National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Natural Resource Program Center

Water Resources Division

Catch and Release Fishing

Help Promote Native Species through Catch and Release Fishing

Why Catch and Release?

The National Park Service strives to maintain park resources in a natural, unaltered 

condition. Native fish contribute to nutrient 

recycling and help maintain natural ecosystem processes when they live out their 

entire lifecycle, from spawning to death, in 

the aquatic system. Catch and release fishing improves native fish populations by allowing more fish to remain and reproduce 

in the ecosystem. This practice provides 

an opportunity for increasing numbers of 

anglers to enjoy fishing and to successfully 

catch fish. Releasing all native fish caught 

while in a national park will ensure that 

enjoyment of this recreation opportunity 

will last for generations to come.

Native to California, the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, rainbow trout have historically been stocked in many parks. 

Photo by Eric Engbretson, USFWS.

Native versus Non-native Fish

The early history of national park fishery 

management involved frequent stocking of 

non-native fish, such as rainbow trout in the 

east and brook trout in the west, to increase 

fish numbers and diversity, and to enhance 

recreational fishing. High alpine lakes and 

other locations, where fish had not occurred 

historically, also became habitat for nonnative fish. 

As scientific knowledge and understanding 

of natural ecosystems evolved, managers of 

protected natural areas realized that the introduction of non-native fish often results in 

alteration of the natural aquatic ecosystem. 

Introduced fish frequently out-compete native 

fish for food and habitat, reducing or eliminating the distribution and abundance of native 

fish. 

The National Park Service no longer stocks 

for recreational fishing in natural areas. Instead, the National Park Service relies on 

natural reproduction and careful management 

of fishing activities to sustain populations and 

fishing opportunities. However, early stocking 

practices have left their legacy in many park 

waters. Non-native fish inhabit many aquatic 

ecosystems, disrupting natural processes. 

As a fisherman, you can help. Please keep 

all non-native fish allowed by the applicable 

state’s fishing regulations while releasing native species. This will help restore fish abundance in favor of native species. Ask at the 

visitor center for a listing of native and nonnative fish species within the park.

What is a Native Fish?

Any species that has occurred within that 

water body or may occur as a result of natural 

processes and was not introduced by humans 

or circumstances that are a result of human 

activity.

What is a Non-native Fish?

Any species that did not historically occur 

within that water body and was introduced by 

humans or circumstances that resulted from 

human activity. Both native and non-native 

fish may reproduce naturally within a water 

body and have self-sustaining populations.

Why protect native species?

The National Park Service provides fishing 

opportunities for wild native species in their 

natural environment. Congress established the 

National Park Service to protect and preserve 

outstanding examples of our nation’s natural 

and cultural resources. That mission requires 

that the NPS manage those areas to conserve 

native species and natural ecosystem processes unimpaired for present and future generations. Opportunities abound outside national 

parks to fish for non-native fish or even abundant, artificially stocked native fish.

Not usually. Keeping non-native fish may 

reduce your chances of catching that nonnative species within that lake or stream in 

the future, but it will potentially enhance your 

opportunity to catch a native fish there. Nonnative fish are typically stocked into or invade 

native fish habitat. Stocking of non-natives 

was often done under the misconception that 

non-native fish could co-exist with native species and that there would be twice as many 

fish available to recreational anglers. This is 

seldom the case. Non-native species typically 

displace native species or greatly reduce their 

numbers. Removal of non-native fish can 

help native fish regain a finhold in their own 

habitat and enhance angling opportunities for 

native species. When protected from competition with non-native species, native species 

are often abundant.

Won’t Keeping Non-Natives Reduce 

My Opportunity to Catch Fish?

Fishing in Willow Creek, Alaska. Photo by Ronald 

Laubenstein, USFWS.
EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICATM

Important Elements of Successful Catch & Release Fishing

Not all fish survive when caught and released. However, proper catch and release methods can result in a very high survival rate. For anglers 

choosing to catch and release, the following tackle, landing, handling, and quick release methods are recommended.

Tackle

Gear type is perhaps the most important factor affecting whether a fish will survive being 

caught and released.

