Conservation is an integral part of trophy fishing. It’s also helping to shape the ethics and practice of the sport as a whole. Even though trophy fishing once involved mounting fish so that prized catches could be shown off, the modern approach is becoming much more sustainable. Smartphone cameras are now able to capture the moment when a prized catch is reeled in, allowing people to document the moment while being able to release the fish into the wild. This ensures the future of the sport itself.
Sustainable Trophy Fishing in Virtual Settings
The virtual world is a driving factor behind the rise in sustainable trophy fishing. Games like The Angler give people the opportunity to learn about fish species and ecosystems. If a player fishes too much in one particular spot, the population declines and results in fewer catches.
Even games like Fishin’ Frenzy: Even Bigger Fish and Bigger Bass Splash, some of the many fishing games available in the Paddy Power online slots collection, highlight sustainable fishing. Games like this give users the chance to reel in different species of fish, including bass and cod. The more fish symbols you land, the bigger the multiplier, reflecting the experience of landing a prized catch. 
With that said, the fish symbols stay on the reel when it is respun, meaning they can reappear on subsequent spins. This also helps to reflect the catch-and-release aspect of fishing. There are also several fishing videos on YouTube, with popular channels including TheVRFisherman. Videos like this, again, show players catching huge fish in VR, with them being released immediately after. Platforms and movements like this have helped to raise more awareness of sustainable trophy fishing while helping to bring new people into the fold.
The Future of Trophy Fishing
The future of trophy fishing is bright. By adopting catch-and-release practices, larger fish that take years to reach full maturity, like bass, marlin, and more can reproduce and this helps to support the population. Keeping large fish in the gene pool, also helps to increase the chances of even bigger fish years into the future, contributing to the long-term health and overall sustainability of the population.
Specialized gear has also been created to try and minimize harm to fish further supporting catch-and-release practices.
Barbless hooks from top fishing brands like Penn, help to reduce the overall injury done to fish when they are hooked and they also make it easier for anglers to remove the hooks. Fishing handling tools now have rubberized nets as well and this makes it easier for fishermen to handle fish gently. Tackle has even been created to support the catch and release process, as it helps to ensure that the fish aren’t stressed or exhausted during the fight. This helps to reduce the chance of post-release mortality.
Advancements like this, in combination with awareness about the benefits of catch-and-release practices, are all helping to shape trophy fishing, making it more sustainable for the future while also promoting animal welfare. This is bringing more people to the sport as well, which is bolstering its popularity.
