40 million Florida saltwater fishing trips annually involve catch and release.

40 million saltwater fishing trips take place annually in Florida, where strict regulations encourage catch and release. Over half of the caught fish, including species like grouper, snapper, and hogfish, are returned to the water. To ensure reef fish survival, marine fisheries specialist Angela Collins advises anglers to minimize handling time, avoid touching gills and slime coating, and revive the fish in oxygenated water before releasing.

April 17, 2024
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