Helpful
Resources

Resources for Anglers

There are many organizations promoting best release practices. Check out some of these resources available on how to help reef fish survive.

Brochures
Return ‘Em Right
FWC
Texas Sea Grant
Resources for Florida Anglers

UF/IFAS Extension and Florida Sea Grant have teamed up with FWC to offer the “Florida Friendly Angler” course. This is a FREE online course for both new anglers and experienced fishermen who are looking to up their game.

Are you a Florida based for-hire fishing charter?

Check out the Florida Friendly Fishing Guide Program to become a certified guide. This online educational program consists of 8 do-at-your-own pace interactive modules covering topics such as best practices for catch and release fishing, fisheries management, environmental ethics, seafood safety and more! Florida Friendly Fishing Guides provide a richer fishing experience for their clients through their angling expertise and their dedication to environmental stewardship.

Planning a trip to the Gulf?

Visit the same link and scroll down to find a list of certified captains who have completed the program.

Supporting Science and Publications by Topic

Best release practices are based on scientific findings. Below are some publications informing release recommendations.

Angler Insights
Awareness, Attitudes, Perceptions, and Use of Best Fishing Practices by Recreational Reef Fish Anglers in the Gulf of Mexico – Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission, 2022
Recreational Angler Attitudes and Perceptions Regarding the Use of Descending Devices in Southeast Reef Fish Fisheries – Curtis et al. 2019
2017 FWC Citizen Science Descending Device Study Final Report
Venting and Reef Fish Survival: Perceptions and Participation Rates among Recreational Anglers in the Northern Gulf of Mexico – Scyphers et al. 2013
Depredation
Depredation of Demersal Reef Fishes Released with Descender Devices is Uncommon off North Carolina, USA – Runde et al. 2022
Descender Devices or Treat Tethers: Does Barotrauma Mitigation Increase Opportunities for Depredation? – Drymon et al. 2020
Red Snapper
Discard Mortality of Red Snapper Released with Descender Devices in the U.S. South Atlantic – Runde et al. 2021
Quantifying Delayed Mortality from Barotrauma Impairment in Discarded Red Snapper Using Acoustic Telemetry – Curtis et al. 2015
Venting or Rapid Recompression Increase Survival and Improve Recovery of Red Snapper with Barotrauma – Drumhiller et al. 2014
Other Species
Effectiveness of descending devices to mitigate the effects of barotrauma among rockfishes (Sebastes spp.) in California recreational fisheries – Bellquist et al. 2019
Effectiveness of Venting and Descender Devices at Increasing Rates of Post Release Survival of Black Sea Bass – Rudershausen et al. 2019
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