Catch and Release? Be Quick About It

Anglers that want to ensure the fish they catch survives after the sport is over have just four minutes from the moment a fish strikes a hook until they release that fish, according to new research out of the University of Illinois. The fight takes a lot out of a fish, as does -- not surprisingly -- the stress of going without oxygen.

So the more quickly an angler can move from setting the hook, through fighting, landing, photographing or otherwise celebrating the achievement and removing the hook, the better. A fish takes two to four hours to recover from the ordeal, according to the research.

The study was done on bonefish. How the results apply to other species was not an aspect of this research. Here are guidelines the researchers promote for conscientious angling:

• Minimize the length of time spent angling the fish
• Minimize the length of time the fish is exposed to air after being caught
• The longer that the fish is presented with challenges, the longer it will take to recover after being released
• The temperature of the water can also affect recovery time -- warmer water may increase recovery time.

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