Originally featured in Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine September 2023 issue by Nick Haddad Return ‘Em Right Sustainable Fisheries Communications Manager New regulations for venting and descending reef fish have sparked conversation and controversy across the Gulf. From Facebook fishing groups to online forums and on-the-water fodder, everyone seems to be an expert...
Capt. Dylan Hubbard of Hubbard’s Marina dives into the upcoming snapper season and how anglers should be prepared with a venting tool or a descending device that’s rigged and ready to use on released fish that show signs of barotrauma. Release mortality could be very high when handling certain types of fish like red snapper...
Originally featured in Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine May 2023 issue by Nick Haddad Return ‘Em Right Sustainable Fisheries Communications Manager Required Gear: Don’t Let the Law Ruin Your Day If you are an avid offshore angler, you’ve likely been hearing a lot about venting and descending requirements lately. Last year, the DESCEND Act became effective for...
by Frank Sargeant | Apr 13, 2023 Published in Great Days Outdoors May 2023 issue Reef species are so popular on the table that the last thing most of us want to think about is releasing them after the catch. But with tight harvest rules on most species these days, catch and release is a part of nearly...
Fishing reefs and wrecks in Marathon and the Florida Keys is as common as the postcard sunsets. But bottom fishing can bring with it an all-too-common sight: a deep water fish floating away after being released. It’s called barotrauma, where the fish’s body cavity expands and distorts, leaving them helpless at the surface. Initiatives are...
Tom Rowland Podcast – Episode #744 Nick Haddad is the Sustainable Fisheries Communications Manager for Return ‘Em Right which is a new program that is the leading voice for tackling catch and release mortality due to barotrauma in the Gulf. Their mission is to improve reef fish survival by equipping anglers with the knowledge and...
How the Program Started and Why It Matters By: Marie Head, Sean Wilms, Leo Eguia The For-Hire At Sea Observer Program began in Florida more than 15 years ago and now spans every Gulf state. The program was developed to better understand the recreational fishing sector, especially catch and discard rates, providing fisheries managers and...
The Early Life of Reef Fish By: Nick Haddad How we fish and the species we pursue often evolves over time. Many anglers start their journey inshore targeting trout, redfish and other coastal species before venturing deeper into the offshore world. This transition through our fishing lives is not all that uncommon to the lifecycle...
Media contact: — Nicholas Haddad, Return ‘Em Right program director, 352-327-1750, n.haddad@ufl.edu Return ‘Em Right, the angler-led program dedicated to improving fish survival after release, today announced its expansion into the South Atlantic, bringing conservation-focused education and release tools to reef fish anglers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida’s east coast. As recreational...
Advancing Healthier Fisheries Across the Southeast By: Nick Haddad Recreational fishing is a cornerstone of coastal communities, and responsible angling practices are essential to ensure the long-term sustainability of reef fish populations. One of the simplest efforts anglers can do to support healthy fisheries is to take care of the fish they release by giving...
More Than Best Practices By: Charlie Robertson A lot of people think of Return ‘Em Right as just an outreach program on the surface. While giving out free gear, training, and teaching anglers about best release practices is a big part of what we do, there is a lot more happening behind the scenes of...
By: Jaz McKibben Since 2024, Return ‘Em Right has been hosting an annual summer contest, and we’re back with opportunities for anglers to win again this year! From June 1, 2026 – July 31, 2026 anglers can submit photos of their summer catches on descending devices to compete for up to $2,000 in prizes. By...
By: Natalie Matthews Return ‘Em Right Launches New Gear Distribution Model The Return ‘Em Right program is evolving to a new gear distribution model designed to reach even more anglers and strengthen conservation outcomes. Beginning on May 13th, 2026, anglers will have the opportunity to receive release gear while covering only the shipping and...
By: Eric Vichich How an Ancient Fishing Practice is Helping Fish and Anglers Today. If you’ve ever reeled in a grouper or snapper only to see it floating helplessly on the surface after release, you know the sinking feeling of “discard mortality”. As offshore anglers, we want to ensure the fish we release today are...
Story originally published in Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine. By: Nick Haddad Separating Fact from Fiction. Return ‘Em Right has been publicly operating for over four years now. In that time, and across countless presentations, tournaments and boat shows, I’ve heard it all when it comes to barotrauma and best release practices. But when it comes...
By: Nick Haddad Who Is Ryan Morie? Over the past decade, YouTube and social media have completely reshaped the fishing world. Whether you’re a hardcore angler or someone who enjoys watching fishing videos between trips, chances are you’ve come across Ryan Morie. We’ve had the opportunity to fish with Ryan not once, but twice, and...
