Handle It Right, Photograph It Well: Fish Care at Gawsworth Fisheries
Landing a memorable fish is one of the best moments in angling. Whether it is a powerful carp, a personal-best catfish or another impressive catch, it is only natural to want a photograph before returning it safely to the water.
However, the welfare of the fish must always come first. Good preparation and careful handling will protect your catch while also helping you take a photograph worthy of a place on the Gawsworth Fisheries Gallery.
Be prepared before you lift the fish
The best fish photographs rarely happen by accident. Before lifting the fish from the water, make sure your unhooking mat, sling, camera or phone is ready.
If someone else is taking the photograph, explain what you need beforehand. This keeps everything calm, avoids unnecessary delays and helps to reduce the amount of time the fish spends out of the water.
Keep the fish safely in a suitably sized landing net in the water while you prepare. When everything is ready, you can unhook, photograph and return it as quickly as possible.
Aim to complete the process within 30 to 60 seconds. If anything is not ready, keep the fish in the water rather than rushing.
Always use barbless hooks
Barbless hooks help to reduce damage to the fish’s delicate mouth and make unhooking quicker and easier.
They are required at Gawsworth Fisheries and are an important part of responsible angling. A hook that can be removed smoothly means less stress for the fish and a faster, safer release.
Wet your hands before handling a fish
Always wet your hands thoroughly before touching a fish. Dry or warm hands can damage the protective slime layer covering its skin. This natural coating helps to protect the fish from infection and disease.
Your unhooking mat, weigh sling and any other equipment that comes into contact with the fish should also be wetted before use.
Use a proper unhooking mat or sling
Every fish should be placed on a large, pre-wetted unhooking mat or sling. This provides a soft and secure surface while you remove the hook, check the fish and prepare for a photograph.
The mat is particularly important when handling larger carp and catfish. These fish are heavy, and their bodies need to be properly supported at all times.
Never place a fish directly onto dry grass, gravel, concrete or any other hard surface.
Stay low when taking photographs
Always kneel or crouch over the unhooking mat when holding or photographing a fish, especially a large carp.
Holding a fish while standing creates an unnecessary risk. If it suddenly struggles, it could fall from height and suffer a serious injury. Large fish are also not built to support their full weight vertically out of the water, which can put pressure on their internal organs.
Staying low allows you to lower the fish safely onto the mat if it begins to move. It also makes for a better photograph, bringing you closer to the fish and helping your catch remain the focus of the image.
Support the fish properly
A fish should be cradled broadly and supported underneath its body. Never hold it only by its mouth, gills, tail or fins.
For a heavier fish, keep it close to the unhooking mat and support it with one hand beneath the pectoral fin area and the other beneath the anal fin area. This “comfort hold” spreads the fish’s weight more evenly and protects its body and internal organs.
If the fish begins to flap or struggle, do not try to grip it more tightly. Gently lower it onto the mat. Covering its eyes briefly with a clean, wet cloth can also help it to settle.
Keep the fish wet and limit time out of the water
Fish should remain wet throughout the entire process. Only lift your catch for the few seconds needed to take the photograph.
If the fish has been out of the water for too long, return it to the landing net and allow it time to recover before trying again. A photograph is never more important than the welfare of the fish.
Once you have your picture, return the fish carefully to the water. Give it time to regain its strength and allow it to swim away when it is ready.
Take a photograph worthy of the Gawsworth Gallery
A good catch photograph does not need to be complicated. Stay low, support the fish correctly and make sure both the angler and the entire fish can be seen clearly.
Preparing your camera in advance means you can take a few quick photographs without keeping the fish out of the water unnecessarily. A well-handled fish usually looks calmer and healthier in the photograph too.
Your picture could then become part of the Gawsworth Fisheries Gallery, where we celebrate the fantastic fish caught across our waters and the anglers who catch them.
If you have landed an impressive fish or achieved a new personal best at Gawsworth Fisheries, make sure you capture the moment safely and share it with us. Include a few details about your catch, such as the species, weight and pool where it was caught.
Handle it carefully, take a great photograph and your catch could be the next one featured in our gallery!
Handle it carefully, photograph it well and return it safely.