Catch-and-release fishing is a common practice in recreational fishing, aimed at reducing harm to fish. A recent symposium highlighted key themes in catch-and-release research, including the need to better understand how catch-and-release affects fish populations, variations in fishing practices, and animal welfare concerns. By improving study designs, strategies can be developed to minimize stress and harm to fish during catch-and-release. These strategies can help sustain and enhance recreational fishing resources for anglers and managers.