Holding a fish by its gills.

[Mgx2400]

After reading the catch and release article I never realized you weren't supposed to hold a fish by its gills vertical. Yet I think that is the most common way to hold a fish from what I've seen. Have we been actually causing harm to the fish we catch by holding them like this?? Anyone like to chime in...

 

[Kentucky Windage]

My method “Trumps” yours. I grab em by the pussy

 

[camoman]

After reading the catch and release article I never realized you weren't supposed to hold a fish by its gills vertical. Yet I think that is the most common way to hold a fish from what I've seen. Have we been actually causing harm to the fish we catch by holding them like this?? Anyone like to chime in...

Technically, by sticking your fingers in under their gill plate AND/OR holding them vertical you could potentially be harming a fish, especially if you plan to release said fish. If they are headed to the cleaning table, then it's not a big deal.

 

[Ristorapper]

I'm just guessing here but the heavier a fish the less likely we should be holding them with only one hand in any direction. Support those releasable fish with two hands and get them back in the water with two hands. As you know, gravity is the monster here. Who knows what damage we are doing by holding them vertical.

 

[Chas'n Tail]

I was told years ago that holding a fish vertically, whether by the gill plate or back of the "neck", causes internal damage due to the fact that their organs pull down by sheer gravity, and possibly causing organs to tear. Not sure if there is any truth to this, and I too have been guilty of the "gill grab" for a quick picture, but after a reminder like this, I will try and remember to use both hands and keep them horizontal to minimize damage to those big ol girls before releasing them. Only problem I've been having lately is having the time to get out there and get my hands on one of them fat bottom girls!

 

[Bowhunter_24]

I’m a horizontal holder just because I like pics better that way.

But in order to get the fish out of a hole u have to pull them up vertical.

 

[shorthairsrus]

aka "ahabbing em":;:thumbsup

 

[Captain Ahab]

aka "ahabbing em":;:thumbsup

Not a big deal when you knife them all.

 

[gr8outdoors]

My method “Trumps” yours. I grab em by the pussy

This made me almost spit my beer out!

 

[NDSportsman]

I make sure not to harm any of the fish since I don't catch any anyway.

 

[dukgnfsn]

with my experience musky fishing in MN with my brother, when we get a big fish they are always pulled out of the net with a gill grab, they are kept in water until unhooked and all is ready for pictures and measurements and lifting those 20 to 30 lbs+ fish out of the net for the initial pull up is tough but we get them the second hand under and try to get them horizontal and supported as soon as possible. even with the initial pull up and holding that way until can get them horizontally supported those fish seen to do well and survival rates seem high. With that being said this is one group of fisherman that tries to give these fish every chance for survival. Some of these fish may be handled multiple times a year.

 

[pluckem]

I think if one looks to the trout world you would find your answer. Grip the tail with your dominate hand and support the fish under the pectoral fins with the other hand to keep it horizontal.

 

[Duckslayer100]

Grandpa always pinched 'em by the eyeballs. I'm not going to argue with an 80-plus-year-old guy who used to get his kicks jumping out of airplanes with a gun strapped to him.

 

[Captain Ahab]

My actual serious answer is I think certain species are much more susceptible to dying from a gill plate hold. Salmon and trout are a prime example. You gill hold those things and they flop a bit, they are toast. Never have seen a study on walleye, pike, etc. It’s probably better to not hang one vertical, but I don’t think it’s a death sentence either. Al Linder still does it and then reads neat bible verses so it can’t be too bad.

 

[shorthairsrus]

True story --- i had one when ahabbing --- the latteral line let out a pop. I felt like DM --except the fish didnt smile and say thank you. i ended up keeping the fish and it died in the well.

I have heard the same about largemouths that they have issues with it too. A largemouth though has more of a body that is built for it - however when you watch those guys weigh on that catch and release format (cant think of the name of the show) they weigh everything that way.

 

[Allen]

I'd suggest it's a combination of species (body style) and weight. Can't imagine a common 14 inch walleye being held by the gill plate is going to suffer internal damages, but an eight or ten pound walleye being held by the gills has really got to put the stretch to the internal organs. Same with a pike of good size, but a 20 lb buffalo or 15 lb carp doesn't seem to have quite the stretch going on.

I know, life just ain't always fair.

 

[guywhofishes]

I liked short's post mostly because I actually understood it

 

[Fly Carpin]

I liked short's post mostly because I actually understood it

First time for everything

 

[pluckem]

I don't think any hold is an automatic death sentence. I am sure plenty of fish even survived the eye socket hold.
However if you think about what could go wrong during a type of hold some seem to hold a bit more risk than others.

I am guilty of the gill hold at times, especially when needing to remove a hook deep in the mouth, and if you have a decent size fish start thrashing its tail, many times you can hear and feel something tear. That cant be a positive for the fish.

Just do what you feel is best and respect the fish.

 

[Kurtr]

I think if one looks to the trout world you would find your answer. Grip the tail with your dominate hand and support the fish under the pectoral fins with the other hand to keep it horizontal.

just look at a trout and those little bitches go tits up. snow flakes of the fish world