OK, so I'm not much of a fisherman, how do you pick-up fish???

[kshelly]

Hi!<br />Before you guys give me a hard time, when I say "pick-up", I don't mean taking them out on a date! Anyway, I've seen many a fishing show on TV that shows fish being picked up by the gills. Personally, I've never had the nerve to stick my fingers inside the gills of a fish, but it sure looks like it makes taking the hook out much easier. Assuming someday I get the guts to try such a stunt, are there any fish that you can't pick up this way? Can you grab catfish by the gills? Hey, I don't even have the stones to hold sunnies! I always use fish pliers or hold them down with my foot while removing the hook. OK, so I'm a wuss who has the fear of God in him about getting finned! Anyway, anybody have suggestions on how it's done?

 

[JB]

Re: OK, so I'm not much of a fisherman, how do you pick-up fish???

Safe ways to handle fish depend a lot on the species, Erau.<br /><br />Some species have razor sharp gill plates, others have mouths full of needle sharp teeth and some have semi-toxic spines in their fins.<br /><br />Nets, tough gloves and long nosed pliers avoid exposing yourself to any of these hazards. Once you have been stabbed by a catfish fin, bitten by an esox or sliced by snook or bowfin gillplates you will be glad you are cautious.<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[rolmops]

Re: OK, so I'm not much of a fisherman, how do you pick-up fish???

Hello Erau.<br />It depends on what you plan to do with the fish afterwards.There is a very good article in "In-Fisherman" about the very same question.If you want to catch and release there are certain rules.<br />JB's avatar shows how to support the spine of a big fish while out of the water.Instead of holding them by the head and thereby having the spine stretched and broken by their own weight.Nets scrape off the protective slime layer that guards against underwater parasites(most netted fish die four days after being returned to the water)The best way to release a caught fish,is to use a wet rag and to dislodge the hook without ever taking the fish out of the water.If you intend to eat the fish,you can be less merciful

 

[LadyFish]

Re: OK, so I'm not much of a fisherman, how do you pick-up fish???

Since I catch so many so fast.... .....<br />there isn't always time to put a glove on, so I generally use a wet rag.<br /><br />I've been sliced too many times to bare-hand a fish anymore.

 

[jsfinn]

Re: OK, so I'm not much of a fisherman, how do you pick-up fish???

I use a rag too.. and grab them by their belly. Just make sure it's wet. Fish really need the layer of slime that is naturally on them to survive.<br /><br />I know what you mean though - those guys on the fishing shows just go and stick their thumbs in the fishes mouth or gills without a second thought. Every time I catch a fish, it's angry and flips around a lot. I don't want to get anywhere near that hook!

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: OK, so I'm not much of a fisherman, how do you pick-up fish???

If its got sharp bits I use a welding glove (keepers only). If it not a keeper, I try and get the hook out without touching the fish - not always possible. As for JBs' avatar, never had the privilege of supporting the spine of a fish - never caught one big enough <br /><br />Aldo

 

[one more cast]

Re: OK, so I'm not much of a fisherman, how do you pick-up fish???

I use long nose fishing pliers to remove my hooks and I never even touch most of the fish I catch.

 

[Tom2697]

Re: OK, so I'm not much of a fisherman, how do you pick-up fish???

I've been using a Rapala fish hook extractor (Boater's World catalog # 479530503) to remove almost all of my hooks from a variety of species ranging from trout to red snapper to shark. You often don't even have to remove the fish from the water or touch the fish! The hooked portion of the tool hooks onto the line, then you slide the tool down to the hook. Once you squeeze the handle, the hook usually turns and releases itself. A minor shake might be needed for some tough mouthed fish but that is all. I've also used it on lures with trebles and it has worked just as well. <br /><br />In the cases that I have to touch the fish, (usually because I am going to eat it) I'll use the wet rag technique. This also allows me to clean the blood up immediately. Most of my photos of released fish are taken with the fish still in the water.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: OK, so I'm not much of a fisherman, how do you pick-up fish???

Do not ever stick your fingers in the mouth of a Blue Cat, catfish, that is unless you don't want some skin left on your fingers.<br /><br />Now the flathead is a different story.<br />You can grab them by the lips and haul them out.<br /><br />Anything that is used against a fishes skin that is allowed to move takes the protective layer off them and allows parasites to cling to them and causes them grave injury.

 

[aspeck]

Re: OK, so I'm not much of a fisherman, how do you pick-up fish???

I am bold enough that I just go right up to them and ask them if they want to go to dinner and a movie. It isn't that hard, and the rejection is no big deal - after all, they are only fish!

 

[thekingrancher]

Re: OK, so I'm not much of a fisherman, how do you pick-up fish???

