Tom Rowland, professional fishing guide and host of the Tom Rowland Podcast based in the Florida Keys, answers a critical question every angler needs to master: proper fish handling techniques for catch-and-release fishing across saltwater and freshwater species. In this solo How 2 Tuesday episode, Tom shares decades of hands-on experience responding to an Instagram message from an angler frustrated with seeing fish being manhandled on social media. What follows is a candid breakdown of species-specific handling methods, from the surprising catatonic behavior of certain fish when handled correctly to the biggest mistake inexperienced anglers make that kills more fish than they realize. If you've ever wondered why some fish survive release and others don't, this episode reveals the exact techniques that make the difference.
What are the proper fish handling techniques for catch-and-release fishing?
Keep fish in the water as much as possible, fight them to the boat quickly to minimize stress, never squeeze them tightly or put fingers in their gills, and use species-specific holds like grasping the tail on permit and mackerel or cradling under the pectoral fins for bonefish and trout. The best handling is no handling at all—slide your hand down the leader and shake the fly out with hemostats without ever touching the fish.
Who is Tom Rowland?
Tom Rowland is the host of the Tom Rowland Podcast, a professional fishing guide, and fitness enthusiast based in the Florida Keys with decades of experience fishing for and releasing saltwater and freshwater species across multiple fisheries.
Title Sponsor
This episode is brought to you by Star brite, the marine care products Tom relies on to protect his boats and gear in the harsh saltwater environment of the Florida Keys. When you're releasing fish properly, you need equipment that performs—every time.
The Instagram Message That Sparked This Episode
Tom received a direct message on Instagram that got straight to the point: "How about doing a how to Tuesday on proper fish handling techniques? I'm tired of seeing all these fish getting manhandled on Instagram." The message came from someone clearly frustrated with what they were seeing on social media, and Tom's response addresses the elephant in the room immediately. He makes a crucial distinction right at the start—if you're keeping the fish for dinner, handling techniques are a different conversation entirely. But for catch-and-release fishing, the techniques you use determine whether you're actually practicing conservation or just fooling yourself. Tom explains the fundamental philosophy behind why proper handling matters and sets up a framework that challenges some common assumptions about what constitutes "proper" release. The full breakdown starts at 00:01:46.
Species-Specific Holds: Why One Method Doesn't Work for All Fish
Not every fish has the same safe handling points, and treating them all the same is where anglers get into trouble. Tom walks through specific examples that reveal surprising details about fish anatomy and behavior. Barracuda require a very specific finger placement inside the gill plate—far enough in to have control, but not so far that you damage the gills or get your finger bitten off. Cobia exhibit an almost unbelievable behavior when placed in a landing net that keeps them completely motionless, but the moment you change one variable, they go crazy. Bonefish can be turned upside down to create a relaxed catatonic state that makes for perfect photos with minimal stress. Tom contrasts fish with boomerang tails like permit and wahoo that have natural handles versus softer-tailed species that require different techniques. The species-by-species breakdown starts at 00:03:15.
Hear Tom explain the catatonic state technique for bonefish and why it works
The Biggest Mistake Inexperienced Anglers Make
Tom identifies the single most common error he sees from anglers new to catch-and-release: squeezing the fish like they're using a hand gripper because they're terrified it will flop out of their hands. The result is visible in every photo—bulging eyes that tell experienced anglers that fish is probably dead. Tom describes watching people squeeze rainbow trout so tightly he's certain they're breaking ribs. The fix is counterintuitive but simple: you don't need to pick the fish up high over the boat for photos. The best images show the fish held slightly above the water with water still dripping off it, cradled gently under the pectoral fins without even wrapping your thumb around the top. Tom admits some fish will get away before you get the shot, and that's perfectly fine. The alternative—fighting a fish to exhaustion and then manhandling it—defeats the entire purpose of catch and release. The squeezing discussion and proper cradling technique starts at 00:05:42.
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SubscribeThe Best Way to Handle Fish: Don't Touch Them at All
After you've gotten the photos you need, Tom reveals the gold standard for catch-and-release that most anglers should adopt for the majority of their catches. When a bonefish, redfish, or similar species comes to the boat, you never touch it with your hands. Instead, slide your hand down the leader with hemostats or pliers, grasp the fly, and shake it out while the fish remains in the water. The fish is never touched by human hands, never lifted from the water, and experiences minimal additional stress beyond the fight itself. Tom drives this point home with a vivid analogy comparing a fish that fought quickly to the boat and was released without handling to one that ran three marathons, got picked up, slammed in the bottom of the boat, and then released. Both might survive, but only one aligns with the true purpose of catch and release. He also addresses the diminishing returns of photographing every single fish—your friends can't tell the difference between the bonefish that's an inch bigger and the one that's an inch smaller. The no-touch release method and the marathon analogy starts at 00:08:23.
