How to handle and release a fish safely
Wet your hands, support the fish, keep it in the water, and revive it until it swims off under its own power.
Last reviewed 26 September 2026 · Editorial policy
What this skill is for
A released fish's survival comes down to a few seconds of handling: slime, oxygen and stress. The difference between a fish that swims away and one that doesn't is usually whether it was held in a wet hand or on a dry bank.
What you need
- A knotless net
- A wet unhooking mat if you land bigger fish
- A camera ready before you lift
Step by step
- 01
Wet your hands first
Always. A dry hand strips the protective slime layer off a fish's flanks, which is its barrier against infection. Keep a wet cloth nearby for the same reason.
- 02
Keep the fish in or at the surface
Land it, net it and unhook it with the fish as close to the water as you can get it. Every second out of the water is a second without oxygen reaching the gills.
- 03
Support the body
One hand under the belly, the other supporting the tail or the chest, and the fish held level — never vertically by the jaw for long on a big fish, and never by the gill covers or eyes.
- 04
Keep it off dry surfaces and out of the sun
A wet mat or the shallows, in the shade. Gravel and a hot bank strip slime and burn the belly.
- 05
Photograph it in the water
Have the camera or phone ready, lift briefly, wet your hands, support the fish level, and put it back. A photo taken in the net or with the fish still in the shallows is usually the better picture anyway.
- 06
Revive it
Hold the fish upright, head into the current or gently moved through still water, until it turns against your hand, its gill covers work steadily, and it swims off under its own power. Don't let go the moment it moves.
- 07
Release where you caught it and take everything with you
Return the fish to the same water, and carry off your line, hooks, bait packaging and groundbait bags. Discarded line and hooks kill wildlife far more reliably than anglers do.
Where it goes wrong
- Dry hands and a dry net.
- Holding a fish by the gill plates or the eyes.
- Keeping a fish out for a photograph while someone finds a phone.
- Letting go the instant the fish twitches.
- Releasing into a different water, which can spread disease and non-native species.
Related guides
Common questions
What do I need for handle and release a fish?
A knotless net, A wet unhooking mat if you land bigger fish, A camera ready before you lift. Nothing specialist beyond that — if a step needs something extra it is listed in the guide itself.
What is the most common mistake with handle and release a fish?
Dry hands and a dry net.
How do I know handle and release a fish is done correctly?
The fish turns upright against your hand, gill covers moving steadily, and swims away strongly without help.