Best way to handle fish for catch and release?

[NikNak]

I am living close to a non retention area,(Sansum Narrows) and there are salmon present. I would like to jig close to the bluff, and am more than happy to return the fish. Any comments on how to handle the fish when it gets to the surface would be welcome. If in fact the chance of killing the fish is high, I am prepared to not even fish. Fisheries has closesd a terminal area, and determined non retention for surrounding areas, so they must think non retention is acceptable in some form.

I remember back a large number of years people using a form of spring type lariat to catch the fish by the tail, and I think the concept was to keep a net out of play to not have the fish tangled up, losing a lot of scales.

Comments?

 

[Fish Camp]

With the right equipment reach for the line and hook.grasp the hook and release fish after picture.

 

[tubber]

I like the photos above, but I had a 7lb hali hanging from my finger when I tried to hand release and the trail hook went right through the meat (mine). So I prefer tools. Ideally: single hook, file off the nub if the barb breaks when you flatten it, no net, no touching the fish. Use a gaff to get the line in your left hand. Put the rod in a holder so if the fish runs, your rod won't break or fly overboard. While holding the line about 2 feet from the hook, slide the gaff down the line, over the jig, lower your left hand as low as you can reach, lift gently on the bend of the hook with the gaff. When the fish falls off the hook, the gaff will be above your left hand. Try to see which way the hook is embedded; don' just shake it. If you have valuables in your shirt pocket and sunglasses on your hat, they will one day fall overboard when you reach over the side. Some guys screw a cup hook into the end of a piece of dowelling. Haven't tried that, but I do have a cut off open siwash hook lashed to a chopstick for trout.

 

[NikNak]

Thanks Tubber, a much more intelligent reply. I have had a friend take a hook out of my finger with a pair of needle nose pliers after Fish Camps recommended method. I may try to make a small gaff out of the biggest hook I can buy just for releasing the hooks.

 

[ericl]

I use pliers, most guides will used the method prescribed by tubber; which i think is great. I have taken off all the trebles that come with a jig & replaced them with a mustad 95170-ss hook. On a 3" jig I probably use size 4/0; 6/0 for a long jig. I have been jigging Salmon since 1978 using trebles up til about 10 years ago. With either style hook, i don't remember ever "missing" a fish.

 

[Percy Stipec]

I had a 7lb hali hanging from my finger when I tried to hand release and the trail hook went right through the meat (mine).

I fish East coast for catch and release stripers sometimes, I am there now and caught a couple of 10+lb'ers last night. Over here it's a night game for stripers but that's when big sharks come out too. A guide I know took a guy fishing with big double treble plugs. They hooked into what they thought was a cow striper. They got it into shore and it was a huge brown shark. The guy took his pliers down to the surf to release it. The shark made a head shake during the unhooking process and hooked deep into the guys palm and started pulling him into the surf. The guide jumped in after him with his pliers and used the wire cutters to cut through the treble with the shark on it.

 

[Fish Camp]

Four members have said the've recieved injury in handling hooks in the release method i have showen.I have not had to release over size salmon,or hali ,and sharks get to keep part of the the hook.I shur my time will come when I must try to release a difficult fish and practicing with the tools tubber and others have suggested will make it less difficult. I will start trying the tips from others in this thread.The thrill is not in it for me to draw blood and release.Whats next tazering wildlife for a photo.Shoot to thrill

 

[tincan]

This may help.... although it was originally intended for salmon trolling many of the same concepts apply to jigging.

[Vwn2UE5rwOc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vwn2UE5rwOc

 

[Rum Buddies]

for sure the gaff method, once you get the hang of it it's SUPER easy.


* might want to reconsider targetting those poor cowichan chinook. The river is a trickle and is going to stay that way well into Oct. maybe later - those poor fish need every helping hand they can get this year.

 

[fshnfnatic]

Sansum Narrows and Bold Bluff is" Closed to Fishing".This means no fishing at all,even for prawns or crab.If DFO catches you fishing there they will nail you to the cross.Even the local Cowichan Tribes have hung up their spears
until the rains come.Give your head a shake and leave those poor fish alone!