Keep or return fish?

jeremiah · Member Joined: Sep 18, 2008 Posts: 37 Location: Wiltshire

I've caught a few fish recently... I return the small ones and have kept the larger ones ... a few pollock, a 1lb sole and a 4lb bass.

I always dispatch the fish I keep with 2 clouts on the head, though I don't like killing anything but I think it's the right thing to do, ensuring that the fish don't suffer. I don't have a problem with the principle of killing for eating... I'd be happy to buy a fish from a shop, so might as well do the job myself.

But what happens if you catch a really big fish? To you clobber it with a big club, or just leave it to suffocate? I suspect that most people just leave it to suffocate, though I think that's unacceptable.

I was fishing the other day and a guy gave me half a dozen small smelt which he'd caught for bait, but they'd obviously suffocated because they were all gaping at the mouths and gills, and it looked pretty nasty. Mind you, they were only 4 inches long, so dispatching them neatly is a bit of a problem!

And there was another feller, catching one mackerel after another, and tossing them live into a bucket, where they gradually died of lack of oxygen.

Perhaps I'm being over sentimental, but shouldn't we all be responsible and kill the fish cleanly if we're not going to return them?

Here ends the case for the prosecution, m'lud.

rabbi2 · Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 7:06 pm Post subject:

All fish that are for the table or bait should be dispatched a quickly as possible and those that arn't should be returned to the sea as fast and as carefully as possible. Cheers keith

jeremiah · Member Joined: Sep 18, 2008 Posts: 37 Location: Wiltshire

Hi Keith. I agree, but what about really big fish...A really big priest ... a Pope, perhaps?

sniggle · Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 7:12 pm Post subject:

I kill fish as fast as possible and by the way if you break a fishes `neck' it will gape at the mouth and gills.
To look reality in the face though i doubt if dying in a bucket is worse than being swallowed alive by a seagull. Nature is not kind but it works.

sniggle · Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 7:16 pm Post subject:

Out in the boats its a good thwack with a table leg or a sturdy knife through the spine behind the head for the big `uns.

jeremiah · Member Joined: Sep 18, 2008 Posts: 37 Location: Wiltshire

<gulp> I must remember to keep a table leg in my tackle box, just in case...

jester · Member Joined: Jul 21, 2008 Posts: 54 Location: Weymouth

Hi

As I was new to sea angling a few months ago killing fish was not done (when I was coarse fishing) so as soon as I found sea angling and that Mackerel was good for bait I asked in a shop for the quickest way to dispatch them but only ever keep enough for bait and release the rest from a very wet towel back into the ocean.

Pat

samee · Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 6:58 am Post subject:

with Mackeral i put my hand in the mouth and put the head to the spine. this is the most effient way that i found

hope this helps.

Sam

rabbi2 · Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 7:12 am Post subject:

Wait till you get a good conger 40lb upwards, putting your finger in it mouth is not recommended lol.

Just on the funny side I have seen a mate put a hole in his boat trying to hit one on the head with a HAMMER !!! devil

ruark · Member Joined: Aug 24, 2008 Posts: 9

The first thing i have to worry about is catching the blighters! crying

sniggle · Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 9:23 am Post subject:

I have read that alaskan anglers shoot halibut in the head with a .45. They normally do it with the fish still in the water but they have been known to do it onboard , then say "whats that gurgling noise" ?

fishingbloke · Member Joined: Apr 01, 2008 Posts: 28

I've found that by far the best method to dispatch and to improve flavour is bleed the fish.

A couple of clouts to stun it, then cut a couple of gill rakers and let it bleed out and die. Once dead, gut it immediately. Job done.

fried · Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 6:57 pm Post subject:

fishingbloke... that's disgusting...

What is standard practice for eels small and big?

I was in Ireland when I saw a guy wrestling with a 4ft eel, it took him ages to finally clout it with some umph

rabbi2 · Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 7:09 pm Post subject:

I myself return all eels caught but they are difficult to kill humanely. Cheers keith

bassfly · Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 8:16 pm Post subject: back home

Personally i prefer to release all my catches.I might keep the odd Mak
ckerel and take home fillet it and wrap in Pancetta then fry with garlic,good slosh of red bobs yer uncle.
There is something special about watching a nice Bass 'bolt' home.