We have been asked to remind everyone of the importance of handling fish carefully when practising catch and release.
The best practice is to keep the fish in the water at all times and remove the hook while it is in the net. If you are photographing it, just hold the fish very briefly out of the water like this April springer. Hold your breath while it is out of the water and if you need to breathe in, it has been out of the water for too long!
Please do not drag it over rough gravel or take it out onto the bank for a photo. Careful handling at the catch and release stage leads to minimal loses of fish.
The AST youtube below gives great guidence on fish handling.
