What's the best way to dispatch a big fish?
Submitted by r.gates on Wed, 2010-12-15 19:49
Hi all
With the upcoming demersal ban lifting tomorrow, not that the weather is going to be any good for fishing 
, and myself being new to fishing for these bigger fish, I was wondering what's the best and most humane way to dispatch a large fish?
For smaller fish, I use the 'knife between the eyes' technique, then slit the throat to bleed them....can't see this working too well with big jewies, snapper, mackeral, etc, as they've got a much harder skull!
regards
rusty...
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STEVE231
Posts: 1443
Date Joined: 05/01/10
Iki jimi, get it in the right
Iki jimi, get it in the right spot and it's very effective no matter what size the fish. I just use a screwdriver with the end ground to a point.
danno
Posts: 1676
Date Joined: 12/07/09
iki jim i think there called,
beat me to it STEVE lol
iki jim i think there called, it's a strong metal sharped spike that you push into the fishes skull. then just bleed and put on ice or in salt water.
hlokk
Posts: 4292
Date Joined: 04/04/08
And, not or. Ice AND salt
And, not or. Ice AND salt water
I spike them, then bleed them (usually by cutting the gill rakers rather than the neck) then slurry (ice + saltwater). Really sucks filleting fish that havent been properly slurried (or crays for that matter). They say iki-ing them should cause the blood to receed into the gut cavity, but I dont trust it completely, hence the bleeding out. If you can bleed them in a separate container then slurry.
btw, whats up with the MSN smileys now?
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
Dhufish have a depression
Dhufish have a depression where their temple is, its dead easy on any size, just roll your thumb around till you find it, then put the spike in. Other fish aren't quite as easy.
Tuna are also easy, they have a front entry point for a spike, its where the japs put the wire in they run down the spinal column, then you have to cut under the pecs to bleed them out.
I got told something about following a line that joins the eye to the lateral line, then up from the false gill plate, and stab where they intersect should work on most fish?
carnarvonite
Posts: 8673
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Spike
Spiking is the best and quickest way.
To stop them flapping about , get some old foam cushions , strip the fabric off and wet it when you use it. Once you place them on the soft wet cushion they just lay there and it doesn't bruise the flesh.
When you are finished just hang it over the side and give it a good rinse/ squeeze out.
aalfred
Posts: 669
Date Joined: 13/06/09
Hit on the Head
The best and the least painful way is to my knowledge at first a hit on the head (most tackle shops sell a special bat) which numbed the fish and then the more important step is a cut with a sharp knife from in between the pectoral fins towards the head. This is where the heart of most fish is and kills them quickly. It’s easy to recognise as well cause when you hit it it’s starts bleeding strong. I do that since I started fishing and it always seemed the best way for the fish. And if the fish kicks less it gives less bruising in the meet.
Good Luck
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
Once spiked correctly, fish
Once spiked correctly, fish don't thrash around, only shiver, and thats only if you don't core them like the japs do. They do keep pumping, if you slit the gills.
Those bats are for sharks, and ramp incidents.
carnarvonite
Posts: 8673
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Before
The cushion is to stop the fish thrashing about BEFORE you spike them. Nothing worse that having a fish bashing itself to bits while you are trying to grab the spike, fish. pull hooks out. Once you lay them on the cushion thats where they stay.
Man Overboard
Posts: 957
Date Joined: 16/01/10
And when you rinse it out
And when you rinse it out becomes a perfect camp bed for the MIL
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
Yes, just aalfred seemed a
Yes, just aalfred seemed a little confused about the efficacy of truncheons v's spiking.
hlokk
Posts: 4292
Date Joined: 04/04/08
The heart of a fish is under
The heart of a fish is under the gills, not between the pectorals and the head. Not sure which cut you're talking about, but is probably nicking a major artery. Cutting arteries behind the pecs works well on tuna as Till mentioned.
One think I like about the gill method rather than the 'throat' is that you're still cutting major arteries (blood has to flow through the gills) but you end up with a nice looking fish, not one with the head half hanging off. Makes it easier to fillet too, plus you dont damage the wings if you want to keep them.
Lastchance
Posts: 1273
Date Joined: 02/02/09
Agreed
Inserting the knife in the lower gills and cutting towards the spine (knife ends up roughly level with pectoral fins and the eye) bleeds the fish very well and keeps the throat in tact assisting with filleting and asthetics!
r.gates
Posts: 573
Date Joined: 15/11/10
Thanks guys
For the advice....I've heard of iki jimi before but never really knew what is was all about.
