Conservation

When anglers first started flying flags in the 1960s, there wasn’t much attention paid to safely releasing the fish. Why would there be? There seemed to be more than enough fish to go around. However, as commercial and recreational fishing put more and more of a strain on hundreds of gamefish species worldwide, conservation groups and fisherman alike started practicing more catch and release fishing. At Shoreline Fish Flags, we are huge advocates of catch and release fishing, and helping to preserve and grow our fisheries for future generations. 

Once people started to realize the impact that fishing had both commercially and recreationally, flags came to signify a safe and clean release of a fish. Flying a flag upside down traditionally  indicated the successful release of a fish while flying it upright meant a successful capture, but most large pelagic gamefish like marlin and sailfish swim away unharmed these days. Flags are simply a great way to commemorate a successful catch, release, and a great days fishing. 

Being advocates of catch and release fishing, we love to see our flags used in place of harvesting a fish whenever possible! Catching a slot snook can be hard enough as is–and each fish we keep only makes it harder to catch the next one. Social media makes it easier than ever to share our catch, and showing other anglers while still on the water is just as easy. Catch a fish, unpack your flag, clip it on. The rest speaks for itself.