What is catch and release fishing?

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Catch and release fishing is a conservation practice in which an angler catches a fish and then returns it to the water rather than keeping it. The goal is to allow people to enjoy the sport while maintaining fish populations for the future. Effective catch and release relies on careful handling to minimize stress and injury—think using gear that reduces harm, keeping the fish in or close to the water, minimizing time out of water, and handling gently with wet hands or appropriate tools. The practice is about catching and releasing to support conservation, not about using nets to harvest fish, not about keeping fish for breeding, and not about preventing fishing altogether.