Have been told about the ice and sea water slurry and I've bought a 130L icebox so I'm prepared. This first fish is going to be worth a fortune!!!
regards
rusty...
If life is boring, you must be doing it wrong!
Faulkner Family
Posts: 18054
Date Joined: 11/03/08
definatly iki them then
definatly iki them then bleed, as mentioned before just use a sharp knife in the gill rakers , doesnt need to be a big cut, if you get it right there will be blood instantly. sit the fish in a seperate bucket or tub for a couple of minuits and rince off well in the water then into the ice slurry. this will stiffen the fish up to make it a lot easier to fillet at the end of the day , otherwise you can do as some do, just transfer the fish into sa fresh slurry over night and fillet the next day. good luck with the fishing. looks like i will be waiting until xmas day to hit the water
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together
shifeng
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i always miss the brain
i always miss the brain
Juneka
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brains
I've met quite a few people missing brains...
Save the Whales! May as well - they won't fit in my catch bag!!!
Mrs Benno1
Posts: 29
Date Joined: 15/12/10
Weve always cut their throats
Weve always cut their throats regardless of size...using a mini bat to first "relax" the dinner guest (spanish mackeral get the bat):D
Then gilled and gutted...fin clipped and straight onto a seperate ice/salt water slurry...we find the flesh to be allot more white than with the ikijimi method.
This is just us tho...to each his own.
Sunny.
hlokk
Posts: 4292
Date Joined: 04/04/08
No fin clipping needed here
No fin clipping needed here (unless its a cray). With gilled and gutting, I figured a while ago it was pointless for me at least as I only ever filleted and it was extra work for no reason :p. (plus I find it easier to fillet with a full gut). Depends entirely on how you're preparing the fish of course (leaving them ungutted doesnt work so well if you want them whole ;) ).
Mrs Benno1
Posts: 29
Date Joined: 15/12/10
Im originally for QLD so we
Im originally for QLD so we have to fin clip...do it or get a fine. We used to fillet everything but now its kept whole...given a garlic lemon giner and chilli bath then baked :D
Good sized dolly in you avatar pic mate...nice.
Sunny
mejutty
Posts: 96
Date Joined: 21/12/09
I Havn't caught a fish big
I Havn't caught a fish big enough to spike yet just a gummy shark that I used the bat on. There are a heap of pics of big fish floating around on the forums is anyone who knows what to do prepared to mark out on a few of the bigger fish where they spike them and post them up??
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
Pro tip with spiking
Pro tip with spiking: if you want your fish pics to be the best of the trip, spike the other fish as soon as they come aboard. Once spiked, they lose their colour and aren't worth taking pics of. Just ask Pete D ;)
carnarvonite
Posts: 8673
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Pro Spiking
The wet liners up here don't even spike any more. Just unhook and drop straight in to the brine. The sudden cold change is enough to get the same result . That way there is less chance of bacteria entering through the spike wound site and sending the fish off and it still has its true colours at point of sale.
hlokk
Posts: 4292
Date Joined: 04/04/08
When you say the same result,
When you say the same result, do you mean quick painless death or also the bleeding? Do they still bleed the fish at all?
carnarvonite
Posts: 8673
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Untouched
They don't put a spike or knife on them, straight from the water, on to a pice of foam, hook out and in to the brine slurry.
The sudden cold shock dongs them nearly instantly.
To my knowledge they haven't bled them for years and stopped spiking 2-3years back on recommendation of the Japanese buyers
hlokk
Posts: 4292
Date Joined: 04/04/08
In terms of dispatching fish,
In terms of dispatching fish, an ice slurry is certainly a humane way to do it. I woulda thought that bleeding the fish would increase the quality of the flesh? (Both what i've read from fish handling authorities and experienced in practice). Perhaps they changed because they realised more people buy fish based on what it looks like rather than the quality of the flesh...
Maybe it has little effect, but the flesh certainly looks better bled and slurried to me :p
allrounder
Posts: 1853
Date Joined: 10/11/08
I t dispatches the fish
and works in the same way as hypothermia.The blood all retreats to the major organs away from the flesh.
So tell me have you got your info from years on the water or hours on the internet?
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
Bacteria entry is why I don't
Bacteria entry is why I don't gut or cut through the wings at sea.
When I say Pro Tip, I was really just reminding Pete I turned his Red Emp into a White Emp when I spiked it, so there was no point taking pics of it anymore ;)
Pete D
Posts: 1681
Date Joined: 07/06/07
Very valid point. At least
Very valid point. At least mine wasn't jagged
Cheers Pete
till
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Date Joined: 21/02/08
Bwahahaha.
