This work provides a mathematical model for a predator‐prey system with general functional response and recruitment, which also includes capture on both species, and analyzes its qualitative dynamics. The model is formulated considering a population growth based on a general form of recruitment and predator functional response , as well as the capture on both prey and predators at a rate proportional to their populations. In this sense, it is proved that the dynamics and bifurcations are determined by a two‐dimensional threshold parameter. Finally, numerical simulations are performed using some ecological observations on two real species, which validate the theoretical results obtained. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.