Do you put back fish that have gill injuries

[slayerofthesea]

Just wondering  everyones thoughts on throwing back gill hooked fish ? Do you keep them? Seems like it would be a waiste to throw them back.

[_TONY_]

What species are we talking about here, and is it legal to retain the mortally wounded fish?

[bowhunterwa87]

Only ethical choice 

[_TONY_]

Let's say for instance it's a wild steelhead, that may not be retained, you would have to let it go... Bleeding and all.

If the fish species is open for retention, or is hatchery born (all hatchery fish must die), then it would get the wood shampoo...

Tony

[snowpack]

if not legal to keep, it goes back for sure.  Don't want to get caught with one of those, then you get to deal with bigtex and his silver bracelets.     Maybe not that bad, but you get a ticket and fine.  If you get three in ten years, you lose your license for a couple years.  If they go back dying, I think of it as that fish is now dinner for an otter or seal so another fish gets a pass.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Let's say for instance it's a wild steelhead, that may not be retained, you would have to let it go... Bleeding and all.

If the fish species is open for retention, or is hatchery born (all hatchery fish must die), then it would get the wood shampoo...

Tony

Sounds like you understand the regs well .... 

[KFhunter]

fishing BC waters this really sucks, you could only retain hatchery fish - so in order to get your limit of hatchery fish you'd kill a dozen intact fish (err I mean release).

I never could wrap my head around that one.

[Houndhunter]

Almost every steelhead in grays harbor has net marks on it

[kenzmad]

Yep. You have to sometimes. Happens all day long at Sekiu, weeding through the wilds looking for the hatchery fish. There have been days in years past where i know 20 wilds were released to keep 4 hatchery fish. Not all of the wild ones were bleeding but they had all been caught and suffered that stress and the increased mortality that goes along with it. My issue is the rule that says you cant bring a salmon in the boat to unhook it. I know it can take longer to release one if its in the net over the rail than if it is laying on my deck. I cant leave the fish in the water and unhook it. Rails are too high. We do use a dehooker when possible but it is not always possible.

[hogslayer]

Ya you gotta do it.  I have had eagles come and grab them right behind me before.  Best way to get a clean release is buy a 3 foot gaff hook and run it down your leader and pick the fish up with it and give it a shake and it comes right off.  It is a lot cleaner then having to dig around in its mouth to grab the hoons out. 

[jeepster]

Fillet and release

[FC]

My issue is the rule that says you cant bring a salmon in the boat to unhook it. I know it can take longer to release one if its in the net over the rail than if it is laying on my deck. I cant leave the fish in the water and unhook it. Rails are too high. We do use a dehooker when possible but it is not always possible.

This pisses me off too, I always release fish as quickly as I can to avoid injuring them. If they are severely tired and are unable to do anything other than feed eagles I will try and hold them upright in the water for a few minutes to give them a chance.

Requiring that the fish not be taken from the water just opens people up for all kinds of injury etc. and is a pita that usually takes 5x as long to get the job done!

I may catch some flak for this one but if it's rough the fish is coming aboard briefly, if I can quickly turn the hook out I do! I try not to use a net at all if I am not keeping the fish!

Hatchery bleeders hooked from the gill plate forward are coming home with me for dinner, SOP on my boat. 

[Hunterman]

I was brought up that if the fish was bleeding from the gills you kept it, native or not. Anymore with the way this state is I will pull the hooks no matter were they are at. If I pull gills oh well..

Hunterman(Tony)

[slayerofthesea]

Let's say for instance it's a wild steelhead, that may not be retained, you would have to let it go... Bleeding and all.

If the fish species is open for retention, or is hatchery born (all hatchery fish must die), then it would get the wood shampoo...

Tony

Why do all the hatchery fish have to die?  Not being a hippy, Just wondering why.

[deltaops]

DO I do it? Yes I have to or face a fine. I do not like it. The Regs contradict themselves in more ways than one but this is one that really stands out to me when it comes to fishing. one can not waste any game but we have to release it if it is illegal to keep regardless of the condition of the fish. 

Some people might say it is not waste cause other animals will feed on it. Well that could be the same for all game then.

Either way I will continue to follow the law and watch these fish go belly up to rot. Really gets under my skin but until something changes, nothing I can do but try to stay out of trouble.