To bleed fish?

[SteelieSteve]

Several fishermen/hunters I know bleed fish after they catch them. Is there a benefit to this? When you clean them they still look like they have the same amount of blood along the backbone.

[dock rat]

SteelieSteve, It is the concensus of most fishermen I know that bleeding fish gives you a superior product. This is my experience as well. The "blood" you mention near the backbone is the kidneys and will always be there whether you bleed the fish or not. Keep after 'em!

[Gone Fishin]

Steve,

That "bloodline" will always be there no matter what. I think it is very important to take good care of your catch to insure a quality product at the end of the day and bleeding is part of taking good care.

By bleeding the fish, you remove any blood in the meat and also if it's a female, you also will keep the blood from the eggs which is very important. Leaving the blood in will only make the fish spoil faster especially if not kept at a cool temperature which is also very important in taking care of the catch.

I know many guides that do not bleed fish and have seen those that at the end of the day grab the fish and throw them to the ground! This will bruise the meat and is not a good practice at all!

You spend a lot of time trying to catch your "trophy", spend a little time in taking care of it properly, you'll be glad you did! :wink:

-Marty

[Drachir]

I bleed all fish that I catch, no matter what! It is especially important with Sturgeon. The meat will be so much nicer and the taste will be far superior to an un-bled fish. When on the cleaning table, there is far less blood as well, no bloody filets, just snow white meat. :wink:

[Jim]

Two Reasons...already mentioned but simpler version:

1. Better Meat

2. High Quality Eggs


Thats my input! or is it output? Hmmmm :rolleyes:


Jim

[Thumper]

We bleed our salmon and steelhead by simply popping one gill with a finger on each side of the head immediately after bonking them. Quick, easy and seems to improve the flavor.....

[brshooter]

We bleed anything we catch. We cut the gills on both sides, put them on a rope and hang in the current for about 10 minutes. The water going through the gills helps flush out the blood. After 10 minutes, they go straight to a cooler on ice. Personally, I think you get the best finished product if you care for them this way. It is just like any game. It is important to bleed and cool as soon as possible. Now if I could only find a cooler long enough for keeper sturgeon.

[parker]

Hope anyone from PETA isn't reading this. This is what we do to fish. It will ensure a great quality fish and eggs.

Only bonk the fish *ONCE* on the noggin'. It won't kill the fish but will knock it sensless. Cut the gills on both sides of the fish. Since the heart of the fish is still beating, it will completely pump the blood out itself in a couple of minutes.

If on the bank, lay the fish on the ground, head pointing downhill. Helps in getting the blood out.

If in a boat, just put back in the fish box, or let hang on a rope/net in the water until all blood is gone.

Just remember that the fish might toss and turn a bit. Be watchful of the fish if it's on the bank. Althoug the fish won't swim away, it could easly get swept away in fast moving waters if it flops in the water.

[bathtub bob]

After cutting gills i put the fish in a 5 gallonn bucket head first.. Works great. Easy clean up.

[chadk]

I'd have to agree on the 'one bonk - beating heart' approach. Just watch out - on a recent silver I caught, I put my knife through the gills and cut down through the 'throat' - the blood was shooting out a couple feet and made quite a mess. Next time I'll be sure to aim it away from me!!

[FM2]

Hey Parker, I pretty much do the same except I'm a little leary of putting the fish in the box to bleed out. My thought is I don't want the fish to be soaking in the blood that is mixed with whatever might be in the box or other residue from the fish. Have you ever had a problem with this?

Thanks :smile:

[Threemuch]

This fish is bled out!
http://www.ifish.net/uploads/190415317.jpg

I bleed all fish alive, and once they are bled out, move them to a box filled with ice and seawater.

[Todd]

It takes a minute or so to bonk, cut, and hang a fish, either with a rope, or in a bucket, or whatever.

Why not take an extra minute to clean the fish, wash off the eggs, put the fish in a box or lay it on the bank, and put the eggs in a bag?

I'll admit, I usually take two or three casts, first, so the one with the one I just caught doesn't get by!!

Fish on...

Todd.

[Roeboat]

Bleeding certainly does seem to keep the fish from tasting "fishy", as does removing the gray muscle tissue. Another trick to get rid of a lot of blood quickly is to make a vertical slash by the tail. I gut my fish as soon as is reasonable depending upon how hot the fishing is and filet them at night when I get home to rinse off any remaining blood that may have been missed. My fish box has a plug I open and just water
flow thru, kind of like a bait well. I used to worry that the blood smell drifting downstream would put fish off the bite, but it hasn't seemed to matter.

[Uncle Bob]

In the drift boat, (t-bay) I never bonk 'em & bleed 'em until we're about 30 minutes from taking out.
I've got a "live rope" that we just tie them to the side of the boat. They just swim along side the boat. It keeps them that much fresher.
OK OK, I'm actually trolling for seals.
You really do want to be careful when pulling a 25-30 pound chinook out of the water. It's just sitting there all nice and calm tied to the side, and then you reach down to gut the gills. oh my!
It started thrashing around so much, 'bout broke a finger last time ...aint it great... :grin:

UB

[Ryan Pultz]

I never even thought about bleeding out a fish for meat quality i have always done it for deer and when i lived in so. Cal yeah i know why would you live there i had a job transfer. Any way we use to go out off of catalina island and catch shark (yummy) and the guy i fished with would always bleed them i never knew why till now. See we do learn new things every day.
Ryan