Our purpose

Why Release Over 20?

Our Mission

Influence Anglers to Follow Personal Catch and Creel Limits More Restrictive than the Law Allows, by using Rewards, Positive Reinforcement, and Facts backed by Scientific Research.

Our Vision

Create an Improved and Sustainable Abundance of Fish for Future Generations to Catch.

The case for releasing

Who doesn't want more trophy fish to catch?

If you listen to any old-timer, they'll tell you about the abundance of fish back in the day - so many fish that anglers believed they could never put a dent in the population. With the benefit of scientific advancement and hindsight, we now know that's simply not true. The science behind the resource tells us there are compelling reasons to Release Over 20.

Female fish

For most species, the largest trophy fish are female - critical to reproduction and population health.

Survivor genetics

Large fish have survived angling pressure, predation, and cold snaps. Their genetics are worth propagating.

Catch & release works

When we follow best practices for fish handling, released fish survive and contribute to future populations.

Growing pressure

Unprecedented angler numbers, improved technology, and reduced habitat mean regulations can't keep pace alone.

The challenges are compounding - side-scan sonar, live scope, YouTube tutorials, coastal construction, and runoff all act as multipliers. Our state regulations simply aren't keeping up.

More anglers on the waterImproving fish-finding techReduced coastal habitatIncreasing pollutionRegulations lagging behind

You can make an impact on a personal level, immediately, starting today. Set your own upper slot. Tell people what you're doing and why. That is our philosophy.

What is Release Over 20? - Our story in full

Professionally produced · releaseover20.org

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Our story

How it started

The concept of Release Over 20 began as an epiphany around 2012 when I inquired about the possibility of an upper-slot for spotted seatrout in SC, and was told it would never happen. My purpose was somewhat selfish - I wanted more "gator" trout in Charleston, and knew the bigger fish were usually female and carried survivor genes important for future generations.

Frustrated, it occurred to me that even though the law allows it doesn't mean I couldn't make my own upper-slot and follow it as if it were law. I didn't have to wait for anyone. I could do it myself, immediately. So I did - setting my own upper-slot at 20" and releasing every fish over that length to this day.

Fast forward to 2020, and a podcast appearance on Eastern Current sparked something. An interested listener - Joe Neely from CCA North Carolina - contacted me and encouraged me to make this an initiative. That was the kick-in-the-butt I needed. We came up with the name Release Over 20 and a logo.

Since its inception in May 2020, the initiative has grown beyond my expectations, embraced by anglers from Texas to Maine. In Fall 2021 I built it into a standalone non-profit and brought on partners Kerry Browning and Adam Fahrer to help build the organization.

- David Fladd, Founder

The people behind it