If you’re fishing for bonefish somewhere like South Andros Island, you’re going to catch a lot of them. Yes, we all want to get a few hero shots, and that’s OK, as long as you treat the fish well in the process.
But what about all those other ones? You know, those fish that you were very fortunate to catch, but that you’re content to just send on their merry way. What’s the best way to let those fish go?
Simple – don’t handle them at all. Keep the fish in the water. Don’t touch the fish – just grab your fly, pop it out (it’s barbless, right?), and let him swim.
Bonefish and Tarpon Trust produced a nice little video that helps drive the point home. Have a look.
NOTE: If you’re viewing this in a newsletter or a reader, click here to see a bonefish being cleanly released on YouTube.
My guide at Kiritimati (Christmas Island) has a dehooker. Pop it on the leader, run it done the line onto the hook shank and pop the hook out. Easy peasy. Of course now I have made one and always carry it to dehook all of my fish. Yes I have bent nosed pliers in a pouch on my belt just in case.