Electrofishing, a technique widely used for fish collection, is a procedure that is often followed by handling and air exposure before fish are released. In this study the pathological and physiological consequences of capture with pulsed DC (pDC) electroshock with and without the additional disturbance of air exposure were examined on rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Electroshocked fish showed no evidence of direct mortality, and skeletal damage was only induced under the most severe conditions (~600-g fish, 600 V, 20 or 40 s). Physiological disturbances induced by pDC, in the absence of physical damage, consisted of lactacidosis and stimulation of the interrenal stress response. The acidosis was likely induced by tetany during immobilization and apnea during immobilization and early recovery. In fact, the physiological disturbances induced by pDC were similar in magnitude and duration to 2–3 min of exhaustive exercise and generally more severe than responses previously reported for nonpulsed (i.e., continous) DC gear. In addition, following pDC, fish appeared to experience a mild narcosis, as was evident by a reduced response to the additional stress of air exposure.