Careful Catch Brochure

An angler's guide to proper catch-and-release fishing tools and techniques

Anglers should be just as proud of the fish they release as the fish they keep. Instead of taking trophies, take a photograph of your fish or take length and girth measurements from which a fiberglass replica can be made. Many states have citation programs to honor anglers who release trophy-sized fish.

Did You Know? While releasing any fish helps, did you know that it is usually the biggest fish that are the most valuable spawners and the hope of future anglers? A 30-pound striper can produce 1.5 million more eggs than a 10-pounder. Being careful about your catch includes sometimes releasing the larger fish you catch to preserve their spawning ability. Smaller fish usually taste better anyway.

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