The following excerpt is quoted directly from "Striper on the Fly" by Lou Tabory. This is one of the best books on technique that I have read. While the base subject matter is catching stripers using "Fly" gear the basics of structure, presentation and "hunting" are very good. You can purchase it from Amazon.com come by (clicking Here).There is currently a 30% discount on the book. We get a small commission and it helps us support the site.

"The secret to a trouble-free release is fighting the fish properly. If you pressure the fish aggressively, it will bolt from your hands when you put it back into the water. Stripers are hardy fish, more durable than most gamefish. The difficulty lies in fighting a big fish on light tackle or not applying enough pressure once the fish is beat. When a fish turns on its side, push hard to get the fish in quickly. With a very tired fish, every minute counts. Most stripers, even those that seem dead, will come back with proper care. Hold the fish by the tail and work it back and forth in the water to help it breathe. Keep the fish upright and be sure that the gill plates are moving as you force the fish through the water. If there is current, push the fish into the flow. The white water around cliffs is excellent for releasing fish because it is so full of air. I have put fish into gullies along cliffs, and they sprang to life swimming off quickly."

"Hold the fish until it swims from your hand. There is nothing worse than watching a fish sink out of reach and turn belly up. As a fish comes to life it will tighten, and the fins will flare out. You will feel the fish wanting to swim-its tail begins to beat. I want the fish to pull from my grip."

"A fish is not worth your life. There might be locations where you cannot revive a fish properly because it too dangerous to approach the water. Do the best you can, but in these locations, fight the fish so that when you dump them into the water they are lively. Along the cliffs, I have walked several hundred feet to find a good release location. It is your responsibility to take the time and effort to release a fish properly. If you feel that a fish will die, and it is of legal size, bring it home. Stripers are fine table fare, and there is nothing wrong with keeping some fish for dinner. Legal fish that are damaged, particularly those hooked and bleeding from the red gill area, should be kept."

"There are times when we all have wasted a fish. A small, nonlegal striper that is severely injured will probably die. All anglers have let fish go that they knew would not possibly survive".........."As responsible anglers, we must all strive to release fish so they are healthy. Fighting and landing a fish properly and quickly, using heavy-enough tackle, and using barbless hooks will increase the fish's chances of survival. Every fish is special and should be treated that way." End of excerpt.

Before You Get Started...

Modify Those Plugs,

Swimming plugs with three sets of treble hooks do not necessarily increase your odds of hooking into a fish, however, they definately create more of a hazard for you and the fish. How many times have you caught a fish with one set of trebles in it's mouth, another in it's head or in it's side, and a third swinging wildly as the fish flops around on the beach. With three sets of hooks you unnecessarily cause more harm to the fish and you definately increase the odds of landing a treble in your hand. Let me tell you from experience, a treble embedded in your hand really sucks. If you must buy a lure designed with three sets of trebles, alter the lure by removing the middle treble hook. This usually has no affect on the action of the lure, but if it does, try upgrading the front and rear hooks by going up one size. Doing this, in most cases, will compensate for the lost weight that resulted from the removal of the middle hook and will correct the swimming action. Now your lure has three less hooks that might injure the fish and you have three less chances of landing a hook in your finger.

For popping plugs designed with two sets of treble hooks, try removing the rear treble and replacing it with a single teaser hook. Finally for that special occasion when you walk into a Bluefish blitz, make sure you have a popper equipped with only a single hook in the rear and no treble up front. Blues mainly strike the rear plug so a single hook is all that is needed.

All of these modifications will make for a quicker and safer release.

...."Tinman"

A few more suggestions from RSA. Crimp your barbs on your hooks. It will make catching more challenging and provide a much easier and safer release. Don't drag a fish up on the sand. The abrasive sand will wipe away the protective slime and will lead to possible bacterial infection and death. And please don't kick (with your foot) a short back into the surf. Stripers have no teeth. Pick it up and walk it back into knee deep water before releasing it.