Via iStockphoto / @emilyjean0901 TikTok
A woman made the 'catch of her life.' Then, she decided to do something that viewers find both heartwarming and commendable.
A woman caught the biggest salmon of her life—then did something unbelievable.
Salmon can get pretty big. Depending on the species, they can be several feet long and well over a hundred pounds. The U.S. Geological Survey notes that Chinook/King salmon can be up to 58 inches, or 1.5 meters, in length and weigh in at 126 pounds, equal to about 57.2 kilograms.
But just because you’ve caught a big fish, that doesn’t mean that you should keep it. One woman recently had an emotional moment while catching the biggest salmon of her life. Then, she decided to do something incredible.
‘2 Hours Of Fighting’ To Catch Salmon
In a video with over 346,000 views, TikTok user Emily (@emilyjean0901) shows herself standing in a river. In her hands is a net, in which a massive salmon can be seen.
“Holy …! Oh! Oh, my God,” she says, trying to lift her catch. “This is the biggest fish.”
Emily then struggles to lift the animal, calling it “a record.” As she does so, she begins to cry.
In the video’s caption, Emily reveals that this was more than just a good catch to her.
“Two hours. Two hours of fighting, holding on, digging deep, and feeling every bit of the battle. And in the end, she broke me. Not because I lost, but because of what that moment meant,” she writes.
“When I finally got her close enough to see her, it was more than just the size of the fish or the fight it took to land her. It was the kind of moment that stops you in your tracks and reminds you just how incredible this world is,” the caption continues. “She was dropping eggs, so as much as I wanted to hold on to that moment, I knew she belonged back in the river.”
She Releases The Biggest Salmon Catch Of Her Life
Seeing that the fish was laying eggs, Emily decided to release the creature back into the river from which she caught it.
“For a few minutes, she lay spent, just like me,” she recounts. “Then, with one final flick of her tail, she disappeared into the dark water.”
“Tears in my eyes, a full heart, and a memory I’ll carry forever,” Emily concludes. “Some catches are about more than the fish. Sometimes, the greatest part is letting her go.”
Why Should You Release A Mother Salmon?
Emily’s decision to release the salmon leaves more than just an emotional impact.
As noted by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, salmon return to freshwater to reproduce. Studies have shown that larger salmon, like one caught by Emily, tend to produce more eggs than smaller ones.
This means that, by releasing the salmon, Emily may have played a role in allowing potentially thousands of new fish to be born.
Whether you should release the salmon you catch, however, depends on a few factors. Depending on the state, your licensure, and the specific salmon, you may be required to release the fish back after catching it. But even if you’re allowed to keep the mother salmon, you may want to return it to the water like Emily did in order to support the ongoing population.
If you choose to release the fish, however, you should follow some advice to ensure its survival in the wild. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recommends handling the fish as little as possible, avoiding touching the fish’s gills and eyes, and, if necessary, supporting and resuscitating the fish by facing it into the current or pulling it headfirst through the water until it can regain enough strength to swim away on its own.
Viewers Offer Their Support
In the comments section, users voiced their support for Emily’s actions.
“I am so glad that you made the selfless decision to release her,” reads one comment. “Bravo, know that you are creating this memory for other[s] to experience.”
“The happiness you show is magical. Beautiful, beautiful catch.. and even better to watch you float between pure happiness, ecstasy and tears,” shared another. “Love this.”
“A lot of people fish.. and a few are fisherman/fisherwomen.. This is definitely a fisherman/woman!” exclaimed a third. “Love her pure excitement.”
BroBible reached out to Emily via TikTok direct message and comment.