catch-and-releaseadj.n.
/ˌkatʃ(ə)n(d)rᵻˈliːs/, U.S. /ˌkɛtʃənrəˈlis/, /ˌkætʃənrəˈlis/ Angling (originally North American).
A. adj.
Designating a type of fishing in which anglers release fish back into the water alive immediately after catching them, in order to sustain stocks; of or relating to this method.
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the world > food and drink > hunting > fishing > type or method of fishing > [adjective] > other methods of fishing
Nottingham1898
catch-and-release1960
1960 N.Y. Times 21 Apr. l37 Fishing-for-fun streams..[have] the additional restriction that no fish may be killed. It is strictly a catch-and-release affair.
1964 Berkshire Eagle (Pittsfield, Mass.) 19 May 3 a/ New Hampshire is the latest state to give catch and-release fishing a trial.
1971 Jrnl. Water Pollution Control Federation 43 1436/1 Executive Order..to allow catch-and-release fishing in the St. Clair River and Lake St. Clair.
1990 Salt Water Sportsman Dec. 13/2 The catch-and-release ethic is not as strong in some countries as it is in the U.S.
2005 S. Sanchez Introd. Saltwater Fly Tying 99/1 This area is strictly catch and release, and all fish must be returned to the river immediately.
B. n.
The catch-and-release method of fishing.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > fishing > type or method of fishing > [noun] > other methods of fishing
tickling1616
twitchelling1689
yair-fishing1796
ice-fishing1842
foul-hooking1860
pointing1860
fish-wood1861
muddying1877
snatching1878
roll casting1897
jack fishing1899
cod jigging1921
free spooling1937
noodling1937
electrofishing1950
shocker1953
ghost fishing1963
catch-and-release1973
1973 Frederick (Maryland) Post 26 Dec. c2/1 Catch-and-release is not a new idea by any means. Nor is it limited to Maryland.
1976 Yellowstone Explorer July 3/4 With the increased emphasis on ‘catch and release’ in Yellowstone, a new sport has arisen here—fish-watching.
1987 Gourmet Apr. 56/1 Although catch-and-release is the general rule, fishing expert Hugh McDowell remembers a particular July day when he took his limit.
1990 Independent 9 June 45/3 The Federation of Fly Fishers is advertising for a motto to popularise catch-and-release.
2010 N.Y. Times Mag. 22 Aug. 20/1 The angling world is divided into environmentalists who practice catch-and-release and the more gung-ho crowd they refer to as ‘fish killers’.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2018; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adj.n.1960