These steps help you return a fish to the water so it can be caught again. They are from The Complete Idiot's Guide to Fishing Basics (Alpha).
* Land your fish as soon as you can. Don't play the fish to exhaustion. Keep it in the water as long as possible while you remove the hook.
* Handle it carefully. Wet your hands. Be careful of the fish's dorsal and pectoral spines. Some fish have sharp spines on their fins.
* Gently remove the hook. Use pliers or forceps. Barbless hooks are easier to remove.
* Don't throw the fish back. Cradle it in your hands while moving it slowly forward and backward so water flows through its mouth and gills. Release the fish once it shows it can swim on its own.
