Catching multiple SBT in an outing is common in southwest Victoria, so many anglers practice catch and release – which means looking after it so it survives.
I use a large landing net with a soft silicone bag, which helps control the fish when landing it and prevents damage to its skin and scales.
I also use single hooks on all my stickbait lures – they’re easier to remove from the fish, cause less damage to its mouth, and reduce bleeding. This means the fish spends less time out of the water before release and has a better chance of surviving.
