Releasing a caught fish isn’t as simple as tossing it overboard
Anglers release an astounding number of fish each year. Knowing how best to ensure their survival is key. (Adrian E. Gray/)This story originally featured on Sportfishing MagazineThanks to a burgeoning conservation ethic, many saltwater anglers choose to release their catches. Others do so because of fishery-management rules, or because it’s required in tournament regulations. As a result, anglers release many, many saltwater fish every year. But just how many?In my home state of Georgia, anglers released more than 1 million red drum during 2018, according to the Marine Recreational Information Program. For the entire United States, that number climbs to 18 million redfish released. The MRIP estimate for the number of released fish of all species during 2018 is an astounding 605 million.While we optimistically believe that most of these fish survive, the reality is much more complicated.Multiple factors, often combined, determine the fate of a released fish, such as...