The angling method used can have a significant bearing on the survival rate of released fish. Typically those methods which use a single barbless hook have better survival.

Barbless hooks do less damage, are easier to remove and reduce handling time which can be in important factor influencing survival. Barbed hooks can have the barb pinched with a pliars to allow a fish to be released more easily. Where it is not possible to use barbless hooks, hooks used should preferably be single. The fishing tackle used should be strong enough to enable the fish to be brought in quickly. taking account of the prevailing conditions and the possible size of the fish that might be caught.

Some species can be effectively fished for with circle hooks (especially shark species) which make for easy release and rarely result in deeply hooked fish.