When cleaning the catch... - Bluegill - Big Bluegill2024-03-29T09:13:57Zhttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/forum/topics/when-cleaning-the-catch?commentId=2036984%3AComment%3A510994&x=1&feed=yes&xn_auth=noI see that very few use a pri…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2014-04-27:2036984:Comment:5109942014-04-27T13:08:18.021ZNJAnglerhttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/Keith
<p>I see that very few use a priest to dispatch of them. To me it's the quickest, most humane way to do it. I then lay them on ice until I get home to filet.</p>
<p>I see that very few use a priest to dispatch of them. To me it's the quickest, most humane way to do it. I then lay them on ice until I get home to filet.</p> Gel ice packs will keep the f…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2014-04-22:2036984:Comment:5088592014-04-22T01:39:00.080ZAllen Morganhttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/AllenMorgan
<p>Gel ice packs will keep the fish cold, without watering them down. I get mine from the boxes of fish that come into the kitchen, but you can get them at Wally World in the camping section.</p>
<p>Gel ice packs will keep the fish cold, without watering them down. I get mine from the boxes of fish that come into the kitchen, but you can get them at Wally World in the camping section.</p> @Mark Stine - that's why I tr…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2014-04-21:2036984:Comment:5089962014-04-21T23:24:39.141ZDavid, aka, "McScruff"http://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/david553
@Mark Stine - that's why I try not to let fish soak in water for any length of time.<br />
Gut and clean at the waters edge, then into a dry plastic bag...THEN into ice.
@Mark Stine - that's why I try not to let fish soak in water for any length of time.<br />
Gut and clean at the waters edge, then into a dry plastic bag...THEN into ice. LOFR I always got a small bal…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2014-04-21:2036984:Comment:5089932014-04-21T22:53:59.058Zdick tabberthttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/dicktabbert
<p>LOFR I always got a small ball ping hammer for the live ones. I'd rather in-compassionate them that the humane thing to do. Only take a second.</p>
<p>LOFR I always got a small ball ping hammer for the live ones. I'd rather in-compassionate them that the humane thing to do. Only take a second.</p> LOFR I always got a small bal…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2014-04-21:2036984:Comment:5088122014-04-21T22:53:27.186Zdick tabberthttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/dicktabbert
<p>LOFR I always got a small ball ping hammer for the live ones. I'd rather in-compassionate them that the humane thing to do. Only take a second.</p>
<p>LOFR I always got a small ball ping hammer for the live ones. I'd rather in-compassionate them that the humane thing to do. Only take a second.</p> To those that have problems d…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2014-04-21:2036984:Comment:5089272014-04-21T22:39:06.205ZLord of the Fly , Rodshttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/LordoftheFlyRods
<p>To those that have problems dispatching fish before cleaning them just bash them in the head with a fish billy, , thats how they do it at the catfish farms down here, these are not Disney fish they are real fish , read Genesis 1:28 in the Bible, you dont have to personify fish, they are here for us to eat , next thing you know you will feel bad about sticking a hook in a worm, Buck up and clean those fish before you lose your Man Card ! LOFR</p>
<p>To those that have problems dispatching fish before cleaning them just bash them in the head with a fish billy, , thats how they do it at the catfish farms down here, these are not Disney fish they are real fish , read Genesis 1:28 in the Bible, you dont have to personify fish, they are here for us to eat , next thing you know you will feel bad about sticking a hook in a worm, Buck up and clean those fish before you lose your Man Card ! LOFR</p> "Cutting the gills" is the eq…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2014-04-21:2036984:Comment:5090842014-04-21T21:58:37.794ZAllen Morganhttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/AllenMorgan
<p>"Cutting the gills" is the equivalent of "cutting the throat" of a mammal. You are severing the arteries/veins that connect the heart to the gills. The heart is usually located just inside the "throat", where the gills meet. Depending on species, depends on what kind of cut you are going to do.</p>
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<p>I typically only bleed catfish, and the various <em>Morone</em> species that I catch. For the <em>Morones</em>, I just insert the blade of my knife between the gills and the…</p>
<p>"Cutting the gills" is the equivalent of "cutting the throat" of a mammal. You are severing the arteries/veins that connect the heart to the gills. The heart is usually located just inside the "throat", where the gills meet. Depending on species, depends on what kind of cut you are going to do.</p>
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<p>I typically only bleed catfish, and the various <em>Morone</em> species that I catch. For the <em>Morones</em>, I just insert the blade of my knife between the gills and the "throat" area, and cut backwards. I do not actually cut the gill filaments; I am cutting the blood vessels that serve the gills. The fish will naturally exsanguinate. Heck, sometimes, I actually cut the heart out, as the only things that really hold the heart in place are the very blood vessels I am cutting.</p>
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<p>Catfish are a little more difficult. There is a bony plate in that area. I have the best results if I scrape my knife along that plate, inside the "throat", and wait until I start to see blood.</p>
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<p>Trout, I insert my knife in the same general area, but with the edge facing towards the mouth, and actually cut the throat, severing it from the jaws.</p>
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<p>I haven't actually had to bleed any sunfish, as I haven't kept any for my table since I started bleeding fish. Honestly, a good pair of shears would do the job nicely. Just cut like you are trying to cut the heat off, but only cut into the throat deep enough to sever the blood vessels.</p> I like mine to be about half…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2014-04-20:2036984:Comment:5086862014-04-20T14:05:07.241ZBruce Tomasellihttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/BruceTomaselli
<p>I like mine to be about half frozen. To me they are easier to fillet.</p>
<p>I like mine to be about half frozen. To me they are easier to fillet.</p> Interesting topic. A neighbo…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2014-04-20:2036984:Comment:5086812014-04-20T12:48:07.514ZMark Stinehttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/MarkAStine
<p>Interesting topic. A neighbor offered me a cooler full of red snapper and grouper caught on a party boat trip the previous day while still plenty cold the fish had lost their firm texture being submerged in ice water; and were not tasty at all. I guess I got a mental block from the experience and now try to fillet my fish alive as soon as possible. I mainly fish from a boat with a live well if I am not looking forward to the cleaning part they go back in the river instead of the live…</p>
<p>Interesting topic. A neighbor offered me a cooler full of red snapper and grouper caught on a party boat trip the previous day while still plenty cold the fish had lost their firm texture being submerged in ice water; and were not tasty at all. I guess I got a mental block from the experience and now try to fillet my fish alive as soon as possible. I mainly fish from a boat with a live well if I am not looking forward to the cleaning part they go back in the river instead of the live well. For fish that didn't survive the trip home if rigor mortise is set in or the gill filaments (the red part) have lost their color (turning white/yellow) the fish is composted. This occasionally happens when the fish has received a more grievous injury from hook removal. If I notice that the fish is going to have a speedy demise I would put it on ice if available but still not delay the cleaning process. </p> I've heard of splashing vodka…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2014-04-20:2036984:Comment:5079862014-04-20T03:24:20.521ZDavid, aka, "McScruff"http://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/david553
I've heard of splashing vodka in the gills to subdue the fish before killing.<br />
But I'm a little fuzzy on the cutting thing, too.
I've heard of splashing vodka in the gills to subdue the fish before killing.<br />
But I'm a little fuzzy on the cutting thing, too.