Bwahahaha.
jarrid
Posts: 363
Date Joined: 20/08/10
same here
only use the whacking stick on macks to reduce the chances of getting bitten. all fish get bled after slit throat in the kill tank for a few minutes, then into slurry.
tailor marc
Posts: 2979
Date Joined: 27/09/06
9 times out of 10 i just take
9 times out of 10 i just take a pic and release but if i decide to keep one for my old man i will brain spike first then cut throat. Stick the knife in the temple area then twist. Most humain way i think. Brain dead before they feel throat getting cut. You know when you hit the brain because they twist up rock solid then twitch.
On boats i will use the bat on macks that i want to keep. I make sure the first blow kills it.
As much as i love my fishing, i hate killing fish. Such a double edged sword lol!
One thing i hate seeing is a bucket of fish half alive down e shed, things are drowning slowly. I often ask them if they want me to kill it properly for them
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fishnut
Posts: 255
Date Joined: 22/09/10
spike
spiking has to be the most humane, if you get the right spot... IMHO don't use a knife - seen too many snap or slip, especially on a big fish that is jumping around - scary! Agree with Steve231 - use a screwdriver sharpened to a point with a grinder.
tailor marc
Posts: 2979
Date Joined: 27/09/06
I use a buck 119 knife. Very
I use a buck 119 knife. Very sturdy and solid blade . Almost made for stabbing
http://www.sportingoutbacksupplies.com.au/product.php?productid=16267&cat=0&page=1
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carnarvonite
Posts: 8673
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Knife
Not a nice sight of someones hand after trying to spike a fish with a knife and the fish kicked at the right/wrong moment. Puts an end to fishing for the day thats for sure.
I use a sharpened phillips screwdriver or an 8 inch fid.
Oceanside Tackle
Posts: 2803
Date Joined: 23/07/09
Iki
What we do, land fish, dehook, spike with Iki Jimi tool, cutthroat to bleed out then into saltwater ice slurry or heavy ice.
Ryans step bro upnorth is a wetlinner (Exmouth/Dampier) and they land fish on foam/de-hook/spike with Iki Jimi tool then saltwater ice slurry.
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crasny1
Posts: 7003
Date Joined: 16/10/08
Iki yes
Bleeding IMO depends on the fish. Most demersal species taste better INO without being bled. They just go straight in the slurry after a spike. Pelagic fish tend to have a faster heart rate, swim faster and thus have more blood in the system and this can effect the taste, Hence Mackies, Tuna and all other pelagic its (Bat for macks and other razor gang), then IKI (I dont think the bat kills as easy as we think, bleed into burley bucket then slurry.
But try the white fish without bleeding. Taste better.
Neels
"I would like to die on Mars. Just not on impact!!" _ Elon Musk
grayzeee
Posts: 2283
Date Joined: 09/07/09
i agree with throwing them
i agree with throwing them straight into the ice slurry first.
it quietens them down very quickly.
If I spent half as long fishing , as I do reading this bloody forum , I'd be twice the fisherman I am.
piston broke
Posts: 776
Date Joined: 05/11/08
I sometimes
like to spike them, bleed them and even gut them before putting on ice. Depends how quickly you want to get back fishing. cheers Pete
Faulkner Family
Posts: 18054
Date Joined: 11/03/08
i personally would never gut
i personally would never gut a fish before going on ice or in a slurry as it will increase chance of bacteria infecting the flesh. always iki them and bleed them tho. after eating the same type of fish treated differently i would never forget to iki them
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together
mejutty
Posts: 96
Date Joined: 21/12/09
So is anyone keen to
So is anyone keen to photoshop some pics showing where to stick them??
abeldog
Posts: 801
Date Joined: 12/04/10
First Saltwater + Ice Slurry
is the go, the iki and bleed them, don't gut till the very end of the trip.
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We Can All Dream of Things That Never Were and Ask Why Not!!"( RK )
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
http://www.fish.wa.gov.au/doc
http://www.fish.wa.gov.au/docs/pub/CatchCare/CatchCare.pdf page 7 has a sketch
http://bogagrip.co.nz/iki.jimi.aspx?print=Y
grayzeee
Posts: 2283
Date Joined: 09/07/09
sorry to bump this thread but
sorry to bump this thread but i have to say that i took a decent dhuey recently and tried the "into the slurry , no bleeding" tip.
it doesn't work well. the fillets were still bloody and , in comparison with bright white older fillets from a bled dhuey , pretty poor.
won't be doing that again. definately bleed your dhuey for a pure white fillet
If I spent half as long fishing , as I do reading this bloody forum , I'd be twice the fisherman I am.