I never use gloves for anything really. I try to use a net for cats but sometimes i don't have time to grab it, so i just stick my fingers in his mouth and "chomp" he's latched on and i throw him in the boat. Your fingers and finger nails will be scratched and bloody, but he's in the boat ain't he. I guess after time i just don't think about getting finned or bit. I just expect it to happen and don't worry when it does.

 

[skeezx01]

Re: OK, so I'm not much of a fisherman, how do you pick-up fish???

a little tip for fish you're going to eat ONLY. works every time, treble hooks swallowed deep and all. get a 3/8 wooden dowel from the local lumber yard. anything long and skinny enough to go down your fishes throat just past the hook will do in a pinch (stick,small metal rod etc.). slip the dowel down along side the line and past the hook, hold line and dowel together and "twirl" in a circular motion over your bucket, and VIOLA! your fish will drop into the bucket. this is a little hard on the fishes innards but you don't have to actually touch the fish at all.<br />I REPEAT this is only for fish to be eaten or used for bait.<br />kids can do this easily, saves dad some time.

 

[Capn Mike]

Re: OK, so I'm not much of a fisherman, how do you pick-up fish???

Not a dumb question at all....and we've been fussing with it up here. During certain times of salmon and/or steelhead season, we're supposed to throw back all "native" or "wild" fish.... supposedly identified by the presence of a fin that's clipped on hatchery raised fish (I put "native" in quotations, because we'll catch two identical fish within the space of a few minutes; one will be fin-clipped, the other not. So we're pretty sure a lot of hatchery fish don't get clipped).<br /><br />The problem is when one catches a hefty....20 to 40 lb. native. The law requires us to release the fish while still in the water (unless one's boat has a high freeboard) and not drag in onboard. <br /><br />Ever try to take a hook....barbed or not...from a frisky 30+ lb chinook while hanging over the side of a boat? Difficult at best....I know the nets damage skin, but it's better than grasping them by the gills or mouth (good way to lose a thumb). We just have to be as quick as possible, but I released an almost dead 30+ finned fish when the spoon got too deep in his throat and he drowned.

 

[jtexas]

Re: OK, so I'm not much of a fisherman, how do you pick-up fish???

Unless she's got multiple sets of trebles across her mouth, you usually got enough room to lip a largemouth, and hanging by the lower lip pretty much paralyzes them. <br /><br />Stripers got those sharp gill plates. I net 'em if they're too big to just sling into the boat. Once in custody, smaller ones I just grab by the head - grip 'em just behind the eyes.<br /><br />To grab a cat put your thumb under the chin with the side barb tween your thumb & first finger, and the top barb between your first & second fingers. That's assuming your hand fits around they head; if it's bigger than that, call for help. <br /><br />This summer I watched a guy in a boat by himself fight a 35lb cat for about 45 minutes then wrestle it into the boat. He grabbed it by the gills with one hand, dropped the rod & grabbed the other set of gills, pull it's head up onto the gunnel & rolled it over into the boat. It was too worn out to flop around.<br /><br />Saltwater fish got too many sharp teeth, I just let the guide handle 'em.

 

[kshelly]

Re: OK, so I'm not much of a fisherman, how do you pick-up fish???

King Rancher;<br /><br />You're one tough dude! I think I'll pass on your method, if you don't mind!

 

[18rabbit]

Re: OK, so I'm not much of a fisherman, how do you pick-up fish???

I only take the fish I want to eat. Don’t really play with them, much. So, with or without gloves, regardless of specie, thumb in one eyeball socket and forefinger in the other. If it’s too big to pick up by the eyeball sockets, its not likely I’m going to want to creep up on it and shoot it with a speargun, either. Note: if you eat the eyeballs, you can push them out of the way without damaging them and still pick up the fish by the sockets.

 

[kshelly]

Re: OK, so I'm not much of a fisherman, how do you pick-up fish???

Wow! Never heard of that one, rabbit! I'd like to see that on a fishing show someday. Through the eyeballs???? Dang, that's true dedication there!!!

 

[thekingrancher]

Re: OK, so I'm not much of a fisherman, how do you pick-up fish???

i hear ya rabbit, got get em in the boat anyway you can

 

[Old Jarhead]

Re: OK, so I'm not much of a fisherman, how do you pick-up fish???

For me, a BogaGrip® and a pair of needle-nosed pliers does the trick.<br /><br />Fish to be released are lifted only far enough out of water to remove the hook as to not put undue strain on the jaw of the fish from the grip.

 

[fatpratt1996]

Re: OK, so I'm not much of a fisherman, how do you pick-up fish???

Hey erau, you can lip a 30 pound cat like a bass. heh heh heh