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Top: Releasing a spring salmon
Above: Catch and release
Photography: Alastair Gowans & Geoff Fisher
Catch & Release
C
atch and release is widely practised in
Scotland as it is rightly seen as having a
very significant role in fish
conservation. The whole concept of catch and
release is supported by the vast majority of
Scottish anglers, as they know that without
wild fish being allowed to spawn in sufficient
numbers then eventually the fishing will
collapse. Coarse fishing has always had a
tradition of returning fish but this now extends
to all game and sea fish. By returning fish to the
water you are personally helping to conserve
and further improve Scotland's fantastic fishing
resource.
On some salmon rivers catch and release is
obligatory for all or parts of the season. On
others, and especially for the highly prized
spring fish, there is often a system of returning
every second fish caught, starting with the first
one. As the female (hen) salmon are seen as
being particularly important many rivers and
beats expect all these fish to be returned at
certain times. If you catch a coloured salmon
(in other words one that is not silver) then it
must always be returned no matter what.
These coloured fish are changing into their
spawning colours and apart from anything else
are not very good to eat.
In all cases, when salmon fishing, your permit
will clearly explain what you can or cannot kill,
any bag limits etc. On beats with ghillies or
guides then they will be able to keep you on
the straight and narrow with regards to what to
release. The ghillie or guide always has the final
say on this matter and if he says it goes back
then it goes back!
Wild brown trout are seen as an extremely
valuable and unique Scottish resource and the
majority of anglers now practise catch and
release, even if it is not asked for on the permit.
Of course you can take a few for the pot but
the sight of large baskets of trout being killed
for no reason is strongly frowned upon by
everyone.
The days of thinking the sea will provide
endless fish are now long gone and the vast
majority of local anglers only take what they
can eat and carefully return everything else.
This covers all species and with skate, shark,
tope etc catch and release is expected with
every fish. If you are on a charter boat then the
skipper will fully explain what is required. Again,
his word is law!
On some rainbow trout waters catch and
release is actually not allowed whilst on others
it is actively encouraged. The fishery will
explain the rules when you make your booking
and therefore allow you to decide what type of
fishing you want to do.
When releasing any fish then common sense
says that they should be handled as little as
possible before being returned to the water.
When handling any fish always make sure that
you wet your hands first as this will save
damaging it. Always place the fish gently into
the water and make sure that it has fully
recovered and can swim off under its own
steam before letting go.
The use of barbless hooks is strongly
encouraged and on some waters they are
compulsory. Your permit will have full details.
Catch&Release
Fish responsibly and fairly in Scotland by adhering to the `catch and release' code where required, and you will
help preserve the future of the sport in the country and uphold the high standards of etiquette that it demands.

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