their trophy bass they are given a
certificate with the weight, length, & girth recorded for a lasting memory. If
a trophy mount is their dream, Capt. Dan suggests a replica mount, which is more
durable and is an exact duplicate of the fish. By doing this they have a trophy
for the wall and still release the fish alive.
Lake Okeechobee is truly a Fisherman’s paradise for the largemouth Bass! Bass
fishing with a little Golf is my full time business and passion.
Golf enthusiasts—we can fish am and Golf pm on Clewiston’s 72 par Golf
Course. Visit my web site and
let’s plan a trip.
