JerryInLodi
05-17-2006, 06:45 PM
A recent Florida study has found that fish hung by the lower jaw for weighing (a la Boca) sometimes suffer fatal consequences. Here's an excerpt from the article.
"Refrain from holding fish in a vertical position when inspecting or photographing them. Internal organs are displaced and stress is increased in this unnatural position. Large fish should never be held by the bottom jaw only, with a boca grip or otherwise (any tool designed to grip the lower jaw of caught fish to facilitate handling). Hold the fish horizontally by the lower jaw with one hand, and support the belly with the other hand. If unsupported, many large fish, especially snook, will rupture the isthmus–a cartilaginous bundle of ligaments that connects the head and body--and the fish will die a slow death from starvation. This connection is necessary for the tremendous gulping action during feeding."
You can see the full article at:
http://www.floridamarine.org/features/view_article.asp?id=3907
For myself, I don't use a Boca, instead I use a soft net and one of the digital scales inserted in the gill plate and quickly weighed being careful not to tear tissue.
It would be interesting to conduct a test on a series of 15#plus stripers and then have them dissected to determine damage if any. While it might cost the lives of ten or so fish, it may save a breeding population of hundreds if we find that, unintentionally, we're killing what we have intended to release.
"Refrain from holding fish in a vertical position when inspecting or photographing them. Internal organs are displaced and stress is increased in this unnatural position. Large fish should never be held by the bottom jaw only, with a boca grip or otherwise (any tool designed to grip the lower jaw of caught fish to facilitate handling). Hold the fish horizontally by the lower jaw with one hand, and support the belly with the other hand. If unsupported, many large fish, especially snook, will rupture the isthmus–a cartilaginous bundle of ligaments that connects the head and body--and the fish will die a slow death from starvation. This connection is necessary for the tremendous gulping action during feeding."
You can see the full article at:
http://www.floridamarine.org/features/view_article.asp?id=3907
For myself, I don't use a Boca, instead I use a soft net and one of the digital scales inserted in the gill plate and quickly weighed being careful not to tear tissue.
It would be interesting to conduct a test on a series of 15#plus stripers and then have them dissected to determine damage if any. While it might cost the lives of ten or so fish, it may save a breeding population of hundreds if we find that, unintentionally, we're killing what we have intended to release.