Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum

Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: Preliator on April 06, 2010, 07:24:51 PM

Title: What to do when retaining your catch
Post by: Preliator on April 06, 2010, 07:24:51 PM

Ever since I began fishing, I've always caught and released everything. This year I'm thinking about keeping a few, but since I've never kept any, I'm not sure what is the proper way to kill it, and if doing it immediately ruins the freshness when you still have a long day of fishing ahead of you. Hopefully you wise folk could help me out here. Thanks!

Title: Re: What to do when retaining your catch
Post by: Fish Assassin on April 06, 2010, 07:34:25 PM

Bonk it on the head between the eyes to kill it. Bleed and clean it.

Title: Re: What to do when retaining your catch
Post by: Nitroholic on April 06, 2010, 08:16:57 PM

bonk, bleed, gut, put it on ice

Title: Re: What to do when retaining your catch
Post by: fly fisher on April 06, 2010, 08:27:11 PM

bonk on top of head. bleed with the fishes head submerged in the water. to bleed cut gills. gut. to gut cut the fish from its but to the gills and take out innards always keep roe. then put into a cooler with ice.

Title: Re: What to do when retaining your catch
Post by: Kristopher on April 06, 2010, 11:30:07 PM

When retaining Chinook salmon or hatchery steelhead during times when retention is permitted, be sure you have a pen and mark it on your license immediately.  I know people who mark their license before they even bonk the fish.

I usually don't keep anything unless I plan to leave the river soon or have access to a cooler with ice in it.  As others have already suggested, always gut and bleed your kill right away.

Title: Re: What to do when retaining your catch
Post by: island boy on April 07, 2010, 05:10:52 PM

marking your licence before you bonk? joking right?

Title: Re: What to do when retaining your catch
Post by: Preliator on April 08, 2010, 06:45:07 PM

Thanks for the tips guys. We just purchased a deep freeze... should be a good year :D

Title: Re: What to do when retaining your catch
Post by: Novabonker on April 09, 2010, 03:53:27 PM

Quote from: fly fisher on April 06, 2010, 08:27:11 PM

bonk on top of head. bleed with the fishes head submerged in the water. to bleed cut gills. gut. to gut cut the fish from its but to the gills and take out innards always keep roe. then put into a cooler with ice.

I'd like to add to this. I cut behind the bony structure on the opposite side of the gill cover. Just follow the bone by the pectoral fin ;D

Title: Re: What to do when retaining your catch
Post by: Kristopher on April 10, 2010, 10:41:32 PM

Quote from: island boy on April 07, 2010, 05:10:52 PM

joking right?

No sir.
I don't do it, but have definitely heard of some paranoid anglers doing it.  I personally would rather be sure the fish has been quickly dispatched, rather than flopping around on the rocks gasping for air while I fumble around trying to get at my license.

Title: Re: What to do when retaining your catch
Post by: Kristopher on April 10, 2010, 10:45:17 PM

Quote from: Preliator on April 08, 2010, 06:45:07 PM

We just purchased a deep freeze... should be a good year :D

You may not be able to get as many fish in there as you'd like.  Always be sure to check the regulations regarding possession quotas.  I believe most possession quotas = your daily catch quota multiplied by two.

Title: Re: What to do when retaining your catch
Post by: Rodney on April 10, 2010, 11:20:46 PM

Quote from: Kristopher on April 10, 2010, 10:45:17 PM

You may not be able to get as many fish in there as you'd like.  Always be sure to check the regulations regarding possession quotas.  I believe most possession quotas = your daily catch quota multiplied by two.

http://www.fishingwithrod.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=23575.0