Recreational angling affects hundreds of millions of fish annually. The evidence on fish pain and stress from hooking informs best practice for anglers who care about the welfare of their catch.
The welfare of fish in recreational angling deserves serious consideration given the strength of evidence for fish sentience. Hooking causes tissue damage and triggers pain responses measurable through both physiology and behaviour. The stress of fighting while hooked depletes energy reserves and causes lactic acid accumulation. Handling outside water causes hypoxia. Deep hooking injuries and gill damage from improper hook removal cause lasting harm or death in released fish. Catch-and-release practices, while intended as welfare-positive, do not eliminate welfare costs and may increase overall suffering if poorly executed. The welfare-minimising approach involves barbless hooks, minimal air exposure, in-water handling where possible, and rapid kill for kept fish using techniques producing immediate insensibility.