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View videos to learn about freshwater fishing, hatchery production, research, and management in the Garden State.
Featured Video
How to Hold a Trout
May 9, 2024
To ensure proper handling of trout when fishing, here are some tips:
🎣 Minimize fight time: Avoid letting the fish struggle while being reeled in to reduce stress.
🎣 Use a rubberized net: Rubberized nets are designed to minimize friction and preserve the fish’s protective slime coating, which acts as a defense against infections.
🎣 Keep them wet: Trout rely on their gills to breathe, so keep them submerged in water and unhook them quickly.
🎣 Wet your hands: Before handling the fish, wet your hands to protect the slime coating.
🎣 Scoop the fish gently: Use an open hand to scoop the trout from underneath, avoiding squeezing or harming the fish. You can also grab the base of the tail to maintain control while scooping the underbelly with your other hand.
