Hazzards OF Handling Salt Water Game Fish

Ask your question Here, remember to include the important stuff like, What gear, area you are in, and so on.
Post Reply
tesanders
Fisher
Posts: 7
Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2012 9:19 am

Hazzards OF Handling Salt Water Game Fish

Post by tesanders »

Hazzards of Handling fish.

Can I get some input as to things to avoid such as sharp gils, fins, teeth or anything that say a fresh water fisherman should watch out for when handling salt water fish. Species specific would be helpful.

Sandman

User avatar
PhishingPhanatic
BLACK FIN TUNA
Posts: 6785
Joined: Sat Jul 15, 2006 8:52 pm
Location: 204 Miles From Long Key

Re: Hazzards OF Handling Salt Water Game Fish

Post by PhishingPhanatic »

Most saltwater fish have teeth of some sort. Some have sharp gillplates that will slice you up, like snook. If you are concerned, get yourself a fish grip like one of these so you don't have to handle the fish.

viewtopic.php?f=120&t=30966
Image

User avatar
fishboy
Old Salt
Posts: 456
Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2010 4:13 pm

Re: Hazzards OF Handling Salt Water Game Fish

Post by fishboy »

There's a lot, but these are a few that I can list off the top of my head...
1. Keep hands away from all fishes mouths, untill you figure out if they have teeth or not.(I have been bitten by snapper, bluefish, flounder and spanish mackerel... Not fun!)
2. Watch out for stingrays if wading... If you catch one handle with care!
3. Handle catfish with extreme care!!! They are not like your freshwater cats... They are dangerous!
4. If you catch a stargazer cut the line...
5. Do not feed the pelicans... They will attack you eventually... (bad personal experience)
6. Be careful of jellyfish and man of wars...

Other than that I can't think of much right now, but I am sure others will chime in. Good luck!

tesanders
Fisher
Posts: 7
Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2012 9:19 am

Re: Hazzards OF Handling Salt Water Game Fish

Post by tesanders »

Thanks, I really like the grip. Espically the price, looks pretty sturdy to.

Great info. What is a Stargazer?

Username28
KING MACKEREL
Posts: 914
Joined: Sat Jun 05, 2010 11:38 am

Re: Hazzards OF Handling Salt Water Game Fish

Post by Username28 »

tesanders wrote:Thanks, I really like the grip. Espically the price, looks pretty sturdy to.

Great info. What is a Stargazer?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stargazer
There is a fine line between Love & Hate.Hate is pushing them off a ledge. Loving them means you don't taunt them after you've pushed them off.

Username28
KING MACKEREL
Posts: 914
Joined: Sat Jun 05, 2010 11:38 am

Re: Hazzards OF Handling Salt Water Game Fish

Post by Username28 »

Generally...if I cant identify what it is just by looking at it, I dont touch it. Eels, I cut the line. I NEVER put ANY part of my hand or fingers very far in any saltwater fishes mouth. I am not a big fan of grabbing a fish by the gills anyway.

Main thing...if it looks dangerous...or scary...it probably is...use caution. Common sense goes a long way when handling unknown fish.
There is a fine line between Love & Hate.Hate is pushing them off a ledge. Loving them means you don't taunt them after you've pushed them off.

User avatar
diggin4grouper
KING MACKEREL
Posts: 897
Joined: Sun May 18, 2008 11:45 am
Location: PORT SAINT LUCIE , FLORIDA
Contact:

Re: Hazzards OF Handling Salt Water Game Fish

Post by diggin4grouper »

heres the 2 things to always have with you

as PP said the fish grips
and an arc dehooker http://www.ebay.com/itm/ARC-Dehooker-16 ... 5aef83ae12

with these items you will never have to touch a fish

gohawks7
Fisher
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Jul 18, 2013 12:14 pm

Re: Hazzards OF Handling Salt Water Game Fish

Post by gohawks7 »

Thanks for the info!

pompchas
Fisher
Posts: 18
Joined: Sat Sep 19, 2009 6:55 am

Re: Hazzards OF Handling Salt Water Game Fish

Post by pompchas »

Watch out for the barb at the end of the tail of a stingray ,they are painfull and poison :auto:

WetWillie
Seasoned Fisher
Posts: 276
Joined: Sun Mar 16, 2008 2:01 pm
Location: Sunrise

Re: Hazzards OF Handling Salt Water Game Fish

Post by WetWillie »

If you're wading in the water, wear some type of decent soled water shoe to protect your feet. You should try to shuffle your feet, not step, because you could step on a ray. Shuffling should just make the critter swim away from you. There's other species besides rays, like crabs, stonefish, etc., but you get the idea.
Those other fish must be smart. We caught all the stupid ones!

cgas2
Fisher
Posts: 4
Joined: Sun Sep 22, 2013 12:25 pm
Location: Fort Walton Beach,Fl

Re: Hazzards OF Handling Salt Water Game Fish

Post by cgas2 »

The biggest hazard to me has been in trying to remove a hook or lure from the fishes mouth without using pliers or hook remover.

mike j
Weekend Warrior
Posts: 86
Joined: Wed Aug 23, 2017 12:40 pm

Re: Hazzards OF Handling Salt Water Game Fish

Post by mike j »

For some reason I tend to get cuts from the gill plates on Snook. When the fish is going to be released , I want to get it back quickly and don't take my time. There's nothing worse for me then releasing a fish that I don't think is going to make it.

Laz1287
Weekend Warrior
Posts: 52
Joined: Sat Jun 29, 2013 5:44 pm
Location: Pembroke Pines, FL

Re: Hazzards OF Handling Salt Water Game Fish

Post by Laz1287 »

There's a species of small thin jack that I've caught over the years @ both Halover and Newport piers.

I heard some locals call them skipjacks, but to my knowledge that's a whole different species.

Anyway, this fish has a spine slightly sticking out of it's dorsal fin that will cause a wound that won't heal for weeks.

I, of course, found that out the hard way when I was as a kid.

User avatar
fishnfool73
AMBASSADOR to the... BF FORUM
Posts: 8703
Joined: Tue Nov 07, 2006 6:18 am

Re: Hazzards OF Handling Salt Water Game Fish

Post by fishnfool73 »

skipjacks aka leatherjackets
Dreaming the dream that one day I can be as good as some of the boatless pros and catch some 12 inch mangrove snapper.

Laz1287
Weekend Warrior
Posts: 52
Joined: Sat Jun 29, 2013 5:44 pm
Location: Pembroke Pines, FL

Re: Hazzards OF Handling Salt Water Game Fish

Post by Laz1287 »

fishnfool73 wrote:skipjacks aka leatherjackets
Image

Thanks for the info, now I know what it's real name is. :cheers:

Old School
Seasoned Fisher
Posts: 106
Joined: Wed May 21, 2008 1:21 am
Location: South Florida

Re: Hazzards OF Handling Salt Water Game Fish

Post by Old School »

Had a fishing buddy who got really nailed by a leather jack on his own boat. He was in serious pain for more then two hours. I got nicked by one yesterday fishing for mackerel even though i was taking precautions and wrapped a rag around it to retrieve my jig. I waited for the pain to come but only felt a slight burning that didn't last very long. (landed 4 macks, 2 cut offs, and lost another on the hoist)

Post Reply

Return to “Boatless Fishing General Info”