Don't miss this one.
Tom's decades of guiding experience distilled into essential techniques you can use immediately.
Key Takeaways
- An Instagram message about manhandled fish prompted Tom to break down the handling techniques that separate real catch-and-release from catch-and-kill—starting with a controversial truth about fish destined for the cooler
- Every fish species has a specific safe handling method, from barracuda gill plate placement that avoids both injury and finger loss to the surprising catatonic behavior of cobia in landing nets
- The biggest mistake inexperienced anglers make isn't dropping fish—it's squeezing them so hard their eyes bulge, essentially breaking their ribs in an attempt to hold on for photos
- Bonefish can be turned upside down into a relaxed catatonic state, allowing for perfect low-stress photos when held partially in the water with water dripping off them
- The gold standard for catch-and-release after you have your photos: slide your hand down the leader, use hemostats to remove the fly, and never touch the fish with your hands at all
- Tom compares proper versus improper handling using a marathon analogy that makes the stress difference impossible to ignore—and explains why fighting fish quickly matters as much as handling them correctly
- Your friends can't tell the difference between bonefish that are an inch apart in size, so after you get a few good shots, stop taking photos and just fish
Final Thoughts from Tom
This episode came directly from listener feedback, and I'm glad it did. The question about proper fish handling deserves way more than a short podcast can cover, but I wanted to hit the fundamentals that will immediately improve your catch-and-release survival rates. I've spent decades on the water watching fish behavior, learning what works and what doesn't, and I can tell you the difference between an angler who handles fish properly and one who doesn't is obvious the moment you see their photos.
The techniques I share here—from the catatonic state trick with bonefish to the proper way to cradle a trout—these aren't theories. They're methods I use every single day on the water with clients. And the no-touch release after you've gotten your photos? That's the standard we should all be working toward. If you care about the fishery, if you want these fish to spawn and create the next generation, then handling them correctly isn't optional.
I know this episode barely scratches the surface, and I welcome the discussion. If you have specific questions about handling certain species or situations I didn't cover, reach out. This conversation needs to continue. In the meantime, get out there, catch a lot of fish, and let them go safe and healthy. Listen to the whole thing—there are details in the species-specific sections that could save the next fish you catch.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the proper way to hold a fish for a photo?
Hold the fish slightly above the water, not high over the boat, with water still dripping off it. Grasp the tail firmly and cradle the fish under the pectoral fins without squeezing or wrapping your thumb around the top. Take a quick photo and immediately return the fish to the water.
Should you put your fingers in a fish's gills?
For most catch-and-release situations, no. With larger fish like barracuda, you can slip a finger inside the gill plate without touching the gills themselves, but going deeper will damage the gills and likely kill the fish. Keep your hands out of the gills whenever possible.
How do you handle a bonefish properly?
Turn the bonefish upside down in the water to induce a relaxed catatonic state. Grasp the tail and cradle it under the pectoral fins, lifting it only partially out of the water for a quick photo. For subsequent fish, slide your hand down the leader and remove the fly with hemostats without touching the fish at all.
Why does fighting a fish quickly matter for catch and release?
Fighting a fish to exhaustion before release is like making it run three marathons, then handling it, then expecting it to survive. A fish fought quickly to the boat experiences far less stress and has a much higher survival rate than one fought for an extended period, even with perfect handling afterward.
What is the biggest mistake anglers make when releasing fish?
Squeezing the fish too tightly out of fear it will flop away. This causes visible damage like bulging eyes and can break ribs. The solution is to keep fish in the water as much as possible, cradle them gently without squeezing, and accept that some will get away before you get a photo.
Related Episodes
Tom discusses the broader conservation philosophy that makes proper fish handling techniques essential for preserving fisheries
Techniques for minimizing fight time to reduce stress on fish before the handling process even begins
Tom breaks down fishing techniques for the species referenced throughout this handling discussion
Understanding which landing tool minimizes stress for different species and release scenarios
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The marine care products Tom trusts in the harsh Florida Keys saltwater environment. When you're focused on releasing fish properly, your gear needs to perform flawlessly.
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Tom Rowland — Host of the Tom Rowland Podcast, professional fishing guide, Florida Keys
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About this Guest
Tom Rowland
Tom Rowland is the host of the Tom Rowland Podcast and a professional fishing guide based in the Florida Keys. With decades of hands-on experience targeting saltwater and freshwater species, Tom has developed extensive expertise in catch-and-release techniques, species-specific fish handling, and conservation-minded angling practices. In this solo How 2 Tuesday episode, he shares the handling methods he uses daily with clients to ensure released fish survive and contribute to healthy fisheries. Tom's practical approach combines guiding experience with a deep commitment to preserving the sport for future generations.
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