Here's an interesting article. It's a scientific study of various catch-and-release methods, with information on which ones are the most effective and/or humane:
http://www.acuteangling.com/Reference/C&RMortality.html
It says, for example, to reduce fish mortality rates, 1) you should use artificial bates, 2) if artificial bates are not possible, you should use circle hooks instead of J-hooks, and 3) you should use a Boga-grip tool, not a net, to land the fish.
(I'll be honest--I'm a vegetarian, and I don't fish
. But I was reading this thread and realized that
a lot of people who keep fish as pets also go sport fishing. And I figured that, despite our differences, we're all interested in keeping fish ecosystems healthy and treating fish as humanely as possible, which are the main benefits of catch-and-release. So I thought I'd share an article that all you anglers might find interesting and useful. Cheers!)