Holding fish by the gills!!

[Guest Texas_Bass_Pro]

I watch several fishing shows on TV and have noticed that lots of the anglers hold the fish by the gills.  Is this safe for the fish?  It doesn't seem so and in fact it looks like it would be really damaging to the fishes survival.  Can different fish withstand this treatment?  I know some fish have teeth which causes them to not be able to be lipped.  

Any thoughts?

[TravisLovett]

Well I never like to basically because the gills are vital to the fishes oxygen intake. Plus with them being so full of blood I'd hate to grab them really hard because if they burst then the fish well bleed to death usually. Not to really say it will kill the fish if you grab it by the gills, its just that they got a perfectly good mouth with sand paper teeth for grips

[Guest Texas_Bass_Pro]

Well I never like to basically because the gills are vital to the fishes oxygen intake. Plus with them being so full of blood I'd hate to grab them really hard because if they burst then the fish well bleed to death usually. Not to really say it will kill the fish if you grab it by the gills, its just that they got a perfectly good mouth with sand paper teeth for grips

This isn't just for bass.  What about catfish, pike, etc....

[Chris]

If you grab the fish on the outside of the gill along the gill plate your not going to hurt the fish but if you grab all gill you could really damage the fish.

[Guest Texas_Bass_Pro]

Thats what I was wondering.  I was just curious.

[Other.]

Grabbing the fish by the gills will hurt the fish. In any case were the fish has teeth hold them by the belly (2 hands if they are a big fish)

[liquidsoap]

Amagine someone sticking there dirty hands in your lungs??

Hows it feel??  

[Guest Texas_Bass_Pro]

Amagine someone sticking there dirty hands in your lungs??

Hows it feel??

It would hurt considering I had half of my right lung taken out when it collapsed about a year ago.  It was one of the worst surgeries you can have.  I still hurt till this day.  Between the chest tubes, chest pains, and panic attacks I guess I do okay.  LOL

If that is how a fish feels then WOW!!!!   I feel sorry for them.

[bass2187]

I am pretty sure it is not actually by the gills. More so by the fishes bottom jaw.

[Chris]

What I am talking about are handling fish that have enough teeth to loose a finger over. Other fish like bass should be handled like the picture you got there. Bass like the one in my picture are better held by the belly because of the mouth full of hooks. If I catch a large Musky, Pike, Gator Gar, I am not about to attempt to hold it by the belly or mouth not with hooks and teeth flying everywhere. Large catfish in the 50 pound class I would like to see someone lift it by the belly. I couldn't do it without dumping my butt in the river.

[TravisLovett]

Lol I think a net would go a long way in some of those occasions....personally with a large catfish I just sort of wrestle them haha.  With large fish as in pikes and stuff I'm not of seein as though I have no real expereince.  A pair of mesh gloves and a bucket of confidence maybe ?

[MALTESE FALCON]

Liquidsoap hit the nail on the head. a long time ago I was talking to a DNR fisheries biologist and he told me "how would like it if i stuck my hands in your lungs?" it's the same for the fish. Just my opinion.

Falcon

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Grabbing a fish by the gill plate properly will not hurt the fish.

You equate sticking your hand into their gills to sticking a hand in your lungs. I would agree if in fact you were grabbing the gill itself. When using this technique for toothy critters, you grab the bony plate, not the actual gill...

So I guess it would be like someone picking you up by the chest, no sticking your hand in someone's lung....JMO

Wayne

[squid]

I HAVE NEVER (ON PURPOSE) GRABED A FISH BY THE GILLS....EVEN WITH CATFISH, MY HAND IS BEHIND THE STICKERS...LOL

[Guest Texas_Bass_Pro]

Grabbing a fish by the gill plate properly will not hurt the fish.

You equate sticking your hand into their gills to sticking a hand in your lungs. I would agree if in fact you were grabbing the gill itself. When using this technique for toothy critters, you grab the bony plate, not the actual gill...

So I guess it would be like someone picking you up by the chest, no sticking your hand in someone's lung....JMO

Wayne

I see what you are saying.  Now for another question, wouldn't you be touching the gills even if you grabbed "the bony plate?"  If so, that wouldn't hurt the fish as much would it??

[Rattlinrogue]

I agree with speedbead.Grabbing a toothy fish by the gill plates doesn't seem like it would do any damage imo,but to grab the gills would most likely mean death for the fish.Travis gave a very good answer...use a net on big,toothy fish that go wild in the boat.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

On fish that are big enough to necessitate grabbing the gill plate, there is a considerable amount of room between where your hand hold is and where their lungs (gills) are.

I am not saying that every fish requires that you grab the gill plate, but there are some that this technique is designed for. There is really no safer way (for fish or fisherman) to handle a big musky. This gives the fisherman a safe way to control the fish, which actually protects it from injuring itself during the release. Big fish like that HATE to be in the boat and will usually go nuts on the floor.

Ideally, handling a fish as little as possible is the best policy. If you do handle a toothy critter for pics and getting the hook out, the gill plate grab is effective.

Wayne

[Guest Texas_Bass_Pro]

Speedbead----Thanks for all of your help along with everybody else that responded. I have never fished for those types of fish and was wondering how anglers could handle them that way without seriously hurting them.  

[Guest avid]

As usualy when Chris speaks, the wise listen.

What you see on TV etc. where RESPONSIBLE anglers are holding a fish by what appears to be the gill, it is the gill plate or that hard shell of cartiledge (I guess) that protects the delicate gills.

The best human example I can think of that might be similar is in pro wrestling where they appear to be choking the opponent with a forearm, but it is actually wrapped around the jaw with no pressure on the windpipe.

As opposed to Extreme fighting where they REALLY choke each other.

[bassnleo]

I was running a weigh in for a local tournament last Oct, watched a competitor grabbing his fish in the gill area as he put them into the weigh basket. With the fish flopping around he got one of his fish by the gills causing damage and the fish bleeding severly. He got dinged for a dead fish penalty as a result, there was no way the fish could survive when released.

Can they be harmed if grabbed directly in the gills? Absolutely........

[Doghouse.]

Just remember to support the rest of the fishes weight with your other hand when holding a big fish by his gill plate i have seen the gill plate on a big carp tear from being held this way

[Bud]

                       Large catfish in the 50 pound class I would like to see someone lift it by the belly. I couldn't do it without dumping my butt in the river.                              

Just come to any King Kat Tournament.  Their you will see cat fish in excess of 100 lbs lifted it by the belly.

[Chris]

From a boat in water over your head?

[Bud]

From the live well of the boat.  They will hold them up for pix

[Guest avid]

From the live well of the boat. They will hold them up for pix

sorta begs the question 'how did they get in the livewell"

But this about gills.  I think that DH's reminder that it's ok to lift by the gill plate but give the critter a break and support the bulk of his weight with your other hand.