Bluegill dropped below deck

[Huron Angler]

I'm sorry to say that my fishing buddy dropped a 3" blue gill and it flopped it's way under the deck of my boat. The deck is permanently attached and is not going to be removed.

It is not easily retrievable...and yes we have tried a coathanger.

So I'm curious...who has had this SHT happen before and how long until it dries out and stops smelling?

 

[pduquette]

Re: Bluegill dropped below deck

Go to your garrage/HD and get a flexible grabber - the kind you use to pick up bolts/parts you dropped into tight areas when your fingers get clumsy . You should be able to guide it with a small inspection mirror , or just keep trying blind grabs. peter

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Bluegill dropped below deck

Going to smell for a long long time if you don't get it out !!!
I like the flexible grabber idea though.
Go for it !!
Good Luck.

 

[kend301]

Re: Bluegill dropped below deck

UMMM If your floor has a soft spot could be a good time to repair it , the fish is probably dead center of the hull at the back

 

[phwrd]

Re: Bluegill dropped below deck

How about a fire hose, pulverize it with the water pressure and let it float out in pieces ?

Gonna smell really good for quite a while if you don't get it out of there.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Bluegill dropped below deck

Go to your garrage/HD and get a flexible grabber - the kind you use to pick up bolts/parts you dropped into tight areas when your fingers get clumsy . You should be able to guide it with a small inspection mirror , or just keep trying blind grabs. peter

Thanks I will give it a run.

UMMM If your floor has a soft spot could be a good time to repair it , the fish is probably dead center of the hull at the back

This is a brand new deck sealed with epoxy resin. The fish is stuck in the bow somewhere on the starboard side.

How about a fire hose, pulverize it with the water pressure and let it float out in pieces ?

Gonna smell really good for quite a while if you don't get it out of there.

I kinda tried that idea already, don't have access to an actual firehose.

 

[TerryMSU]

Re: Bluegill dropped below deck

How about a wand at a car wash? Or maybe a pressure washer wand? Is this an aluminum or fiberglass boat. If it is fiberglass, perhaps a chemical solution like quicklime.

How about adding an inspection port in the middle of the deck? My guess is that this will not be the last item lost in that area.

yuck!

So why did you put the deck in with a gap around it? Hopefully I am missing something here.

Good luck,
TerryMSU

 

[skargo]

Re: Bluegill dropped below deck

Put 5000 of these below...

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Bluegill dropped below deck

How about a wand at a car wash? Or maybe a pressure washer wand? Is this an aluminum or fiberglass boat. If it is fiberglass, perhaps a chemical solution like quicklime.

How about adding an inspection port in the middle of the deck? My guess is that this will not be the last item lost in that area.

yuck!

So why did you put the deck in with a gap around it? Hopefully I am missing something here.

Good luck,
TerryMSU

Aluminum...I'm leanings towards making a new vent that would work.

The "gap" is about 1/4" and it's near two ribs that made it tough to be perfect. Once the bow bench seating is in this will not happen again.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Bluegill dropped below deck

Put 5000 of these below...

LOL...the most practical solution so far

 

[bkwapisz]

Re: Bluegill dropped below deck

Household bleach will dissolve soft tissue. Not sure if it will dissolve the boat too, but will definitely dissolve the fish over a few days. Then you can wash it out.

 

[nuboat2me]

Re: Bluegill dropped below deck

Its happened to me...

Trolling out to our "Hot Spot" for night fishing... We must have disturbed a shad run. 4 of the "Jumped" into the boat. Not small ones either. Well. we found 3 of the 4... The 4th one hung around for a week or so... He wafted with us.. The Smell eventually went away...

That said...

Just be patient.. hehe

 

[TN Scout]

Re: Bluegill dropped below deck

Got a pet cat? Send it in after the fish ... maybe put a leash on the feline just in case ...

 

[vhuevos7]

Re: Bluegill dropped below deck

I had a freind awhile back that this happened to, He let his brothers feret loose and that sure took care of it. I know a feret will fit just dont know if its a good idea. ya i know cats and ferets joke or no joke

 

[vhuevos7]

Re: Bluegill dropped below deck

Never mind i just talked to my freind and the feret got sick, my guess the bleach thing is your best bet

 

[Swivelhart]

Re: Bluegill dropped below deck

Go to the pet store and buy 35 hermit crabs. They will find the dead fish and have a nice buffet. Problem is if you dont put all the hermit crabs on leashes they will die once the fish food is gone and then the end will be worse than the beginning. Or you could get the Christmas trees!!! Before or after the crab idea!

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Bluegill dropped below deck

don't pour anythgi corrosive in there; you have other more important parts to worry about corroding.
How about duck taping a tube onto a shop vac and see if you can latch on to him that way?
Or try an opposite approach to flushing--dry him out. Drain the bilge and put the boat out in the sun, maybe he'll mummify in a few days. Minnows under the floorboards of our work boat do that in a few days.
Just keep everything open, let it dry, worst case is your fishing boat smells like fish. It's not like it's under the seat of your car or sofa.

 

[Nandy]

Re: Bluegill dropped below deck

You should have filled the boat with water enough to keep it alive then drop then fish him out again!

 

[itsneverfinished]

Re: Bluegill dropped below deck

How about duck taping a tube onto a shop vac and see if you can latch on to him that way?

thats pretty good thinking...

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Bluegill dropped below deck

You should have filled the boat with water enough to keep it alive then drop then fish him out again!

For some reason pulling the plug wasn't my first reaction

If I had then he would've made his way to the bilge possibly.

Home Cookin I think I might try tinkering with the shop vac and see what I can do.

Thanks for all the suggestions, humorous and otherwise