The "Guiding Principles" of Catch-n-Release include:

• Know and Obey the State Regulations of the daily Fishing Limits (by species and body of water).
  
  
• Regard fishing as a recreational pasttime, rather than as a source of food.
  
  
• Use barbless hooks or Circle Hooks.
  
  
• Employ fishing nets comprised of rubber or cotton mesh.
  
  
• Wet your hands before handling fish; dry hands (or gloves) will remove its protective mucous coating and scales. These protective layers help prevent infection by waterborne disease.
  
  
• Do not beach a fish or let it flop around the deck/bottom of the boat.
  
  
• It is best not to remove the fish from the water. If you must, be gentle and quick; do not squeeze the fish.
  
  
• Do not hold the fish by its eyes or near its gills.
  
  
• The use of Needle nose pliers can readily speed up the process to remove a deep, set hook.
  
  
• To revive the fish, hold it under the belly and by the tail - keep it in an upright position underwater - do not move the fish back and forth (sideways).
  
  
• Hold the fish facing the current (when present).
  
  
• Be patient - give the fish as much time as it needs to recover and swim away on its own strength.