Holding perch by the jaw?

[Ric Elwin]

I've had a bit of a float around youtube this evening. Started with drop shotting, moved around, as you do, ended up watching videos of decent perch being caught in various European countries.

What struck me was the way, in each case, that the fish was held. None of this U.K. dodging the spines and gill covers business. A small fish was simply held with the thumb in its mouth, a finger underneath. Larger fish were held in the same way but with the other hand supporting the weight of the fish, underneath it.

These were all catch and release videos and I'm quite sure the fish came to no harm. A related species, the freshwater bass, are always held this way, over in the states.

Why not in the U.K.? Do you think holding perch and similar fish in this way could cause them harm?

 

[soffit]

Seems a sensible way to hold. Avoids the spines and gills too. How do they hold it to take the hook out though?

 

[mol]

It's a fairly popular way of handling perch with the UK lure boys

 

[terry m]

I would quaestion the need to hold a perch in such a way.

Perch are not slimey, their scales allow a good purchase to be made without applying excessive pressure to the mouthparts and with nil risk of coming into contact with the spines.

I can only conclude that some people think that this practice results in 'good' photos!

 

[Jeff Woodhouse]

If you turn the fish upside down it disorientates it and the fish remains still for up to two minutes whilst you get the hook out, so I've found.

 

[tigger]

If you turn the fish upside down it disorientates it and the fish remains still for up to two minutes whilst you get the hook out, so I've found.

Err, how does the fish know when the two minuites are up then :w

 

[audi]

Err, how does the fish know when the two minuites are up then

Cos most anglers wear a watch. Fish aren't stupid you know.

 

[Jeff Woodhouse]

Err, how does the fish know when the two minuites are up then

Tsk, it doesn't, phuff, that's why I said UP TO two minutes. Tsk! I don't know..... phuff!