Put the health of the fish first in everything you do. This means keeping the fish wet before and after the photo is taken, and having your camera ready with your settings dialed in prior to the fish hitting the net. Fish photos with the fish in the water often look much better than the traditional “grip and grin,” but if you do decide to lift the fish out of the water make sure it is for a very brief time (1–2 seconds is ideal).

When possible, set the angler and fish so that they are facing the direction of the sun but not looking directly into the sun. The best lighting happens during the “golden hours,” which occur 1–2 hours after sunrise and 1–2 hours before sunset. From my experience, most fish photos seem to be taken during the daylight hours due to how brief the golden hour windows are. Lighting is hard to control when you’re taking photos of fish as you can’t entirely control what time of day fish will be caught. Cloudy days are your friend as overcast conditions can offer some of the best dynamic lighting and sunsets.

In my opinion, shooting with a fast aperture of 2.0–3.5 and focusing on the eye of the fish will create the best and most professional, dreamy-looking photos. The angler will be slightly blurred, but the viewer’s attention will be drawn to the fish. When shooting with a higher f-stop, everything is more in focus and it can be hard for the viewer to focus on any one element. In an effort to keep the fish out of the water for as little time as possible, I stray away from shooting in manual mode and rely on autofocus combined with taking many photos in rapid-fire succession. SD cards can handle a ton of photos and it’s better to have more options when picking the best photo.

I prefer having the angler in the water whenever possible, either wading up to their thighs or kneeling down on their knees when in shallow water. This is especially important when taking the fish out of the water, as hoisting a fish 3–4 feet above the surface of the water doesn’t look as good and gives a sense that the angler isn’t exhibiting good fish-handling practices. This is far less important with warmwater species, and isn’t always possible (especially when fishing from a boat). When taking photos, get to the same level as the angler/fish so that you are taking the photo from a level perspective and not shooting down or up at the subject. Always keep the entirety of the angler and fish in the frame, and be aware of any landscape or background features you’d like to include or avoid. Nobody likes a photo with the fish’s tail cut off or an unsightly landscape in the background!

Have the angler keep the fish in the water until it’s time to take the photo, either by holding the fish or using a net. Grab the fish by the tail with as few fingers showing as possible and support the weight of the fish around the pectoral fin. Placing the pectoral fin between your fingers can be a great way to ensure you don’t lose your grip on a big fish. When it’s time to take the photo, have the angler look at the fish and smile—I find this also helps focus the viewer’s attention on the fish and gives a feeling of admiration on the part of the angler. Lifting a fish out of the water and smiling at the camera while the photographer focuses on the angler’s face gives a feeling of boasting on the part of the angler and puts the fish as a secondary point of focus/attention.

While netting, landing, and handling fish there are many unique moments that often don’t involve the angler at all. A close-up shot of a fish’s tail with the sun behind it, a high five as the fish swims away, the splash of the fish release, and so on. Keep your eyes peeled for any moments that strike a chord with you and fire away with the shutter. You’ll often be surprised which photo ends up being your favorite when you get back to editing them.

At the end of the day, the best fishing photos are the ones that honor both the fish and the moment. By putting the fish’s health first, paying attention to light and focus, and experimenting with composition and perspective, you’ll not only capture better images—you’ll tell a more authentic story. Whether it’s a quick snapshot shared with friends or a frame-worthy shot that lives on your wall, taking the time to shoot with care ensures that your photos reflect the respect, beauty, and joy that come with time on the water.