There has been a lot of literature lately regarding the benefits of the use of gloves while fishing catch and release. Gloves allow you to grip the fish without having to tightly squeeze it, avoiding damage to its vital organs. Anyone who has every tried to hold a thrashing fish or even a still fish with bare hands understands that this can be difficult to do, and physically it is very hard on the fish. Always wet your glove before handling your catch to avoid removing the fish's protective coat of slime. Fish scales are covered by a mucous layer which helps prevent infections. Rough handling, especially with dry hands, damages the mucous layer and reduces the chances of the fish surviving after release.
We make fishing gloves for both warm weather and cold weather conditions that not only protect your hands from the elements, but also help make the process of release easier and safer for the fish.
We have donated gloves to biologists in Florida who are running specific tests on various fish species regarding the impact of handling fish with bare hands compared to handling them with gloves. We will be getting results later this year.