NJ Saltwater Fisherman Forums

NJ Saltwater Fishing Reports and Information => Helping Each Other Out => Topic started by: bdgrbu on June 04, 2007, 02:17:22 PM

Title: Mortality rate for gut-hooked fish
Post by: bdgrbu on June 04, 2007, 02:17:22 PM
Anyone have any insight on how many fish live with a hook down in the "kitchen'? 

I always hate when I gut-hook a short fluke.  I figure he probably wont live but dont want to get caught with him in the box either.  Whats the general consensus?  Do you let him go or practice "fillet and release"?
Title: Re: Mortality rate for gut-hooked fish
Post by: Ruger314 on June 04, 2007, 02:23:41 PM
cut the line and let it go.. the fines are starting to get real serious.. Not worth it for a 10cent hook and a small fillet. If its not bleeding, hope for the best.. I've caught many fluke with line sticking out of them??
Title: Re: Mortality rate for gut-hooked fish
Post by: Great Bay Junky on June 04, 2007, 02:38:53 PM
If I am not on the bay they become bait. I know it is wrong but a badly gut hooked fluke is going to die anyway it may as well be useful. :-X
Title: Re: Mortality rate for gut-hooked fish
Post by: Luna Sea 5 on June 04, 2007, 02:42:39 PM
this will always be a very difficult topic to discuss.
Title: Re: Mortality rate for gut-hooked fish
Post by: IrishAyes on June 04, 2007, 02:54:54 PM
When a gut hooked fluke comes aboard we remove the hook and release it.  I don't know the mortality rate and I don't know if one way of removing the hook is better than another but what we do is this:
hold the fluke so the dark side is facing you.  Open the gills, find the leader, reach in, grab the leader, pull the leader to you.  That will turn the hook and bring the hook toward you.  Pop the hook up, thus releasing the hook from the fish.  Thread the hook/leader up and out the mouth. For some reason this only works when doing it from the dark side of the fish. 
I know, you should stay clear of the gills, etc, etc.  But, I don't think this is any more harmful than any other way of releasing the fish.  They all seem to be disastrous to me.  When released this way, they always to swim away fine.  Who knows how they are a day or so later.
Title: Re: Mortality rate for gut-hooked fish
Post by: Ruger314 on June 04, 2007, 03:13:53 PM
agree with Nick.. not a easy topic.. but no matter what can't be any worse than the draggers killing 1000's of pounds  for their quota.. remember the cover of the fisherman a few months ago..Fluke Management!!!
Title: Re: Mortality rate for gut-hooked fish
Post by: Luna Sea 5 on June 04, 2007, 06:04:21 PM
agree, this is a subject just like politics and  religion.
Title: Re: Mortality rate for gut-hooked fish
Post by: shadyvito on June 04, 2007, 10:14:11 PM
When I caught the flounder in my advatar pic it was gut-hooked.  I had to pull the fly out through the gills and cut the leader. He was bleeding real bad but I had to through him back.  I felt real bad about it since I hate tourtuting animals.