Caught this 8 pound pike yesterday. Got it in the net, got the gill plate grip and removed the hooks. Went to lift it up in the boat and it started shaking alot. I guess my fingers slipped and went through the thin skin between the "bones?" Marked red on the second image. The side visible on the picture is where it happened.
The fish swam away like normal but im scared that my mistake may hurt this pike or maybe even kill it? Anyone experienced can tell me if thats the case? And how i can avoid this in the future, Ive watched many videos about the grip and done it many times successfully, thought i had it dialed in.
Posted by 50CECE
5 Comments
They’re strong, it’ll be ok
Over the weekend my friend read us an article from the turn of the century (1900s) in which the advice for dealing with a pike that winds up in your boat is to incapacitate it with your revolver by shooting it between the eyes. “The only expedient way to subdue a vasservulf (water-wolf)”.
The fact that you care more than that is great.
Nah, I caught one about the same size, hooked in the side of mouth, blead everywhere, swam away like it’s nothing.
You would thrash too if someone lifted you up by your gills!
“swimming away fine” is a myth when it comes to pike and musky. Delayed mortality is very much a possibility. With that said shit happens man, you weren’t being intentionally malicious about it so I’d try not to overthink it to much