How To Properly Release?

[Rauloncho]

Hi,

I'm new to this forum (and new to fishing too!)... This is going to be a great tool for me... Anyhow, this is my question: I have read about all proper cares for fishing when catching/releasing, but what would be a proper way of doing so if you are high above the water (in a pier for example)... Is it ok to just throw the fish into the water as long as I handled them properly? Thanks!

[200racing]

in that situation i would try to drop them in head first avoiding a side impact. there are several toothy saltwater species that are release by being thrown head first like a spear.

[Jake P]

Just put em' in the water. I wouldnt throw a hail mary or anything like that. If your fishing off a pier though make sure you release them quickly. If i have a fish out of the water for a long time like trying to remove a gut hook or have all 6 hooks on a crank in the fish, i will put her in the water and swim her around until she regains life and swims off on her own. If your on a pier your not able to do so and will need to get her back fairly quickly.

[SirSnookalot]

Depends on high the pier is. If you are fishing 10-15' or higher you probably landed the fish with a pier net, just unhook them and lower them back into the water still in the net.

[Kyle Mahaffey]

Also, Kiss the fish. Bill Dance does it, and look how good he does.

[donovanl12]

I agree with Packman89

[SirSnookalot]

I have never fished a freshwater pier or even walked on one, I don't fish saltwater piers because they are much higher than I like to fish, but I've walked on them just to check them and out what the people are doing. My S.W. forums have a lot of activity regarding pier and bridge action, I read them, BTW the jetties I fish are considerably lower than piers. A very large portion of the fishermen on piers don't release fish, pompano for example are a highly prized catch for it's excellent table, they can put up really good fight too.

The fishing gear is quite a bit different than what most use for freshwater and inshore fishing, bait (live or cut) is the predominate way in which most people are fishing. The undersized fish for the most part are just tossed back in, this may not be to the liking of freshwater fishermen, but that's what's done, fish do seem none the worse for wear. Larger fish are hoisted up with a pier net, not many are released, if it's legal some one is going to eat it. What I can't figure out is how they get really large fish up, not unheard of to catch 40# kingfish off a pier, that takes some real know how, of which I don't know how they do it.