Do you really need to NET a native?

jayman · 04-08-2002, 04:49 PM

If this is an old topic, I apologize. But, I've seen way too many people net and boat a native when they could have unhooked and revived (if needed) next to their boat without putting the fish through the trauma of being netted (needlenose pliers work great!). Am I out in right field on this one or am I the only one who can identify and release a native without excess handling? No ego here...just wondering. Saw this several times last year and I am seeing it again.
Just wondeering. :smile:
Jayman

Dan Christopher · 04-08-2002, 05:05 PM

I agree take the plyers and leave the net in the boat.keeping the belly hook off the kwik fish saves time to you can grab the plug with out getting hooked your self.when do you ever catch the fish on the belly hook anyway .i think you take a risk of loosing the fish with 2 hooks they work agenst each other and its a lot easyer to add the bait with out that dang hook anyway..Get the fish to the boat quick if you dont see the fin then play with it all you want!!! :grin:

Herring Impaired · 04-08-2002, 05:15 PM

I'm with you, I only net them if I absolutely have to, and then the net and fish stay in the water. Most of the time, a pair of pliers does the trick. Then I can revive them until they swim out of my hands...

Today I saw a guy hold a NATE with his fingers under the gillplate! One of the worst things you can do to a fish, let alone take him out of the water. He then unceremoniously dunked the fish back in the water and hightailed it back to his anchor.

Last wednesday around the same spot (Near I-205 bridge, columbia) , we saw a guy put a NATE in the net, in the boat, unhooked it, grabbed it by the tail, looked at it real good and then tossed it back in the water.

Disgraceful!!!

M W Sheller · 04-08-2002, 05:36 PM

I had to put a wild fish in the net Sun. My partner took the spinner out of it's mouth, as we've done a hundred times or more, and the fish went belly up and layed on the bottom. The only way I could get at the fish was to scoop it off the bottom with the net. I worked at reviveing that fish for about twenty min. She was limp and not breathing. She finally took a few gasps and took off just to kind of flail on the surface. After talking about her behavior, we kinda thought she acted like a chicken that had been "hynotized". She may have been caught earlier that day.?? :depressed: :depressed:
Generally when we see that we have a wild fish hooked, it doesn't go in the net, or come out of the water.

Jennie@ifish · 04-08-2002, 06:09 PM

I feel that every fish is different. The less time out of the water, the better.
If you are using a single hook, like with a prawn, or back bouncing eggs, if they aren't hooked where you can grab them easily, just scissor it off.
The problem is with trebles, when you get two in the fish and you have to work on them.
The less handling, time, etc, always better.
But if you have a treble in the upper and lower part of the mouth, you might have to use the net.
Always get the net wet first, if you have to use it.
Rubber or cotton nets are better than nylon, as a side note.
Every one is a case by case, but never dig deep after a single hook. They will expel that, eventually.
I know, that most of you know this, but some don't.
J

[ 04-08-2002, 07:11 PM: Message edited by: Jennie@ifish ]

Nate · 04-08-2002, 08:57 PM

Leroy Whenever I see someone pick a fish up by the gill plate I like to ask them if it's ok if I stick my fingers in their lungs and pick them up, to see if they like the way it feels, stupid people!! Never net a fish you plan to release wild or not!!! Maybe that is just how some of us are taught to be sportsman!

Mojo · 04-08-2002, 09:02 PM

My fishing partner and I ALWAYS tail any fish with the adipose intact. It takes a firm grip around the wrist of the tail, and even the biggest fish are subdued. The key is to have the guy catching the fish bring it alongside the boat and be ready! Once you have the tail, gently cradle the fish under the belly, and have the guy drop his fishing rod and QUICKY remove the hook or hooks. It takes practice, but it is better than scraping all the protective slime off a fish that is going back.

I know there are times and places where that would never work, like if you fish off of an inboard with a platform and rails. My sled has plenty of access so it's not a problem for me. That's my 2 cents worth.

Mojo

cosmo · 04-09-2002, 08:02 AM

I hate to try and swim upstream on this one, but I net every single fish. In the long run, I get them off faster, with less thrashing, than taking five attempts at them on the side of the boat. by hand If you get the fish, get the hook out and get them back in the water smoothly, a quick net job is not going to hurt them.

husker · 04-09-2002, 08:56 AM

not sure what the best way to go is.....but i watched a guide with "chasin a dream" guide service boat 2 nates...using nets and then throw them back...on saturday

Phish_on · 04-09-2002, 09:28 AM

I wish I knew!

It seems like you have to wear out a fish more to tail it than to net it.

I've released all of one native coho. We used a net & kept the fish in the water. At least I think I've learned to look for the fin-clip and then decide what to do. Next time I'll try to do without the net.

Practice, yeah, I'm all for that.

