• Don’t take the biggest specimens, they are often breeders and should be left to ensure future fish stocks are healthy.
  
• Only take what you need. Fresh fish is definitely best. There's no use filling up the freezer with fish that will not be utilised to its full potential.
  
• Rules and Regulations
  

Be aware of protected species, bag limits and season dates, check with your state fishery department:

WA - www.fish.wa.gov.au
VIC - www.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/nrenfaq.nsf/Home+Page/335C925D9FBADC10CA256E68007F3A2C?open
NSW/ACT – www.fisheries.nsw.gov.au
NT – www.fisheries.nt.gov.au
SA – www.pir.sa.gov.au/sector7.shtml
QLD - www.dpi.qld.gov.au/cps/rde/xchg/dpi/hs.xsl/28_ENA_HTML.htm
TAS - www.fisheries.nsw.gov.au

How do I handle fish?

Have an ice/saltwater slurry in a cooler ready to keep your fish in. There's no better way to ensure the quality of fish bound for your table

• Kill the fish you intend to keep quickly
  
• Avoid long playing times that exhaust fish
  
• Small fish can be removed from the water by lifting the fish on the line
  
• Larger fish should be landed using a knotless landing net
  
• Use a hookout or long nosed pliers to assist in removing hooks
  
• Fish grips may be used to restrain fish
  
• Keep the fish out of the water for the minimum time possible
  
• Hold the fish horizontally and support its body when releasing and gently place in the water
  

How do I release my catch?

• Hold the fish gently in the water when releasing fish. Fish placed back into the water this way will lay there momentarily then move off with a flick of the tail. A strong kick indicates a better chance of the fish surviving. Longer revival times, and needing to swim the fish around to aid recover, are indicators of overstressing.
  
• To reduce stress, it is recommend that fish to be released are not removed from the water or, if they are, that they are handled only with wet hands, and are only put down on wet material.