Non Piercing Cull System

[Dypsis]

What non Piercing Cull systems is everyone using and how do you like it?

 

Thanks.

[SWVABass]

 

[scaleface]

  Would colored clothes pins in the mouth stay in place ?

[J Francho]

I've seen the Accu Cull E-Con tags in use.  They work fine, just don't expect to lift a bigger bass by them.

[RichF]

http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Cal_Coast_Fishing_Clip-N-Cull/descpage-CCFCNC.html

 

I think Stephen Browning was using these at Okeechobee.  They look really nice, I just hate the price tag.  

[WIGuide]

I use the Ardent cull balls. The clips are big enough that you can run them through the gill plate and out the mouth so you don't have to pierce the fish. I wish more people would use them that way instead of leaving a gigantic hole in their fish. 

[Dypsis]

On 2/28/2017 at 5:42 AM, J Francho said:

I've seen the Accu Cull E-Con tags in use.  They work fine, just don't expect to lift a bigger bass by them.

I've read mixed reviews on that one, good to know.  I don't really care if I can lift them up by it as much as just get a handle on the fish.

 

 

On 2/28/2017 at 5:52 AM, RichF said:

http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Cal_Coast_Fishing_Clip-N-Cull/descpage-CCFCNC.html

 

I think Stephen Browning was using these at Okeechobee.  They look really nice, I just hate the price tag.  

 

These are the ones I was leaning towards - but yes steep price for sure.  

 

On 2/28/2017 at 7:44 AM, WIGuide said:

I use the Ardent cull balls. The clips are big enough that you can run them through the gill plate and out the mouth so you don't have to pierce the fish. I wish more people would use them that way instead of leaving a gigantic hole in their fish. 

Interesting, never thought of using them that way, nice idea.

[BrianinMD]

I do the same things with the Ardent Culling balls as WIGuide, works great.

 

Maryland is trying to make the piercing ones illegal along with lifting the fish by the culling system.

[Dypsis]

Just now, BrianinMD said:

I do the same things with the Ardent Culling balls as WIGuide, works great.

 

Maryland is trying to make the piercing ones illegal along with lifting the fish by the culling system.

 

I actually thought that passed already, hence my post.  Either way I personally don't like to put holes in my fish anyway so rarely use them, but they are nice to have.  Especially since I'm starting to catch more limits!!!!

[BrianinMD]

Didn't think that was final yet but I may have missed an update, there was a whole lot of other tidal water tournament rules to do into effect also, waivers that have to be signed by each participant, each 5lb+ fish in its own weigh bag, returning fish to livewell for a certain period of time before they are released after weighin.....

 

Need to go back thru and get updates.

[Dypsis]

9 minutes ago, BrianinMD said:

Didn't think that was final yet but I may have missed an update, there was a whole lot of other tidal water tournament rules to do into effect also, waivers that have to be signed by each participant, each 5lb+ fish in its own weigh bag, returning fish to livewell for a certain period of time before they are released after weighin.....

 

Need to go back thru and get updates.

 

Please let me know, its hard to follow everything.  

[J Francho]

Next thing you know, they'll outlaw hooks....

[BrianinMD]

4 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Next thing you know, they'll outlaw hooks....

 

Only for tournaments.....

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, J Francho said:

Next thing you know, they'll outlaw hooks....

 

Clearly not a fan of unnecessarily harming the bass, but I was thinking the same thing J.

A-Jay 

[J Francho]

I'm actually of the opinion that the clips are more damaging than the piercing style or running through the gill plate.  I doubt there's any research that supports the new regulations being passed.  My experience in aquaculture has shown that the small holes created heal quickly in otherwise healthy fish.  However, irritation from a chunk of plastic rubbing the maxillary process could cause legions or sores, that take longer to heal, and prevent normal feeding.  It's a moot argument that could go either way.

 

In practice, I find livewell care and safe handling of caught fish - no boat flipping, Sure Life Catch and Release, Peroxide, good aeration and circulation, minimal time out of the water, etc. are the most important factors in reducing mortality.  More important than how or which tags you are using.  I'll say this, I've seen tons of guys mangle and injure their fish by NOT using tags.  Chasing them around the well with an little net or bare hands, and the fish smashing into pipes, and well walls....So long as you have a plan, and can easily handle the fish with what ever you use, you're doing good in my book.

