lady jane Posted January 11, 2007 Report Share Posted January 11, 2007 what sort of equipment do most of u use to dispatch your catch humanely. any pictures would be good. im looking to fire up the lath and make some so sizes would also be good. thanks andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alun j. Posted January 11, 2007 Report Share Posted January 11, 2007 I use an old chair leg ! Easy to hold, not to lose, gel coat friendly......and it floats! Alun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncan Posted January 11, 2007 Report Share Posted January 11, 2007 well commercial priests are well documented and have well found roots in size shape and weight so I would suggest these as your starting point. basically mini baseball bat with a slug of lead in the business end and a lanyard at the other............... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plaicemat Posted January 11, 2007 Report Share Posted January 11, 2007 For years I have been using the butt end of a billiard cue, which is already weighted, for salmon. I have been given several proprietory priests as presents but stick to my old one. Butt me no buts! Terry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
great white Posted January 11, 2007 Report Share Posted January 11, 2007 We usualy use the Handle of the Stainless Steel J bar disgorger [1" Dia Stainless bar], or snap the necks. But I turned down an excelent hardwood priest for a friend when he emigrated and wished I had made two. It was about the 12" long with a max Dia of 2", a handle with some ridges for grip and drilled for a lanyard. The hardwood [oak] gave it weight and bouyancy if it went overboard. Charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam F Posted January 11, 2007 Report Share Posted January 11, 2007 A good tip is to snip the gills of the fish once landed. This drains the blood from them quickly and avoids tainting the flesh red - esp. cruicial with Bass and Cod I find. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted January 11, 2007 Report Share Posted January 11, 2007 (edited) I use a piece of 1" stainless tube (from old guard rail), with a slug of lead in one end. Edited January 11, 2007 by Brian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plaicemat Posted January 11, 2007 Report Share Posted January 11, 2007 Adam, this is good practice but still works even when the fish has been despatched and is a lot more humane. Because their hearts don't stop immediately after being clobbered, a good bleed is assured. For larger fish, I have a cord attached to a rear cleat to hang the fish in the water thus saving a lot of mess in the boat or ice box. Terry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnasher Posted January 11, 2007 Report Share Posted January 11, 2007 a small green trolley jack handle does the job perfect. Thats what i use anyway as its small but with plenty of clout. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afishionado Posted January 11, 2007 Report Share Posted January 11, 2007 A good tip is to snip the gills of the fish once landed. This drains the blood from them quickly and avoids tainting the flesh red - esp. cruicial with Bass and Cod I find. This is a new one on me Adam, well I say new, now that you wrote about it I remember as a lad they used to cut a line in the flesh of flounders just before the tail so the'the blood came out'. Snip the gills out? Scissors? How long to bleed out ? Mad Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plaicemat Posted January 11, 2007 Report Share Posted January 11, 2007 I have a pair of stainless steel dog nail clippers that I use for the job. Otherwise a good sharp knife. Be prepared, the more active type fish bleed immediately and fairly profusely. It does make a difference to the flavour of the fish. You have probably heard that line caught fish taste better than net caught ones, something to do with the fact that they evacuate during the fight so this additional proceedure should make them as good as they get. Terry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wedger Posted January 11, 2007 Report Share Posted January 11, 2007 It was about the 12" long with a max Dia of 2", a handle with some ridges for grip Eeeeeeeeer any batteries supplied......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wedger Posted January 11, 2007 Report Share Posted January 11, 2007 Andy, I think the pro producers use what they call 'Blackwood' as it is naturally heavy. I have a forester friend who also does a great deal of wood turning - I will ask. T Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam F Posted January 11, 2007 Report Share Posted January 11, 2007 Snip the gills out? Scissors? How long to bleed out ? Get yourself a pair of those H/duty kitchen shears/scissors - the type that can cut through chicken bones - they are pretty cheap, my last set cost less than a fiver. The make short work of even a big fish. For flatties, you are correct, a slash on the tail root does the same trick. Timing - I just bang em' in the fish box, then wash the blood out at the end of the day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wedger Posted January 11, 2007 Report Share Posted January 11, 2007 Gill cut is fine but you must humanely disconnect the control box first!! Tap on head then immediate gill cut does two things. 1. Stuns the fish insensible with no chance of regaining consciousness. (animal welfare) 2. Prevents the build up of lactic acid in the flesh that would detract from eating quality and shelf life. Both, therefore, ensuring the fish is maintained in the best possible condition. Extensive research has been conducted with domestically produced table fish and the principals apply to all slaughtered fish where practical. This is why your own rod caught fish, taste that much better than those that have spent two hours at the back of a trawl net, under 3 tons of their mates. T Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazy fred Posted January 11, 2007 Report Share Posted January 11, 2007 i find these work quite well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam F Posted January 11, 2007 Report Share Posted January 11, 2007 Yes Trev - quite agree. I was mentioning this tip as an addition, and not advocating just bleeding them to death. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coddy Posted January 11, 2007 Report Share Posted January 11, 2007 I am with Jack on this one, I always return every fish (I think) First catch your fish! Coddy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lady jane Posted January 12, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2007 ok guys cheers for advice, managed to get hold of some holm oak so ill give that a go first, cherrs trev id be keen to try it as never turned it before ! cheers andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toerag Posted January 29, 2007 Report Share Posted January 29, 2007 I use the back of my gutting knife for small fish like mackerel, anything bigger gets chucked in the box with another box stacked on top so they can't flip out. Most roundfish die or stop wriggling within a drift or so, only flatties and dogs tend to live for ages. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wedger Posted January 29, 2007 Report Share Posted January 29, 2007 Andy Box is a dense heavy wood and is great for turning. Mahogany would be great but tooo expensive. T Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afishionado Posted January 29, 2007 Report Share Posted January 29, 2007 Justa thought. I have some Ceanothus wood (blue flowered shrub/tree) it is as heavy as heck and very dense. The bits I have are well dried now, about 2years old and been kept in the dry. If your interested I can see if I can find them in my workshop. Cost? I'll give you more than enough for two, can I have one please? Mad Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lady jane Posted January 29, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2007 sounds like a plan, let me know when you find it and ill collect. cheers andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnasher Posted January 29, 2007 Report Share Posted January 29, 2007 (edited) anything bigger gets chucked in the box with another box stacked on top so they can't flip out. Most roundfish die or stop wriggling within a drift or so, only flatties and dogs tend to live for ages. i thought we were on about finishing the quickly and humainly. Leaving them to suffocate aint very nice or maybe im a big softie Edited January 29, 2007 by Gnasher Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afishionado Posted January 29, 2007 Report Share Posted January 29, 2007 anything bigger gets chucked in the box with another box stacked on top so they can't flip out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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