Dog Fish help

[seth30]

I will be out crabbing for the last time this Thursday and really want to catch some dogfish while waiting on the pots to soak.  I have lots of chicken and left overs from my perch and trout fishing.  I don't know if its legal to use fish heads and tails as bait for dog fish but would like to get your comments from the experienced fishermen   My son who is almost 3 loves sharks and freaks out any time he sees them on TV, so I figure we would catch some for him to see up close   Thanks for any help in this.

[smdave]

Where do you crab? My wife and I were out last Sunday and she could not keep the dogfish off the hook. One was about 30" I will try to find a cell pic. She was just using a small piece of herring on the hook. I do not know if you can use fish heads for bait.

[seth30]

I will be in Crescent Harbor, I have heard some people complaining about catching them while fishing for salmon. 

[smdave]

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[seth30]

Thats a nice one there.  Is there a special way to handle those dogfish? 

[smdave]

When I was younger we used to slice the belly and let them go. I do not think you can do that anymore. I just remove the hook and dump it back in. The kids would have a blast they have good fight in them. Have them touch it because the skin is course.

[seth30]

Thanks for the tips on the herring and how to go for them. 

[FC]

Fish heads will work well and are legal, be sure and stay clear of the spines on the dorsal and adipose fins! The spines are mildly venomous like a bee sting and hurt like hell if you get jabbed good.

[Mike450r]

we would cut the nose off watch them circle around and descend to feed all their friends on the way down hoping they would stay away from our herring

[Becky]

Fish heads will work well and are legal, be sure and stay clear of the spines on the dorsal and adipose fins! The spines are mildly venomous like a bee sting and hurt like hell if you get jabbed good.

  was just typing that out, they're called "Spiny Dogfish" for a reason. Smossy got jabbed a few times..

[lokidog]

No special handling, just watch out for the mouth and the spikes by the fins.

I think if they are there, they will bite just about anything.  I've caught them on spoons trolled for salmon and jigs for bottomfish as well as bait.

Two things, they make decent crab bait, just slice open to expose the meat/insides and  they make decent deep fried eating, just bleed and keep cool.  Filet, remove the reddish meat along with the skin and eat.  Not as good as rockfish or lings but better than frozen fish sticks.  It does take a bigger one to get much meat off it.

[Jellymon]

They are fun to catch! Just watch out for the spines on their back, they can give you a nice cut! I like this pic, they look so happy.

[seth30]

That fish does look happy   What is the average size of these guys?  Is a normal salmon pole big enougth to tackle the job?  Thanks again for all the help in this, I hope to post some pictures this thursday

[h20hunter]

Normal salmon rod is good to go. Put a chunck of squid on a hook and chuck it out. I'd say average is 4 or 5 lbs....caught them bigger. Like they said...watch for the spine. Anchor up if you can and you will bring them in via scent. They are not the sharpest tools in the shed.

[smdave]

That fish does look happy   What is the average size of these guys?  Is a normal salmon pole big enougth to tackle the job?  Thanks again for all the help in this, I hope to post some pictures this thursday

Salmon pole works just fine, go smaller for more fun.

Males mature at around 11 years of age, growing to 80–100 cm (2.6–3.3 ft) in length; females mature in 18–21 years and are slightly larger than males, reaching 98.5–159 cm (3.23–5.2 ft)

[lokidog]

I hooked one in the side when bottom fishing years ago, it was 42 inches, felt like 60 when fighting it.   

[seth30]

Is barbed hooks okay for them as well?

[lokidog]

Is barbed hooks okay for them as well?

Not sure but if you caught something else, you would have to let it go - go barbless.

[Special T]

Back when i fished i useed to use my steel head pole with a cable halibut leader and chicken... In that same area and it was FUN!

[Jellymon]

If your going just for dogfish make sure you use steel leaders, or else you will lose a lot of hooks and dogfish! They cut line fairly easily.

[Austrian Hunter]

I like catching them, they always have a smile 

[seth30]

Lots of good info and thank you so much for all the tips and help.  Another reason to keep coming back to HuntWA

[mrmoskillz]

When I was 15 I went with a friend to the San Juans and we would throw herring off the shore at night.  Wait five minutes and shine a light in the water.  When you catch the glow in their eyes keep the light on them and they will swim on to shore.
You can also have one guy shine the light and the other guy with a net.  We caught tons and was fun. 

[Rick]

Is barbed hooks okay for them as well?

Barbless hooks required for all species in areas 5-13

[Bowflinger]

Definitely send a chunk of herring to the bottom, reel up a 3-5 turns and jig for them off the bottom. We had doubles and triples until we got tired of catching them. Whatever you do don't club them when you get them on board. You'll have to cut their gills and let them bleed out, if not urine is soaks into the meat ( they pee out their skin). Tie a rope around their tail and hang them over the side of the boat.

[seth30]

We had whitecaps last night and there is no way I would take my jon boat out in those   I will be out after work tonight, and hopefully I can throw a few pics of my own in this thread

[fishinmike]

I like catching them, they always have a smile 

Rene', they don't have those in Yakima now, do they?  Nice pic.

[Austrian Hunter]

I like catching them, they always have a smile 

Rene', they don't have those in Yakima now, do they?  Nice pic.

Hi Mike :-) how are you and Lisa?? 

[Elkrunner]

No special handling, just watch out for the mouth and the spikes by the fins.

I think if they are there, they will bite just about anything.  I've caught them on spoons trolled for salmon and jigs for bottomfish as well as bait.

Two things, they make decent crab bait, just slice open to expose the meat/insides and  they make decent deep fried eating, just bleed and keep cool.  Filet, remove the reddish meat along with the skin and eat.  Not as good as rockfish or lings but better than frozen fish sticks.  It does take a bigger one to get much meat off it.

I have heard this before..never tried it

[fishinmike]

All good over here, fishing has slowed down, going out crabbing today. Give me a shout sometime.

[DoubleJ]

Nightcrawlers

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,131073.msg1744360.html#msg1744360

[seth30]

Sorry took so long to get back on this thread   Had a blast had 3 dog fish cought by my friend that was with us while we crabbed.  Here is a picture of my son and I holding the dogfish my friend caught.  He was scared and happy at the same time   We put the fish heads on his hook and over the side.  About 15 minutes later they hit and just kept hitting.  I didnt know that dogfish were so vocal   I gave my friend some crabs that we caught and he caught some dogfish for my son to see.  It was a great trade, and thanks for all the help in this

[Becky]

Omg that picture is great of your little dude!  he looks sooo cute haha, so much expression in that pic.