[BrianinMD]

I have wondering what the non-pierce clips do to blook flow in the area they are attached. It would seem the area would go an extended period without proper blood flow causing an issue. But have no seen any research on that so its just an assumption on my part.

[J Francho]

My friend tested these "wallet" things that you put the whole bass in with good results.  That might be the ultimate solution, but I can't remember the name, and they were expensive.

[Dypsis]

7 minutes ago, J Francho said:

My friend tested these "wallet" things that you put the whole bass in with good results.  That might be the ultimate solution, but I can't remember the name, and they were expensive.

 

http://www.glorybag.com/App_Content/home.aspx

 

Possibly?  I was looking at those myself.

[Tim Kelly]

23 minutes ago, BrianinMD said:

I have wondering what the non-pierce clips do to blook flow in the area they are attached. It would seem the area would go an extended period without proper blood flow causing an issue. But have no seen any research on that so its just an assumption on my part.

I've thought exactly the same thing. Lack of blood flow causing necrosis where the skin is pinched for an extended period. There's a system I've seen with a long piece of plastic tubing that goes under the gill flap and out through the mouth. This looked to me better than running a wire through the gills or piercing the jaw with a wire as the tubing is thicker, so would spread any pressure to some extent.

 

 

Edit: Found it. Procull conservation clips. 

 

 

[J Francho]

14 minutes ago, Dypsis said:

 

http://www.glorybag.com/App_Content/home.aspx

 

Possibly?  I was looking at those myself.

 

Those are the ones!

 

My "friend" that tested these has a vested interest.  He was the conservation director for the NYBCFED.  Pretty sure he had positive results from these.

[Logan S]

Nothing is finalized yet, but I would expect it to get there relatively soon.  FYI - As it stands currently, none of this applies if you launch from a VA or DC ramp.  If these rules do go thru it will likely negate that 'loophole' though....No such option on the Upper Bay either.  Using no tags isn't an option either since the rule states that you must use some form of culling system and that it also can't pierce the lip.  

 

I've been using tags that have a soft wire loop thru the gill and then clip back for several years now...I've really liked it and I think it's great for the fish since it doesn't clamp anything and doesn't obstruct anything either.  Unfortunately, the labels have all washed off and I don't remember who makes it, but I haven't seen it for sale in quite some time so it may be out of production.  It would be pretty easy to make on your own though - And that might be the best option for those of us that fish the Potomac and Upper Bay since commercial options are so limited.  

 

EDIT:  Those ProCull clips in the video above looks very similar to what I have...Not exact, but close enough.

Edited February 28, 2017 by Logan S
updating

[J Francho]

3 minutes ago, Logan S said:

Using no tags isn't an option either since the rule states that you must use some form of culling system and that is can't pierce the lip.

 

But if you are going to keep the fish, legally, for what ever purpose, then you can just bonk them on the head, and toss them unceremoniously in a cooler with some ice.  Makes perfect sense to me.....

[Logan S]

4 minutes ago, J Francho said:

 

But if you are going to keep the fish, legally, for what ever purpose, then you can just bonk them on the head, and toss them unceremoniously in a cooler with some ice.  Makes perfect sense to me.....

Actually yes....If you are not fishing in a bass tournament you catch catch and kill your limit of bass no-questions-asked.  They really gotta crack down on us bass fisherman that practice catch and release and do everything we can to keep them alive...You know, to save the bass and all...Wait, what?

 

Only a government agency could make that much sense  

[J Francho]

We can always go back to "leaderboards," where the big fish of the day are nailed to a plank.

 

I get it, but rather than go after the tournament guy, who is penalized for dead fish, why not seek to educate fisherman, conduct research, collect data, and learn how we can really protect the resource.  No, too hard.  Poking holes hurts them little fishies.

 

OK, I'm done ranting and raving.

[Logan S]

4 minutes ago, J Francho said:

We can always go back to "leaderboards," where the big fish of the day are nailed to a plank.

 

I get it, but rather than go after the tournament guy, who is penalized for dead fish, why not seek to educate fisherman, conduct research, collect data, and learn how we can really protect the resource.  No, too hard.  Poking holes hurts them little fishies.

 

OK, I'm done ranting and raving.

I've actually been to some of the DNR committee meetings on this particular regulation topic - And I do have to give them a little credit, SOME of the stuff they want to do makes sense.  But overall it's mostly nonsense like we are talking about here.  The committee itself is more dysfunctional than you could ever imagine, which is why none of this is finalized yet lol .