How to correctly hold a fish for a photo

Fishing photos are a big thing these days. Everyone wants to share their success. You can hold a fish close to the camera to make it look bigger, you can do trick things with filters to make it looks prettier, and you can put different lures in the fish’s mouth to promote one brand of gear or another.

But the one thing you really must do is hold the fish properly to reduce doing damage and maximing its survival. Fisheries NT recently posted some tips about this and we thought we’d share them with our fishing fraternity.

FIVE FISHING PHOTO TIPS
There are a few things to consider when taking your “catch of the day” photo.
>> Minimise how long the fish is out of the water.
>> Be organised with all your equipment and have it ready to go before the fish is brought on board.
>> Wetting your hands before handling a fish is also important as dry hands can remove the fish’s protective ‘slime’ coat.
>> If you want to lay the fish down on the boat deck or a measuring mat, wet it down first and ensure the surface is not hot.
>> When holding your catch for a photo support the fish's weight horizontally by using both hands while being careful to avoid any spikes or teeth.

Please don’t hold the fish vertically by the jaw or suspend it from the fishing line and hook. A fish cannot support its body weight out of the water and holding it vertically can damage its spine and jaws.

Remember, the longer a fish is out of water the less likely it is to survive. And in-water fishing photos are on-trend these days. So get a waterproof camera and/or action camera.

For more information on best practices releasing and handling fish download the NT Fishing Mate app or visit
NT Fisheries tips and info.