Article - Safe Fish Handling

[Tom]

Ok guys. I've started this thread so everyone can contribute to it and we'll make it into a proper article once we're all happy

We are careful about rig design to ensure fish safety, we even use barbless hooks where required but how many anglers actually take the time to ensure the safety of fish when handling them?

There are many ways any fish (not just carp) can be seriously injured or at worse killed by incorrect handling, this can often be seen by just standing on the bank for a while at your local fishery and i'll bet that there will be someone fishing that doesnt consider the wellfare of their catch when handling it.

Poor use of the landing net
How many times have you seen someone lunging at a fish with the landing net, this can lift scales and put unnecessary stress on the fish, landing nets should never be lifted by the handle, always lift by the arms about halfway between the tip of the net and the spreader block. This ensures there is no chance of breakage and we dont careif you break your net we are more concerned about you dropping a fish. That said it's also worth mentioning that there is no need to lift it 4 foot off the floor, keep as close to the ground as possible as if you were to slip then there is less chance of the fish being damaged.

Unhooking mats
Before ahndling fish make sure that you have removed any rings you may be wearing and your watch as its all to easy to inadvertantly cause damage.
Use a decent quality unhooking mat and make sure its thoroughly wetted before putting a fish onto it as a dry or hot mat will remove the protective mucous from the body of a fish and effectively burn it also make sure your hands are wetted before handling the fish for unhooking. Have a bucket of water close by so you can regularly wet the fish down and your hands. Keep your forceps nearby as you should keep the fish out of the water for the absolute minimum of time. It is also worth investing in one of the carp first aid kits as its quite possible to find a fish has a few small hooks left in the mouth when unhooking where its picked up a few matchman's baits and to treat any injuries the fish may have sustained. Try to keep the fish in the landing net and take the net to the unhooking mat rather than carrying the fish as there is less room for accidents. When unhooked make sure if you are weighing the fish that you weigh sling is suitable for that task and is also thoroughly wetted. Place the fish in the weigh sling over the unhooking mat just in case you slip. Keep the sling as low to the ground as possible during weighing.

Photo's
When taking photo's make sure your hands are wetted again and kneel down next to the unhooking mat, raise the fish as little as possible and stay over the mat, there is no need to stand up, think safety here what will do more damage should the worst happen a fish dropped from 1-2ft or a fish dropped from 4+ft, only hold the fish as long as is necessary for a photo, then pop it back in the weigh sling and use this to transfer the fish back to the water.

Recovery
Dont just plop the fish back in, fish need to recover a little especially after a lengthy fight, gently lower the fish back into the water and gently hold the fish around its sides supporting it in the water until it has regained enough energy, it will swim away when it feels good and ready.

If your not sure dont be afraid to ask, many anglers are more than willing to help you out if you are unsure.

[sqwat]

just a couple of things i can add when handling fish take off all rings and watches so not to damage the fish and allways have a bucket of fresh water by the side of your unhooking mat so you can keep the fish wet and cool

[zebs]

Some sound advice there, Can i add that i also have a carp first aid kit handy just incase i notice any injuries to it's mouth or body.........zebs

[sqwat]

the one from korda they are a good idea

[Tom]

Nice one guys, edited to include those points

That was the kit that was by Thinking Anglers originally i think then Korda took it on as a product, also thing there was another one but cant remember the name of it.