Jennie@ifish · 04-09-2002, 09:39 AM

I was surprised to find that some really well known guides why they do net wild fish.
They think it is faster and easier on the fish in the long run.
I guess it's all opinions. Everyone has one.
Probably best not to fish for them at all. :smile:
Oops! Did I say that?
J

Fish4Fun · 04-09-2002, 09:43 AM

Just being curious, what kind of boat does "Chasin A Dream" guide service fish out of??

[ 04-09-2002, 10:44 AM: Message edited by: Fish4Fun ]

jayman · 04-09-2002, 06:10 PM

I appreciate everyone that took the time to resond and share their different views. I know every situation can have variable responses. It just seems to me that there are some people who don't GET IT about the way that they handle a fish that has to go back into the water. Nets damage the protective slime that coats a fish. That's a fact. Bringing the fish into the boat does not do it any good either. I just wish some of those folks would be a little more careful in their handling of the non-clipped fish.

Jayman

Grant Scheele · 04-09-2002, 06:47 PM

Jayman, how is it a fact that netting hurts the protective slime covering the fish? That slime is a replacable organ of the fish. Coated nets are a better choice but I think that a quick net job with the fish left in the water during hook removal is sometimes the safest thing for a fish in the long run. You are correct that either way great care should be taken.

Fish4Fun · 04-10-2002, 06:07 AM

O.Mykiss I really think that jayman was correct in what he was saying about the slime. This info that I found is how the Canadian Reg's read for tips on how to "catch and release". This is just all common sense stuff.

1) Keep the fish in water. A fish needs water to breathe, and water supports the weight of the fish.

2) Handle the fish as little as possible, protect the slime! Removing even a little bit of the protective slime layer of a fish leaves the fish open to fungus infection.

3) Wetted, bare hands are best, and wetted cotton gloves are preferred over wetted wool gloves.
Use soft, knotless nets or no net at all—try using a fish sling.

4) Unhook the fish using a pair of long nosed pliers. If the fish is deeply hooked, or you can’t remove the hook, cut the line as close to the hook as you can.

5) Don’t squeeze the fish, as you will cause internal organ damage.

6) Don’t handle a fish by the gills or the eyes, this will kill them.

7) Try to release your fish in a quiet patch of water so it can swim into the current again when it’s ready.

8) If your fish does not immediately swim away, revive it by holding it correctly oriented, facing upstream. Move it forwards and back to keep water running through its gills. Be patient, this may take a bit of time. When the fish begins to struggle, let it swim away

[ 04-10-2002, 07:10 AM: Message edited by: Fish4Fun ]

Thumper · 04-10-2002, 06:20 AM

Jennie raises an interesting point .....

"Probably best not to fish for them at all.
Oops! Did I say that?"

I have often wondered about targeting wild fish. I use the analogy of the neighbor's cat. If I hook it on a green-butted skunk, drag it around 'til it is exhausted, then carefully and lovingly release it, I'm still going to jail.

Though I'm far from a PETA member (perish the thought!) I'm a little uncomfortable about targeting the natives. I know that folks say that fish don't feel pain, but I'm still just a wee bit uncomfortable about it ....... just a teensy little tiny bit .....

Master Baiter · 04-10-2002, 07:09 AM

Turning a fish on its back will often subdue a fish while tailing and handling. I leave my net at home when I go to native fisheries!

husker · 04-10-2002, 07:53 AM

fish4fun...."chasin a dream" ...uses like a 22'+ sled with deep sides......deep as i have ever seen....white boat......

[ 04-10-2002, 08:54 AM: Message edited by: husker ]

Dogfish · 04-10-2002, 09:09 AM

use a de-hooker stick, a dowel with a large open hook on the end. looks like this

?
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!

We release over 200 salmon last year using that stick, and it worked very well. Check the WDFW website for a better explanation and description.

[ 04-10-2002, 10:09 AM: Message edited by: Dogfish ]

Fishen Fool · 04-10-2002, 09:56 AM

I net all plug caught fish but not the ones caught drift fishing, these I either use needle nose plyers or just cut the leader. Either way I seem to get a shower when the fish takes off! Oh yeah, when I net a fish I don't bring it aboard, just leave in the water and remove the plug.

jayman · 04-11-2002, 06:28 PM

Thanks Fish4Fun for the info and support. I've spent the last hour doing a little internet research on fish slime (oh, how fun)

and I stand by my earlier statement. From what I've found on the internet, combined with the way I was taught: The less a fish is handled the better off it will be. As far as the concerns about wearing a fish out-that's why you revive it. I spent 15 minutes with a nate last year at O.C., it swam off fine (no net).
Check out Fish4Fun's post. :smile:
I'm heading out tomorrow to O.C. and if I see one more nate netted I'm going to ask them WHY? :whazzup:
Education will blow your mind!!!
I'm no tree-hugger, but I'm tired of potentially wasteful behavior just because a person either doesn't care [img]graemlins/berry.gif[/img] or they didn't take the time to learn. :shocked:
Thanks again for everyones input!

I love a good discussion!

Jayman