Catch & Release Research
Catch and release fishing is an increasingly popular practice among many anglers. Additionally, compliance with bag and size limits and various fishing closures means many anglers are required to return a large proportion of fish they have caught to the water. Although it was assumed that the majority of released fish survive, the lack of supporting information made it difficult to estimate the benefits of current management methods. Subsequently, the Recreational Fishing Trust has funded research into the survival of released fish to improve our knowledge of this subject. The research to date has shown that most fish survive using current catch and release techniques, however adjustments to fishing and handling practices can increase survival rates even further.
NSW DPI has reported the results of many of the studies in easy-to-read articles in popular fishing magazines including Fishing World, Modern Fishing, NSW Fishing News, Freshwater Fishing Australia, Saltwater Fishing and Go Fishing. The articles are provided below.
Saltwater species
- Keeping bream alive
2.4 mb
Hooks and their location influencing the survival of yellowfin bream. Published in Fishing World magazine. - Catch & release jewies 2.6 mb
Results from a study into hooked and released mulloway. Published in Fishing World magazine. - The mighty whiting 264.6 kb
The influence of air exposure and hook location on the survival of sand whiting. Published in Fishing World magazine. - How to keep jew alive 1.7 mb
The influence of air exposure and hook location on the survival of juvenile mulloway. Published in Fishing World magazine. - Tough bream 88.2 kb
Research demonstrating high survival rates of yellowfin bream after significant air exposure and fight time. Published in Fishing World magazine. - Bream: the survivor 74.8 kb
The results of a gut-hooked bream study. Published in Fishing World magazine. - Duskies are tough 249.1 kb
A study into the factors affecting the survival of dusky flathead after being released during live weigh-in tournaments. Published in Fishing World magazine. - Bream survival 3.0 mb
A study into the survival of yellowfin bream and the influence of different hook types – j-hooks and circle hooks. Published in Modern Fishing magazine. - Tag team fishing 857.7 kb
NSW DPI researchers using tags to measure the survival of released angler-caught mulloway, yellowfin bream and silver trevally. Published in Fishing World magazine. - Do gut-hooked whiting survive? 1.4 mb
A study on the effects of cutting the line on the survival of sand whiting that have swallowed hooks. Published in Go Fishing magazine. - Scale loss critical to garfish survival 458.0 kb
An experiment into the survival of eastern sea garfish and the factors influencing their survival after being released. Published in NSW Fishing Monthly magazine. - Juvenile Snapper: increasing their post-release survival 743.7 kb
Investigating the impact of ingested hooks on the survival of juvenile snapper after release. Published in Go Fishing magazine. - The science of releasing fish 309.3 kb
Guidance on the important factors that influence released fish survival. Species studied include dusky flathead, bream, whiting, luderick and silver trevally. Published in Fishing World magazine. - Post released survival of angled luderick and tailor 1.8 mb
Two studies to measure the survival of luderick and tailor after being caught and released by recreational anglers. Published in Go Fishing magazine. - Looking after lizards 566.8 kb
A study demonstrating high survival rates of dusky flathead and addressing the use of knotted nets and live wells. Published in Saltwater Fishing magazine.
Freshwater species
- The fate of bass 846.2 kb
Experiments to examine the proportion of Australian bass that survive after being caught and released by recreational anglers using bait and lures. Published in Fishing World magazine. - Conservation: catch and release part 1 1.5 mb
An article written by Steve Starling on how to make catch and release work. Species discussed include Australian bass, Murray cod and golden perch. Published in Freshwater Fishing Australia magazine. - Conservation: catch and release part 2 1.6 mb
A report on the survival of Australian bass, Murray cod and golden perch after catch and release by anglers. Published in Freshwater Fishing Australia magazine. - Golden perch survival in winter 367.0 kb
A study to record the survival of golden perch after catch and release in cold water. Published in NSW Fishing Monthly magazine.