Use artificial lures or flies—Use of bait often 

results in a deeply ingested hook and mortality upon removal.

Use rod, reel, and line of sufficient strength to 

quickly land the fish—Long struggles may significantly increase mortality rate.

Use properly sized single circle or barbless 

hooks—Single hooks are typically more easily 

removed than treble hooks and usually result 

in less handling time and reduced injury to 

both anglers and fish.

Landing the Fish

Avoid playing fish to exhaustion—Lactic acid 

buildup in muscle tissues will reduce fish survival. More lactic acid accumulates the longer 

a fish is played.

Use a landing net—This reduces handling 

time, avoids injury potential and reduces 

stress to the fish. Landing nets with small, soft 

or knotless mesh are best.

Avoid injury—Keep your fish in deep water 

until it is netted or released. Fish landed 

in shallow water can injure themselves by 

thrashing around. This causes loss of mucus 

or skin damage, which can affect survival.

Handling your Catch

Avoid removal from water—Removing fish 

from the water can result in suffocation and/

or internal injury depending on fish size, 

removal duration, and handling technique. 

Avoid allowing a fish to thrash around on 

shore or in the boat.

Use wet hands or wet gloves—Wet hands or 

gloves will help reduce loss of a fish’s protective mucus. Mucus helps the fish fight fungal 

growth and other skin diseases.

Keep fish properly supported—Avoid removing 

large fish from the support of the surrounding 

water any more than necessary. When lifting, 

cradle the fish gently with one hand under the 

belly and the other hand near its tail. 

Avoid squeezing—Squeezing can easily cause 

damage to internal organs and muscle tissue. 

This can best be avoided by not removing the 

fish from the net until you are ready to let it 

go. 

Avoid touching the gills—Gills are a particularly sensitive and fragile organ that can be easily 

damaged. Any fish bleeding from the gills has 

a poor chance of survival and should probably 

be retained.

Hook removal

Keep fish wet and calm—Remove the hook 

quickly while allowing the fish to remain as 

calm as possible in the water. Keeping your 

fish contained in the net during hook removal 

can reduce the need for squeezing and additional injury.

Use the right tool—Needle-nosed pliers or hemostats are an essential tool for quick and efficient hook removal. Various hook removers 

are also commercially available.

If necessary, leave the hook!—If the fish is 

hooked deeply or the hook cannot be easily 

removed just leave it embedded. Cut your line 

as close to the hook as possible. Forged steel 

hooks deteriorate within months and often 

will not interfere with feeding.

If you are releasing your fish, a photo will be the only record of your catch. Following these procedures will not only improve your photographs 

but will also help ensure survival of your catch. Photographing your catch should be preplanned and accomplished quickly to prevent the injury 

or death of the fish. Keep your fish wet and calm until you are ready for the photograph. Crouch down near the water surface to avoid lifting the 

fish far from the water. Have the photographer pre-position and focus the camera before lifting your fish. When all is ready, hold your fish firmly 

by the tail while placing the other hand under its belly (avoid touching the gill area). Wait for the fish to become accustomed to your touch. When 

the fish has calmed, lift it briefly out (or better yet partly out) of the water and quickly capture the image. If multiple images are planned, calm the 

fish in the water before lifting it again.

These recommendations were compiled from a variety of informational sources and materials available through: 

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Trout Unlimited, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, The David Suzuki Foundation, and numerous other web sites.

Reviving your Catch

Avoid early release. Hold until revived—Revive 

your fish by holding it upright underwater. 

Support the fish gently from underneath. 

Ensure it is ventilating and has regained its 

equilibrium before release. Hold the fish until 

it swims forcefully away on its own.

Orient into the current but avoid too fast or turbulent areas—Facing the fish into the current 

allows water to pass over the gills allowing the 

fish to “catch it’s breath.” Consider the need 

to move the fish to calmer water where it can 

swim easily away on its own without being 

swept away or injured by fast moving or turbulent water. In lakes or other still water bodies, move fish gently back and forth to force 

water over the gills if the fish does not appear 

to be ventilating.

Guidance for Photographing Your Catch

Demonstrated method for catch photo-documentation with introduced brown trout.