Serious Fun @ JFFC Sept 2018 | Page 72

Holding and weighing fish:

When holding and weighing fish we need to be mindful that they are sensitive creatures and need to be handled with the outmost care. NEVER hold or weigh a fish by its mouth, tail or gills. Fish’s bodies are designed to suspend in water and simply cannot handle their own body weight when lifted in air. By incorrectly lifting or holding a fish you place huge amounts of strain on the spine and vital organs of a fish, that will not be evident on the surface but greatly increase the chances of mortality when released. When holding a fish always distribute and support the weight of the fish with both hands. Always keep the fish in or close to the water and using bare wet hands, place one hand around the base of the tail and then the other on the belly of the fish, directly below the pectoral fins. In this position the fish can then be gently and safely lifted for a quick photo. Never place hands into the fish’s gills, these are extremely sensitive organs and contact should be avoided at all costs.

A good example of how to hold and lift a fish.

•Make use of appropriate hook removal devises: By using appropriate forceps or pliers to remove hooks from fish, physical contact with sensitive fish can be avoided altogether. Correct use of these tools will allow us to retrieve hooks faster and release the fish quicker.

By using the correct tools, we can minimize our contact with sensitive fish like tigerfish.

When weighing fish, slings spread the weight of the fish evenly across the length of the sling, which is far friendlier for the fish.

72 SERIOUSFUN@JFFC SEPT 2018